Librans, born between September 23rd and October 22nd, are astrologically aligned with the pursuit of balance, love of beauty, and diplomatic nature. As the seventh sign of the Zodiac, they arrive in the middle of the Astrological year, as summer gives way to autumn, and the long days give way to the balance of the dark. Symbolised by the scales, balance and harmony are at the core of the Libran character, constantly seeking equilibrium in both their personal and social spheres.
The Zodiac tradition is one of many that link humans to the cosmos and spirit animals, but it is not the only one. Across many different cultures there are rich myths, legends, and traditions that explore this deep spiritual connection between humans and their inner animals. In this exploration, we’ll delve into the Libra spirit animals found in various cultures that resonate with the essence of this Zodiac sign.
Libra In The Western Zodiac – The Scales
Libra is symbolized by the scales, representing the sign’s mythological roots and constant search for balance and fairness. Ruled by Venus, the planet of love and beauty, Librans are often drawn to the aesthetics of things, and to harmony in both their personal and professional lives.
Why the Scales of Justice?
The identification with the scales goes back thousands of years and across many cultures. In each case, the scales symbolise the Libran eternal quest for balance and justice. Traits typical to this sign support the core driver which is to create equilibrium in every aspect of their lives, from relationships to the environment.
Mythological Roots
The earliest known depiction of Libra dates back to the ancient Babylonians. They saw this constellation as the scales, representing the balance between the seasons, particularly the balance of day and night at the time of the autumn equinox.
In Greek mythology, Libra is associated with the goddess of justice, Themis, or in some accounts, her daughter Dike. Themis was one of the Titans, known for her great wisdom and fairness. In these legends, the scales symbolise the careful weighing of options, a metaphor for justice, harmony and balance.
The Romans, influenced by the Babylonians and Greeks before them, continued this astrological association with justice. They linked Libra to Astraea, the virgin goddess of innocence and purity, who’s myth was heavily influenced by the Greek goddess Dike. According to the myth, Astraea was the last immortal to leave Earth at the end of the Silver Age. When she ascended to heaven, she became the constellation Virgo, and the scales of justice she carried became the nearby constellation Libra.
Facts About Libra
- Date: September 23 – October 22
- Element: Air
Libra, governed by the enchanting Venus, holds a unique place in the zodiac as the epitome of balance and harmony. Standing in contrast to the meticulous and detail-oriented nature of Virgo, this air sign is all about establishing equilibrium and fostering relationships. Envision a natural diplomat, a seeker of beauty, and a champion of justice; these are the Librans, always striving to create harmony in their surroundings.
Marking a significant transition in the astrological cycle, Libra takes its position as the seventh sign in the Zodiac, following Virgo and preceding Scorpio. This placement establishes Libra’s role as the mediator and harmoniser, integrating the lessons and qualities of the preceding signs.
Utilizing Libran Traits
As a Libra, embracing your natural diplomacy and fairness can lead to success in career fields like law, social work, mediation, and relationship counselling where balance and harmony are key.
Personality Traits of Libra
Positive Libra Traits – Diplomacy, Charm, Fairness
- Diplomatic:
Librans are natural peacemakers. They possess a diplomatic grace, skilfully navigating conflicts with fairness and tact, always seeking harmony in relationships and environments. They can often find compromise where conflict seems inevitable, mediating peace like no other sign can
- Charming:
Librans are the Zodiac’s charmers, with a natural inclination towards beauty and aesthetics. They are complement givers, and not just at face value either. They make an effort to look good and to impress, it means something to them deeply.
- Fair-Minded:
Justice and fairness are paramount for Librans; they are always striving to create balance, but the flip side of that is they can feel injustice deeply. Librans are on the edge between emotion and intellect when it comes to pursuing fairness – they either have a knack for it, or they don’t.
- Social:
With an innate love for social interaction, Librans thrive in company. They are charming conversationalists, often the glue in social gatherings, bringing people together with ease and positivity.
Challenging Libra Traits – Indecisive, Conflict Aversion, People Pleaser, Over-dependant
- Indecisive:
In their quest for balance, a Libran can sometimes become lost to indecision, as they weigh every option carefully. Too many options can give them a real headache, so they do better with companions that are happy to take the lead.
- Avoids Confrontation:
Librans might avoid necessary confrontations to maintain harmony. Their peace making nature is a positive trait for sure, but not when it comes at the cost of calling out injustice for the sake of a quiet life.
- People-Pleasing:
Their desire for harmony can sometimes lead Librans to prioritize others’ happiness over their own, resulting in a tendency to please others, even at their own expense.
- Dependency:
They often seek partnership, thriving better in relationships or communities than independently, alone. If they don’t work to maintain confidence they can become overly reliant on others for decision-making.
Compatibility with Other Signs
Librans are most compatible with fellow air signs Gemini and Aquarius, as well as fire signs Aries and Sagittarius. These signs appreciate Libra’s love for harmony and balance and share their intellectual and social nature.
Libra’s Spirit Animals
- Rabbit: The Gentle Harmonizer
Rabbits have an inherent loving nature. They are affectionate, loyal and friendly, much like Librans who are ruled by love. With their soft fur and gentle demeanor, these little lovable fluffballs reflect Libra’s affinity for beauty and stable partnerships.
- Dove: The Symbol of Peace
Doves, are widely associated with peace and partnership, known for entering monogamous relationships for life. Occasionally released at weddings and celebrations of unity, these birds resonate with Libra’s dedication to relationships. As elegant birds symbolising peace and harmony, doves perfectly align with Libra’s peaceful nature.
