According to some, the key to good negotiation is having an intimate understanding of what the other party wants. In order to do that, you need a clear head and the ability to put yourself in their shoes. The trick is not to either overly identify with them and therefore diminish your own needs or to gloss over a detail that is highly important to them. Being able to offer empathy and refocus the conversation on outcomes everyone wants is an advanced skill, and one that will come in handy with this new moon.
Tending to your communication style is an important step in harnessing the energy of this new moon productively. Communication is a complex animal, and we’ll be feeling that complexity acutely with Mercury being retrograde in Libra until 10.18. So much communication happens non-verbally. That’s not to say that the words you choose don’t matter. However, we’ve all either been on the receiving end or been that person yelling, “I’m not angry!!” Or another one I’m guilty of is telling my son to “Just relax.” when I’m obviously annoyed and it always has the opposite effect. Go figure. Words matter, but the emotion behind them matters more. The good news is that this Mercury retrograde period (9.27-10.18) is an opportune time to uplevel your listening and communication skills. The spiritual teacher Tara Brach has two great talks on Deep Listening which you can access here and here.
Libra sometimes gets a bad rap for being conflict-averse. While that may be true at times, I’ve also known Libra to go to great lengths to find fair, tactful ways to address issues to make sure differences in opinion don’t erode the quality and trust of a relationship. Right now your radar for any underlying issues is on high alert. Because Mars is conjunct this new moon, you will need to act. And it may be in ways that are uncomfortable and messy. However, my hope is that those involved will fight fair, and ultimately the peace and harmony you crave will be available to you when you engage and find a resolution.
Intentions: I focus my intention on the outcome I want instead of trying to change anyone. I let go of black and white thinking and remain open to feedback and compromise to get to a solution that works for everyone.
9.20 Full Moon in Pisces: Your Cosmic Dance