Decan Spotlight: Libra III: The Four Of Swords — Expansive Inertia

Greetings Mystic,

We are entering the third decan of Libra (20-30°), ruled by Jupiter and represented in the Rider-Waite Smith Tarot by the 4 of Swords. This period spans from October 13th through October 21st/22nd, balancing the apex of expansion through immobilization or meditation.  

Astrological Meaning of Libra IIl:

Libra’s third decan brings us to the mystical realm of inner expansion through external pause. Here, we think of our solar system’s giants, Jupiter and Saturn, balancing

through their mutual gravitational pull. Esoterically, Jupiter is expansion, and Saturn is restriction. And so, by balancing our actions through meditative thinking, adequate sleep, and physical rest, we can ensure our mental clarity leads to big and successful outcomes.

Shadow side: Mental restlessness, difficulty communicating during confrontations, vain sacrifices, insomnia, and laziness.

Tarot Correspondence:

The image of the 4 of Swords is perplexing. Is the Knight asleep or dead? Is it a moment of rest or mourning? Prayer or meditation? Something has occurred that has brought the Knight to a deep rest. The glass-stained window reveals the rich inner world that the resting Knight is experiencing of the outer world. The message is clear when the 4 of Swords shows up: rest and recovery are essential. Even more so if you’ve been feeling burned out or moving too fast for too long. With stillness comes inspiration and the expansion of the inner world, which will pay off when the knight awakens, ready to manifest the gifts that were attained during their slumber. Whether you’re due for the seasonal blues or recovering from an injury/surgery, deep rest is fate slumbering over you, reminding you of your destiny and what you came to embody.

Make it stand out

✨Special Decan Addition:

I will add a special highlight in this excerpt by sharing this decan’s expression through one of my favorite natal charts to study, that of world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, and bring focus on how, in a decan’s most literal sense, showcases how impactful their presence are through our natal  charts. You see, the astrological decans in our birth chart provide details about the broader context of our soul's journey and what we came to experience in this incarnation. A grand tapestry between fate, destiny, and free will. Stephen Hawking was a British theoretical physicist and cosmologist, renowned for his groundbreaking theories on the universe and his significant contributions to the field of science. Among Mr. Hawking's most famous headlines, the modern-day world ultimately recognizes him by the crippling condition, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), that both immobilized and

immortalized his image through his contributions to humanity. In Tropical Astrology, using the Whole House system, we can identify Libra III at 26° in his Ascendant (birth time: 2:29 AM, as determined via multiple reliable websites). Let’s break down the astrology and its tarot correspondence a bit and watch the butterfly unfold its magick. (And this is just ONE of the magnificent details in his birth chart!)

Your Ascendant will always be in your 1st house, which rules your ego/image, how others generally perceive you, and your aura’s signature “scent”.

In Hawking’s Tropical chart, we see Libra III at the starting point of his Ascendant, showcasing not only the immobilization of this Knight in The 4 of Swords, but the literal expansion of his mind through the physical entombment he lived through. The fact that he was born on a Jupiter-ruled day, Thursday, on the expressive hour of the Sun (Chaldean order) adds even more grandeur to his aura and physical appearance (Libra rules symmetry and aesthetics). Hawking is the most literal and kismet expression of this Decan every time I see it and I often come back to his chart anytime I get lost in decanic translation.

The Conjunction:
When Libra III meets the 4 of Swords, we are firmly counseled to take rest in order to preserve the physical body from extreme burnout. Think of this time as the hardware (physical body) due for an update to run the latest and fastest software (the mind) with minimal glitches. As always, with Libra, there is balance to keep in mind. If we do not expand our inner world through voluntary rest and meditation, illness and fate have a way of grounding us in order to redirect our path.

Elements: Jupiter and Libra Air

Esoterically, Jupiter is expansion and abundance and governs all things related to wisdom, higher education, international travel, and luck. If Saturn is the grandfather, think of Jupiter as the husband. When Jupiter and Libra Air combine, prepare for the unlikely and unexpected to unravel in the most sophisticated mystical fashion. This would be an ideal time to add the finishing touches to party plans, travel packages, and home renovations. Fated encounters, visions, dreams, and ideas are also likely to come to you during this time, especially while visiting historic areas, art museums, libraries etc (or spacing out during class). Paying attention to the mystical droplets of inspiration and guidance during this time will nourish what is in place and extend further expansion for what can evolve.

Want to explore how Libra III energy

is showing up in your Astrology Chart or life through the lens of Tarot? Catch a flying star and book your one-on-one session with me as I guide you through it via Zoom! (recordings available for keepsakes).