- Raven: The Intelligent Socialite
While cloaked in mystery and lore, Ravens are very social birds, and are known to make decision based on group consensus too. For example, when it comes to deciding when to take flight in the evening to their resting places, they are known to do this through chorus. When the majority of the group concur, they take flight. These behaviours mirror Libra’s social nature, focus on relationships and on their diplomatic skill.
The Raven’s peaceful yet strong demeanor, and their capacity for intelligence align with Libra’s pursuit of balance and fairness.
- Swan: The Epitome of Grace
The graceful swan is the perfect symbol of Love and Peace. They have some of the most heart warming courtship displays and are well aligned to Libra in their representation of love and harmony. The swan’s beauty and lifelong partnerships mirror Libra’s love for aesthetics and committed relationships.
- White Wolf: The Cooperative Leader
White wolves are known for their strong pack bonds and family hierarchies, reflecting Libra’s strengths in cooperation and meaningful relationships. Their striking appearance and position as a keystone species resonate with Libra’s love for beauty and balance.
Libra Spirit Animals In Other Cultures
Celtic: Ivy & The Butterfly – The Harmonizer
In Celtic Astrology, the alignment of the signs is different to those in the Zodiac, and they also have an affiliation with different trees and and stones that pair with the spirit animal. Within the Astrological phase of Libra, there are two Celtic phases that overlap:
- The Vine – September 2 – September 29 – The Hound or White Swan
- The Ivy – September 30th – October 27th – Butterfly or Boar
The Vine in Libra only pairs for a few days at the start of the period however. It is those born under Ivy (September 30th – October 27th) that have the most in common with Libra. The spirit animals that are aligned with Ivy are the Butterfly and the Boar, but it is the former that embodies more fully the spirit of Libra.
The butterfly symbolises transformation, beauty, and balance which are deeply tied into Libra’s love for harmony and aesthetics. In the Celtic cycle, the traits for this phase include charisma, optimism, collaboration and restlessness and these twin closely with Libra too.
Native American – The Raven
The Native American or Amerindian Shamanic ‘Wheel of Life’ and the Western Zodiac align to the same phases throughout the year, but are represented by different symbols. The Native American Zodiac is represented by spirit animals deeply rooted in the history and heritage of the people.
The animal that aligns with Libra in this system is the Raven (September 22nd – October 22nd). Traits of the Raven from these cultures that can be seen in Libra are its intelligence and balance between the physical and spiritual realms. These mirror Libra’s intellectual nature and their quest for balance in all aspects of life.
Norse – Gebo & The Swan
In Norse mythology, ‘Gebo‘ is the rune that symbolises the concept of gift giving or partnership. It represents the balance and equality inherent in any exchange, whether it’s material, emotional, or spiritual. The spirit of Gebo aligns with Libra’s focus on equality, fair play and harmony, particularly in relationships.
How does the swan fit into this? Well the swan’s beauty and commitment in relationships mirror Libra’s appreciation for aesthetics and their desire for stable, balanced partnerships. In the context of Norse mythology, the Swan’s symbolism with these traits resonate with the values represented by both Libra and the Gebo rune. It is a fitting spirit animal that bridges the two traditions.
Chinese – The Dog
In the Chinese Zodiac, each year is associated with an animal in a 12-year cycle. It’s similar in structure to the Western Zodiac but over a much longer timescale. Because of this it doesn’t align with the Western Zodiac very well, but parallels can be drawn when it comes to the animal symbolism in each.
The Dog in Chinese Astrology seems to be the most significant twin for Libra, known for its loyalty, fairness, and harmonious nature. These traits align with Libra’s quest for justice, balance, and harmonious relationships, making the Dog a fitting spirit animal for those born under this sign.
Mayan – Tz’ikin & The Eagle
The Mayan calendars can be quite complex and there is more than one. In their more regular system, they have a different symbol for each of the 20 ‘day sign’ periods and the differences in structure make a direct equivalent to Libra or any zodiac sign, open to interpretation. However, we can find parallels.
It is the day sign ‘Tz’ikin‘ that draws the closest resemblance to Libra. This day sign that represents the bird, often associated with vision, freedom, and the intermediary between the earthly and spiritual realms. The aspect of vision and mediation between different realms aligns with Libra’s ability to understand and balance opposing viewpoints, seeking harmony in the process.
Eagles bridge the two cultures as symbols of power, freedom, and spiritual vision. As a spirit animal, the eagle for Libra, in the context of Mayan culture, emphasizes the ability to see the bigger picture, to balance different aspects of life, and to connect on a deeper, more spiritual level.
Connecting with Libra Spirit Animals
Spirit animals serve as guiding lights on our life’s journey, helping us tap into our deeper spiritual essence and uncovering profound insights about our character, tendencies, and path in life. They often reflect attributes we see within ourselves, whether it’s the diplomatic spirit of a raven or the beauty and harmony of a swan.
In numerous cultures and traditions, these creatures are not just mirrors but also mentors, guiding us to access our inner wisdom and make choices that align with our true selves. This harmonious relationship between nature and our inner world is the crux of the spirit animal connection.
Embracing these spirit animals can help Librans connect with their inherent qualities, finding guidance and inspiration in the traits these creatures embody.
The True Nature of a Libra Spirit Animal
These spirit animals may reveal themselves during pivotal moments in life, in states of deep meditation, or even within our dreams. Embracing the concept of spirit animals allows Librans to seek wisdom and guidance, aiding them in decision-making, unravelling life’s mysteries, and navigating challenges.
The spirit animals of Libra reflect the sign’s harmonious and balanced nature – they are graceful yet just, diplomatic yet drawn to the aesthetic beauty of things.
Libra not your sign? Check out our other Zodiac Spirit Animal pages to find your sign. Not all spirit animals are associated with the zodiac, so we’ve also compiled posts on specific spirit animals unrelated to astrological signs for your exploration!