Moon Phases and Astrology
- Kyla Stephens
- Jun 16, 2020
- 6 min read
In astrology, the moon is associated with inner emotions and feelings. In total, there are 8 moon phases, and it takes approximately 29.5 days for the moon to complete the cycle. In this article, I will go through all the phases, explaining what they represent in astrology.
Fittingly, the phase of the moon that starts every lunar cycle is called the New Moon. This Moon is located between the Earth and the Sun. Half of the moon is lit by the sun, while the other half remains dark. At the time of the New Moon, the dark side of the moon is facing the sun, thus we don’t see the New Moon in the sky at night. The sun’s light overpowers the very dim light the dark side of the moon gives off. The New Moon also rises and sets at the same time as the Sun. Relating it back to astrology, people often associate this moon phase with downtime in their life. People may feel sadder when the New Moon is out, and it may be harder to recover from an illness/surgery during this phase. To help with this, it is recommended to do away with bad habits, ideas, people, etc. a few days before the New Moon. Then, start afresh once the New Moon happens. Take some time to reflect on how you are feeling and slow down if you need to. You should also take note of what sign the moon phase takes place in, as its influence will be heavy during that time. When the New Moon happens, both the Sun and the Moon are in the same zodiac sign, so its influence will be even more present.
The phases that follows the New Moon are called the Waxing Moons. During this period, the Moon’s illumination increases with each phase. The three Waxing Moon phases are: Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, and Waxing Gibbous.
The Waxing Crescent Moon comes after the New Moon. Because the moon is turning and moving away from the sun, we are able to see a crescent moon. ‘Waxing’ means growth, so as each day passes, the crescent becomes fuller looking. While this moon also rises in the daytime, because it is moving away from the sun, it rises later (right before noon) and sets later (usually before midnight). Since the New Moon acts as a new beginning, the Waxing Crescent Moon in astrology is about setting new intentions. During this phase, think about what you want to gain from these new goals. It is a good time to release your desires and ideas into the world to manifest the things you want. This is the time to get the ball rolling on a project and if you do not stay firm in your intentions, things may not turn out as you hoped they would.
The following phase is called the First Quarter Moon. This usually occurs around a week after the New Moon. During this time, half of the illuminated side of the moon is seen, while the other half remains dark. It gets its name from the fact that we are one quarter of the way through the cycle of moon phases. This combination of both light and dark can cause problems. In astrology, this time may be where you start encountering obstacles to the goals you set during the New Moon. You may not be making as much progress at this time, but do not fret! Continue the fight! The more effort you put into keeping this goal afloat during this phase, the better the outcome you will get. It is not advised to start new things during the First Quarter Moon, as they are likely to be abandoned. While this phase can be difficult, continue to push forward with your goals. If needed, take some time to relax, but don’t give up!
The final Waxing Moon is called Waxing Gibbous. While the moon has yet to become fully illuminated, at this phase, around 50.1 - 99.9% of the illuminated side of the moon is visible. It can also be seen during the day after noon, but usually comes out around evening time. It sets after midnight. After overcoming the obstacles you may have faced during the First Quarter Moon, you should make adjustments to your plans if necessary. Perhaps you realized you dove in too deep, so instead of completely giving up on this goal, adjust it so that you don’t feel as overwhelmed. If you make changes and still don’t feel confident, then you may want to look into other things that may better suit you desires.
We have reached the Full Moon! At this phase, the illuminated side of the moon is completely visible. Unlike the New Moon, where the sun and moon are on the same side of the Earth, the Full Moon is positioned on the opposite side of the Earth than the sun. This also means that the sun and moon are in different zodiac signs, which can cause tension. Emotions may be high, but your ambitions can be high as well, so don’t get too carried away by your feelings. This is a great time to pursue creativity endeavors as you may be full of many new ideas. Those that have put in the work towards their goals will reap the benefits of them during this time. While you may feel full of energy, take it easy, as you may stretch yourself too thin. Pay attention to your emotions and take a step back if needed.
The phases that follow the Full Moon are called the Waning Moons. During this period, the Moon’s illumination decreases with each phase. The three Waning Moon phases are: Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent
The Waning Gibbous Moon comes after the Full Moon. As a reminder, “Waxing” means growth, so “Waning” means getting smaller. Again, only 99.9 - 50.1% of the moon’s illuminated side is visible during this phase. The Waning Gibbous Moon usually rises after sunset, but before midnight. It doesn’t set until sunrise. After you have received the benefits from the hard work you put in during the previous phases, you should reflect on the progress you have made, and be filled with gratitude. Remain humble, as you can quickly lose everything you’ve gained if you take these gifts for granted. Try giving back during this time. Maybe you can encourage others to follow this path so that they can reap the rewards as well. Hold on to this time, as we are getting closer to the beginning of the cycle.
The next Waning phase is called the Last Quarter. This phase is like the other side of the First Quarter Moon. Only half of the moon’s illuminated side is visible, and the half you see depends on where you are on Earth. This usually happens about a week after the Waning Gibbous Moon. This is the time to let go of anything that is holding you back from reaching your goals. If you are holding any grudges, release them into the world and set yourself free. If you cannot rid yourself of toxic things, it will be very difficult to set the intentions you want for the New Moon. The first step is to recognize these bad habits/ideas so that you can correct them. Don’t let them consume you though; reflect on all that you have overcome and embrace your flaws. If you are feeling anxious, find the source of this anxiety and let it go. Doing the things you love can also help you cope with these losses and motivate you for a new start.
You did it! You made it to the last Waning Moon (the final phase of the Moon cycle) called Waning Crescent. During this phase, we are moving closer to the entire dark side of the moon being present, as seen with the following New Moon. This moon usually rises after midnight, and can be seen during the day as it sets around noon. This is the time to relax after all the work you’ve put in during this cycle, so that you can be refreshed and ready to repeat the process again. Again, you can reflect on how this cycle went for you. What worked? What didn’t work? Don’t get too hung up if you feel like this cycle wasn’t as successful as you had hoped. This will soon be in the past, so focus more on what lessons you can take from this cycle to increase the chances of success in the next cycle. It is best to just have some down time now and allow the universe to run its course, so wait until the New Moon to dive into something new. Now to do it all over again!
Resources:
To learn about the Moon in zodiac signs: https://lunaf.com/astrology/moon-in-zodiac/
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