Libra

The Zodiac constellation of Libra is second in the line up of God’s celestial story in the stars.This year the dates for Libra are September 26-October 25, 2022, which according to the Hebrew calendar is the month of Tishrei.

Last month I shared how Virgo shows the coming of the Savior who would come to deliver us, who is the righteous branch, God with us. Libra follows introducing law and justice. It is pictured as a pair of scales or pans for weighing with a horizontal bar supporting the middle.

Isaiah 40:12 NOG
Who has measured the water of the sea
with the palm of his hand or
measured the sky with the length of his hand?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a bushel basket
or weighed the mountains on a scale
and the hills on a balance?

Meaning of LIbra’s name

In Hebrew this constellation is called Mozanaim, meaning the Scales or Weighing. The name of Libra in Arabic is Al Zubana (or Zubena), meaning Purchase or Redemption. Purchasing according to weight is something we are all familiar with. In Christianity salvation is linked to Yeshua/Jesus paying the price for our redemption.

It’s interesting, in Greek astronomy Libra was connected to the Scorpio constellation with the two brightest stars shown as the claws of the scorpion. The two constellations are connected with some meaning, but more about that next month.

In the Bible, Daniel chapter 5, there is an interesting story worth reading about a wicked king, who while reveling with his likeminded friends, suddenly saw a hand writing on the plaster wall of his palace. Filled with fear and not understanding what was written, the King called for the astrologers and fortune-tellers to come and see if they could read the meaning of the writing on the wall. No one could, but someone remembered a prophet named Daniel who was filled with insight and wisdom. Daniel was called to come before the king.

The prophet Daniel reminded the king about his predecessor and what could have been learned. Then he told the king that the Most High God had sent the hand to write the message found in Daniel 5:25-28 (NLT):

“This is the message that was written: Mene, mene, tekel, and Parsin.
This is what these words mean:
Mene means ‘numbered’—God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end.
Tekel means ‘weighed’—you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up.
Parsin means ‘divided’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

That night the king was killed and his kingdom was taken over as the hand had written.

We may not be as evil as the king, but we all have not measured up.

Romans 3:23-26 (NLT)

“For everyone has sinned;
we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight.
He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us
from the penalty for our sins.
For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin.
People are made right with God when they believe that
Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.
This sacrifice shows that God was being fair
when he held back and did not punish
those who sinned in times past,
for he was looking ahead and including them
in what he would do in this present time.
God did this to demonstrate his righteousness,
for he himself is fair and just,
and he makes sinners right in his sight
when they believe in Jesus.”

In Biblical Astronomy Libra shows humanity’s need for a Savior and God’s ability to purchase the payment for redemption, the merging of God’s love and justice.

The Stars of Libra

Libra is not a very bright constellation with about 51 stars included, but it has three stars that stand out between the brighter star Spica of Virgo and the blinking red Antares in Scorpio.

Primary star names & meanings:

Zuben al Genubi ~ the purchase, or price that is deficient

Zuben al Chemali ~ the price that covers

The brightest star at the top of the scale is Zubenalgenubi and its name means the price or purchase is deficient. This weight points to the fact that we are measured and found deficient. But there is hope. The other brightest star in the constellation is on one side of the scale, Zubenalchemali, which means ‘the price that covers.’ There is someone who can pay the price, the ‘Seed of a woman’ found in the previous constellation Virgo.

Revelation 5:9 NASB

And they sang a new song, saying,
’Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals;
for You were slaughtered, and
You purchased people for God with Your blood
from every tribe, language, people, and nation.’

Flip-through video

Below is a quick flip-through video of October’s journal featuring the Libra constellation. If it is not clear, you can adjust the resolution by clicking on the gear icon at the bottom right, second from the end. I’ve used the free digital download and the Libra and Virgo downloads, along with some of the moon featured in my shop: https://www.valeriesjodin.com/shop

Details from Libra - October journal

Libra download available!

click here to go to the shop

Digital downloads used

Monthly moons digital download: https://www.valeriesjodin.com/shop/monthly-moon-banners-journal-kit-download

Libra constellation collage sheets digital download:
https://www.valeriesjodin.com/shop/libra-constellation-collage-sheets-digital-download

Thank you for joining me on this night sky discovery
sparking with light, mystery, and hope in the midst of darkness.

Blessings of light and wonder,
Valerie

Bibliography

God’s Voice in the Stars, Zodiac Signs and Bible Truth by Ken Fleming https://amzn.to/3SYRbX3

Looking Up by Troy A Brewer https://amzn.to/3R3nIJP & https://shop.troybrewer.com/looking-up/

The Witness of the Stars by E.W. Bullinger https://amzn.to/3PEUu2P & FREE ebook: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/49018

Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning by Richard Hinckley Allen https://amzn.to/3cbw4QI

The Stars, a new way to see them by H.A. Rey https://amzn.to/3c7Ap7l

Materials & Supplies

Digital Downloads

Monthly moons digital download: https://www.valeriesjodin.com/shop/monthly-moon-banners-journal-kit-download

Libra constellation collage sheets digital download:
https://www.valeriesjodin.com/shop/libra-constellation-collage-sheets-digital-download

Stencils

Stars stencil with stars mask edge 9x12”
https://www.stencilgirlproducts.com/stencil-Stars-Stencil-Stars-Mask-Edge-V-Sjodin-p/l843.htm

To see all stencils I’ve designed visit:
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Watercolor paint is applied over stencils with a damp cosmetic sponge. You can watch how to stencil in a journal like this on my blog in the ‘2021 Plan with me‘ posts listed in the main blog menu.

SUPPLIES

160 gsm dotted notebook
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Coliro M600 Artist Mica Watercolor Paint Set – Metallic Watercolor Paints (6-Color Set, 30mm)
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FREE Space digital download

available for a limited time

Digital Art Downloads used in the pages are available in my shop

click here to go to the shop

I am delighted to share this FREE Biblical Astronomy themed digital downloadable with you. It is specially formatted and sized to fit A5 journals (or similar size) or anywhere in your journal, planner, notebook, and Bible journal.

From August 2022-August 2023 posts you can find out more about the Zodiac constellations from a Biblical perspective right here on my blog.

The FREE download includes some of the following verses:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him, and without him
was not any thing made that was made.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1: 1-5 NIV

*

Look up into the heavens.
Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army,
one after another, calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
not a single one is missing.

Isaiah 40:26 NLT

*

The story of God’s plan for humanity is written in the stars. It was written before the written Word was written. God named the stars which come together to tell more details of His story.

He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.

Psalm 147:4 NKJV