The Message of the Starts Chapter 2 - Libra
by Ian Michaels
     

LIBRA – THE SCALES, the Required Price Paid
The major sign in this second house is Libra meaning “The Scales” in Latin. In Hebrew, it is Mozanaim, “The Scales Weighing.” This calls to mind the word to King Darius in the book of Daniel;
You are weighed in the balances (scales) and are found wanting.
​[Daniel 5:27]

Libra presents a picture of two scales, one higher and one lower. These scales represent the whole theme of redemption. There is a price due for sin and someone MUST pay it. But who is worthy? And what does redemption mean anyway?
Redemption comes from the Latin word, “emptio” which means “to buy” or “to purchase” with the prefix “re.” In the word, “redemption,” the “d” is put in merely for euphony so that there are not two “e’s” in a row. So, “redemption” means “to purchase back.”
Sometimes, even a secular artist can write the most amazing lyrics under inspiration. A lyric that has always stuck with me is from the song entitled “Woodstock” by Joni Mitchell;
We are star dust
We are golden
Yet we’re caught in the devil’s bargain
And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden

This is so profound and so biblically based. I am certain she did not comprehend the full extent of what she was saying. The problem with the business of getting “back to the garden” is that there is a heavy price required - a purchasing back to get us free from the “devil’s bargain.” Libra speaks to us of the costly price required to buy us back from the clutches of Satan’s grip. Libra assures that the costly price can and will be paid in full by the promised Messiah, our wonderful Redeemer.

He … redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
[Psalm 106:10b]

There are three bright stars in this constellation which tell it all. The brightest star in the lower scale is called Zuben al Genubi, which means, “the Price Deficient.” This is all of us who have fallen short of the glory of Elohim (see Romans 3:23). Man left to his own effort can not achieve the righteousness required and remains hopelessly condemned.
But, in the upper scale, there is another bright star with the name, Zuben al Chemali meaning “the Price Which Covers.” With Messiah placed in the scales, we have the weight which causes us to be acceptable.

He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of Elohim in Him.
[2 Corinthians 5:21]


You are worthy…for You were slain, and have redeemed us to Elohim by Your blood...
[Revelation 5:9]

The third brightest star is located just outside the bottom of the lower scale and is called Zuben Akrabi which means “the Price of the Conflict” and signifies just how much it cost our Redeemer to purchase that covering for us. In some of the ancient pictures of the zodiac it is interesting to see that the lower scale is held in the claw of the Scorpion – a picture of mankind held in the grip of Satan.

CRUX – THE SOUTHERN CROSS
Crux is The Cross commonly known as “The Southern Cross.” It is situated directly under the feet of The Centaur. This is a constellation that actually looks like the picture it portrays – a cross. It is found in the very lowest part of the sphere and in the darkest part of the heavens. Due to the precession of the equinoxes, The Southern Cross is sometimes visible and sometimes not, at different times and centuries.
In Hebrew this decan is called Adom which means “The Cutting Off.”

After threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off.
[Daniel 9:26]

Here we have the connection of the Messiah with The Crux and how it is to represent “the cutting off” of the Messiah.

It is interesting that this constellation, though it is now far to the south from the latitude of Jerusalem had been seen there every night at midnight for many centuries directly above the city. It disappeared from view at almost exactly the time that Messiah, died on the cross, and amazingly was replaced by the constellation called Corona, “The Crown.”
One can only be in awe of the mathematical precision of the One who designed the constellations to have the Crown replace the Cross directly above Jerusalem at precisely that time in history.

But we see Y’shua….for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor.
[Hebrews 2:9]

VICTIMA – THE VICTIM
This second decan of Libra is found directly below the Scales. It is a picture of an animal seen in the act of falling over dead by the spear of the two-natured Centaur. In Latin, he is called Lupus, The Wolf. In Greek, he is simply referred to as Thera meaning “a beast” of some sort. The earliest Arabian figure shows the victim as Sura, The Lamb. One of the stars in Victima is called Asedah in Hebrew and Asedaton in Arabic, both meaning “To Be Slain.” Here we see a clear prophetic message that it was YHWH’s intention from the beginning that Messiah would be slain to save us. This is why Revelation 13:8 calls Him “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” It bears repeating that the two-natured Centaur who stands directly above the Cross is Messiah as well and that He is the One who is doing the slaying.

I lay down My life for the sheep…No man takes it (My life) from me…I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
[John 10:15, 18]

We know from the Scriptures that the Messiah was to be the Great High Priest who would offer the final sacrifice, but it also tells us that the sacrifice would be none other than Himself.

He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
[Isaiah 53:5]

Who need not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: this He did once, when He offered up Himself.
[Hebrews 7:27]

The Egyptians called Victima, Horus, “The Coming One” who was portrayed not as an animal, but a youth, the son of The Virgin. He is pictured with his finger over his mouth signaling silence. The Greeks and Romans called him Harpocrates meaning “Victim of Justice.” Among the Romans, Harpocrates was known as the god of silence or quiet submission.

…as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth.
[Isaiah 53:7b]

The message of Victima is that Messiah will be the silent submissive sufferer, The Lamb who gives Himself up for the sins of the world.

CORONA, THE CROWN
This decan is also known as Corona Borealis, The Northern Crown. Y’shua has risen from the depths of the Southern Cross, all the way up to the heights of the Northern Crown. He has suffered, but now He is exalted forevermore.

…And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore Elohim also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name..
[Philippians 2:6-9]


If you’ll notice, each house (sign, chapter) of the zodiac ends its final decan in one of glory; one of victory; of triumph either for Messiah or for His followers.

In Arabic, this constellation is known as Al Iclil which means “An Ornament” or “Jewel.” Have you ever heard it said that we, His followers are the jewels in His crown? What He did, He did for us and those who are truly hidden in Him, share in His death and His glorious victory. The brightest star in Corona is called Al Phecca which means “The Shining.” We will shine with Him “as the sun,” as the song “Amazing Grace” goes.
The Crown also reminds us that there is a crown awaiting us who are willing to take up the cross and follow Him.

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life.
[Revelation 2:10]

The Southern Cross is no longer in the midnight sky over Jerusalem. For the past 2,000 years, The Northern Crown has taken its place. What an awesome message we have in this house called Libra!

References: "The Gospel in the Stars" by Joseph Seiss & "The Real Meaning of the Zodiac" by Dr. James Kennedy,Ph.D.