The Moon in Your Chart and Your Daily Life
Astrology and the Phases of the Moon
Understanding the Moon phases is necessary to make astrology really work for you. There are two ways to think about lunar phases in astrology: the Moon in your chart (your natal horoscope), and the Moon’s motions from day to day that affect your everyday activities.
Astrology and the Moon in Your Chart
When you were born, the Moon was in one of the four major phases: first quarter (New to half full), second quarter (half full to full), third quarter (full to half full), or fourth quarter (half full to New).
Traditionally, each of the lunar phases is associated with a certain element that colors your lunar (emotional and intuitive) expression. To fully understand your emotional motivations, the lunar phase element must be combined with the meaning of the lunar sign at your birth.
- First Quarter – Air (hot and moist, associated with the first season, Spring). Spontaneity, intellect, strong feelings. Moon is 0.0-90.0 degrees past the Sun in the horoscope.
- Second Quarter – Fire (hot and dry, associated with the second season, Summer). Passion, impulsiveness, conquest. Moon is 90.1-180.0 degrees past the Sun in the horoscope.
- Third Quarter – Earth (cold and dry, associated with the third season, Autumn). Analysis, caution/pragmatism, low level of emotion, depression. Moon is 180.1 -270.0 degrees past the Sun in the horoscope.
- Fourth Quarter – Water (cold and moist, associated with the fourth season, Winter). Intense emotional life, desire, deep and hidden undercurrents. Moon is 270.1 – 360.0 degrees past the Sun in the horoscope.
As an example, say that your natal horoscope shows the Moon in Gemini in the fourth “watery” quarter. Gemini is an airy, mutable sign, and it is considered hot and moist. The fourth quarter is associated with the quality of water, so the sign and the lunar phase share the quality of moisture, which will therefore be emphasized.
This will be a pretty emotional Moon in Gemini, floating here and there on the currents of feelings. Mutable signs and the element of water share the quality of inconstancy and fluctuation. So, all other things being equal, we have a strongly emotional person here, with a changeable quality. Today they love you forever; tomorrow they hate you with equal fervor – not just your average Moon in Gemini! The natal application of Moon phases in astrology can be tremendously revealing.
The Moon Phases in Your Life
Another way to appreciate and use the lunar phases is in your daily life. Here, we look at the Moon’s cycle a little differently. We distinguish between the New Moon, waxing Moon (increasing in light), Full Moon, and waning Moon (decreasing in light). Each of the moon phases is good for different activities, though you would also want to make sure that the planets ruling your objective are not afflicted:
New Moon (Moon conjunct Sun) – few activities benefit from the New Moon, doing anything you want to remain hidden is a notable exception.
Waxing Moon – anything you want to increase; planting your garden, cutting your hair to get more growth, building a house or business.
Full Moon (Moon opposite Sun) – similar to New Moon, but activities which should get a lot of attention benefit from starting on the Full Moon.
Waning Moon – anything you want to decrease; pruning plants, doing your taxes.
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