Libra Full Moon: I Am Because We Are

In the 1960s, an eminent European anthropologist was studying a Zulu tribe in Africa. Near the end of his stay, he invited the local children to play a game. The kids were of various ages and sizes; some had disabilities, others held hands with a younger sibling. They were instructed to line up and, at the man’s signal, run 100 yards to where he stood. Whoever reached him first would receive a big bag of candy.

The kids lined up excitedly and the signal was given. At first, a few ran ahead. But after a few yards, they stopped, looked back, and rejoined the others. Then all the children locked arms and ran until they reached the destination together. As he watched them gleefully sharing the goodies, the puzzled anthropologist asked one of the girls, “Why did you all come together? One person could have had all the candy.”  She merely shrugged and responded, “We believe this is how we should be.”

The girl was referring to the ancient African wisdom called ubuntu, often translated as “I am because we are.” In other words, no one can win when others lose.  If I undermine your humanity, I do the same to myself. It’s similar to what Buddhists call interbeing. Practicing ubuntu cuts through the illusion of separate selves to reveal the fact that we’re all connected, all related.

We’re in desperate need of ubuntu these days. The separate self is in the spotlight. War drums are beating. Many are acting on their own behalf, protecting their assets, lashing out against a perceived enemy. Last month, Saturn conjoined Neptune in Aries, initiating an unpredictable new era. The Aries Sun spotlighted both planets soon after. Next, warrior Mars (the Aries ruler) jumps into its own sign from April 9 to May 17. Then messenger Mercury does the same from mid-April thru mid-May. That’s a tremendous amount of dynamic Aries energy, in a Fire Horse year! Aries is not inherently selfish; it’s just impetuous and headstrong. It needs to be counterbalanced by a dose of justice, inclusion and caring for others.

Enter the Libra Full Moon (April 1, 7:12 p.m. PT). As the Moon in Libra opposes the Sun in Aries, both at 12 degrees, they square Jupiter in nurturing, familial Cancer. These planets in action-oriented cardinal signs are sure to catalyze group events, as the air sign full moon spreads the word to gather and share. The ruler of this lunation is Venus, comfortable in Taurus – which she rules. This can bring a feeling of grounding, care for the Earth, even financial support. With both benefics so well placed and no planets retrograde, things can happen quickly. Let’s focus on that which supports the collective, not just the self.

This is a good time to reach out to someone you’ve fallen out with, perhaps a family member. Ubuntu says that those we most vehemently disagree with reflect our own deep wounds. We are all molded by ancestral trauma. To react to another’s pain with anger and fear diminishes the positive momentum we can create together. We are karmically bound up with each other, for better or for worse. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. put it, “I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be.”

At this Full Moon, connect with your tribe or family. African people who practice ubuntu believe that community is essential for collective survival, though individual rights are important too. As these two opposites (Libra and Aries) form a polarity, we’re invited to embrace the ubuntu philosophy and view our humanity as a shared endeavor that sustains us all. Feel the interwoven web of life as a human in relationship with all sentient beings, including nature, animals and the spirit world. Do your best to see yourself as interconnected with others, even those you despise. Prioritize the well-being of the whole.

To practice ubuntu in practical ways, you could give away goodie bags – making sure that everyone gets their share. Or, you might demonstrate for the kind of world you want – not just against the kind you don’t want. You could greet others with hands pressed together over your heart and a slight bow, as the Hindus do, saying namaste (“The divine in me greets the divine in you.”) Or, you could use the South African greeting sawubona (“I see you”) to spread the ubuntu spirit. Please let me know how it goes!