“Truly successful decision making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking.” -Malcolm Gladwell
The best-selling book, “Blink,” by Malcolm Gladwell uncovers how the human mind is able to make decisions very quickly and based on seemingly few pieces of data. The author combines cognitive research with experiements and real-life situations to illustrate how our “adaptive unconscious” can render swift and accurate decisions about things in our lives. 
What we consider a “gut” response is really our mind processing information that we may not consciously be aware of. Mr. Gladwell interviews a professor who studied the interactions between couples in order to determine the long-term viability of their relationships. By videotaping the couples he was able to study their interactions at a very detailed level, noting the quick and almost imperceptible exchanges that happened between them. What this professor found was that if either person exhibited contempt towards the other, either through their speech or body language, the probability of the couple separating was much greater than if no contempt were observed. It was only by breaking down the interactions to such a degree that this behavior could be recognized.
Blink advocates that we trust our instincts when making decisions. It shows that very important decisions can be made in a few seconds. And it suggests that our decisions will become more and more accurate when we are already proficient with the subject matter. You’ll recall the September new moon in Virgo offered us the opportunity to become better prepared for meeting opportunities. We also see that being prepare aids in our decision-making abilities as well.
Astrology of the New Moon
“Blink,” came to mind while studying the chart for the October 2009 New Moon. This month the new moon occurs at 24 degrees of Libra on October 18, 2009. In astrology Libra is the sign of the scales and is about the ability to weigh options and make decisions based on the objective and rational consideration of the balance or imbalance our choices will create. The potential challenge with Libra energy is that is can so clearly see both sides of an issue or choice that it may be unable to actually make a decision.
The power of our adaptive unconscious is that it already has all of the information it needs. When we begin to consider more and more options it will only slow down our decision-making process and lead to faulty choices. One of the characteristics of a well-made decision is its timeliness. Once the plane takes off your ability to decide to fly to Chicago is moot.
The new moon will be in trine aspect (120 degrees) to Neptune, meaning the energy of Neptune will flow unimpeded (the trine) with the energy of the moon. Neptune in astrology is about idealism, vision, and compassion. During this cycles it will be important to make decisions in a way that reflects our ideals, move us closer to the vision we have for our lives, and creates the most good for ourselves and others.
The new moon is also in square aspect (90 degrees) to the south node, which suggests we may need fight agianst the past (south node) and avoid making choices that no longer serve who we are today. It suggests that we examine our unconscious drives that may influence why we make the choices that we do. It’s time to uncover the hidden forces that have sway over us so that we can make healthier choices that propel us towards the future instead of holding us to the past. [astrology-roadsigns]
Libra is considered a cardinal sign- meaning its stlye of expression is active and engages with the environment. Likewise, our decisions have ramifications in our lives and the act of making a choice propels us down one path and not another. The act of relating and socialing, two other Libran traits, is also active and brings us into contact with others. And finally, the Libran need for balance is also active- the scales can achieve balance only by constantly adjusting itself by adding or removing weight from one side or the other.
The lessons of astrology help us live in harmony with the cycles in and around us. Over the past few months I’ve talked about recognizing your leadership abilities, preparing yourself for opportune times, and displaying courage. Use the Libra new moon to actively engage with life by making effective choices that reflect your vision, foster relationships, and result in a sense of peace and harmony. These are all pieces of the cosmic puzzle that can come together and carry us forward individually and collectively.
Namaste’
