Thereus in Libra: Revolutions in Politics, Art, Culture & Relationships (2024-2028)

Thereus the Hunter-Stalker astrologically signifies the individual and collective impulse to either predate or protect. It is a powerful evolutionary catalyst that, often through harsh experiences, forces a response that overpowers or mitigates the initial real or perceived threat.  

Trying to tone down Thereus's nature or see it as some benevolent god who believes in tough love is unwise. Thereus was a hunter of bears, and he would stalk them—then burst into their cave, hit them on the head with a club, and drag them out kicking and screaming. Dressing that up does no one any favours.

Between 12 October 2024 and 21 July 2028, we'll be experiencing Thereus in Libra (with a few months of retrograde back into Virgo in mid-2025).  

Thereus was previously in Libra between 1955-1958 and 1989-1993. As a Doctor of Political Science, my first instinct is to note that these periods saw significant social and political activism and legal transformation. In the late 50s, for example, we saw the intensification of the civil rights movement. In the early 90s, we saw the withdrawal of the Baltic states from the USSR and the reunification of East and West Germany.

Naturally, that is a tiny snippet of what happened in those times. If we were to consider decolonial movements worldwide, it would be a much more complex picture. For instance, India promulgated its Citizenship Act and Protection of Civil Rights Act in 1955. There's a resonance here.

Bear in mind that astrology cannot be used to ascertain causality, especially when reducing things to a single body. Its strength lies in the consistency of patterns of correlation. However, interesting resonances can lead to plausible extrapolation.

Returning to Thereus in Libra: Note that Libra deals with matters of law and justice, diplomacy (or the effort at least), interpersonal boundaries, the delineation of borders (us vs. them or us and them), contracts, interpersonal connections, relationships, art, beauty, and the wider field of activity that makes up culture.

We've looked a little at politics - what about the rest?

What did the late 50s and early 90s give rise to in terms of art and culture? (We'll look at relationships after that)

In 1955-1956 alone, we saw things like the beat poet Allen Ginsberg reciting Howl (which some see as the birth of counter-culture), the premiering of the Mickey Mouse Club, movies like Rebel without a Cause, Elvis' first television premiere, Norma Jeane Mortenson changing her name to Marilyn Monroe, and so on.

Something was going on here. New expressions of music and creativity were coming to the fore, but embedded injustices came in with many of them. Be it the racism of some of the old Disney cartoons, the fact that so much of Elvis' music was inspired by black musicians who did not get the acknowledgment they deserved, or the sheer level of controversy, objectification, and predation surrounding Marylin Monroe. And on the other hand, we had things like Howl, which Brittanica.com describes as a passionate declaration against the " soulless, materialist, money-obsessed obscenity of American society". It’s also interesting that in Marylin Monroe was a civil rights activist who advocated against segregation, though her radical politics is largely overlooked.

In the early 1990s, music emerged as a rebellion against what was perceived as political conservatism and an obsession with the crass materialism of the 1980s (Think Nirvana or R.E.M.'s ' Losing My Religion' ... ). We also saw R&B, rap, and hip-hop become more integrated into the mainstream (at least in the United States). Brittney Spears and her objectification and abuse bore eerily similar parallels to Marilyn Monroe. As with the 50s, new music and cultural performance formats came to the fore - either critiquing some excess or abuse, demonstrating it, or embedding it into the culture in ways that further generations would then have to deconstruct.

Again, this can be an extended discussion if we include what is happening in other cultures. There would still be patterns of resonance.

Whether it's in music or politics, what we see with Thereus in Libra is two-fold:

The abuse (overt or covert predation, entitlement, etc.)

The response ( resistance, political change, counter-culture, etc.)

In the next few years, I hope we will see more political engagement and artistic innovation that pushes back against the excesses and abuses we see in the world. I hope this will inspire political change that is truly inclusive, fair, and representative.

It can be a time for radical expressions of creativity and political transformation - and the weighted hand of oppression that seeks to block that change. What we learn from Thereus comes through the engagement of these two principles.

You might wonder what this means for you at the personal, day-to-day level (unless you were an activist, politician, artist, etc.) - and that's where we look at relationships.

Libra is about the contractual nature of the partnership. It is literally about the give-and-take we have with others. Most relationships are built in this way. Some idealize unconditional giving as though it were a pedestal; however, that is often what burns people out in the long run.

Even in the presence of two deeply loving people, there has to be that exchange of energy, resources, and time for the connection to replenish in a mutual way.

Here are some questions to consider:

• What are you bringing to each connection you are in?

• What or who are you taking for granted?

• How can you re-balance this - and in a way the other party needs?

• Alternatively - how are you being taken for granted?

• Has a request for re-balancing the scales been met?

Truthfully, this should be the norm for any connection. But Thereus will force the question upon those who have not asked it, be it the one who takes or is drained from excessive giving. And when things are vastly out of balance, it can lead to grievous abuse.

Do note that Thereus in Libra can easily lead to victim-blaming but also to situations where the abuser claims to be the victim and places the blame on them, i.e., deflects blame.

If you find yourself constantly blamed for someone else's misfortunes in life, look at the concept of the ' covert, vulnerable narcissist'. This is a terribly insidious way of guilt-tripping and weaponizing empathy, pity, and sympathy. It is not the same as calling someone out for their entitlement or pointing out systemic oppression - those are actually valid.

But not everyone who claims to be the victim is.

And not everyone who is painted as the abuser is.

You have to examine it first, especially with Thereus at play.

This is why looking at yourself first and holding yourself accountable to the appropriate degree is key. While you are not responsible for another's actions, you can examine how you got into that situation and make changes to avoid repeating that pattern. It's hard to know when you're being played otherwise without knowing where (and if) you have anything to learn, change, or do in that situation.

Taking a step back from the personal to the larger picture - astrologically we have a few more directions to explore with this transit.

Between 2024 and 2025, Thereus will aspect Borasisi (the False Light), the Nodes, Uranus, Pluto, Saturn, and Neptune. We are asked to examine our balance with others and the wider world honestly. Key questions to explore:

• What falsehoods do we still hold onto in the way we see ourselves and others?

• What can we do to truly light the flame of change in ways that inspire the masses?

• Will technology create more backdoors and avenues of abuse - or will it rectify its errors?

• What is your personal relationship with the state, politics, and the framework of law?

• What is your personal relationship with technology and social media?

• Where are excesses being committed what can you do to right things, and with whom?

• How have you nurtured and supported those who create beauty and inspire justice in the world?

• How can you best support these efforts - or be supported in them?

Ultimately, the microcosm leads back to the macrocosm, and so on.

The truth will come from somewhere beyond the binary, where one realizes that the external clash of energies and principles is what is happening at the surface. This is where the actual work of Spirituality comes in, but that is a journey for each to find in their own way.

It is wise to remember that Spirit works in many different ways. The one who fights for justice and the one who walks for peace respond to the same call differently. As spiritual beings on this earth during a crisis, we cannot afford to look the other way and do nothing.

Maintaining a facade of calm or tranquility in the face of raw injustice is also not necessarily spiritual. Sometimes Spirit roars through your anger and grieves through your tears.

Do what you can, and leave the rest to Spirit.

Create what you are inspired to.

Defend what moves you.

Support what inspires you.

And trust in the larger process.

A lot more can be said, but this is a general introduction.

Dr. Bairavee, The Sky Priestess

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Video and Text © Dr. Bairavee, The Sky Priestess, 2013-2024. All rights reserved

Image: Free to Use via Pixabay. Person wearing black hoodie and mask by Pablo Ezequiel Nieva