Working with Moon Phases
A Look at our present Leo Moon Cycle
Every New and Full Moon, there is someone asking me if it is affecting their chart, because something is “happening”. Let’s take a moment to talk about Moon Phases, and how you can tell if it is impacting your chart, and if it is, in what ways? I’ll use our present Moon cycle as an example, so you can think about it in present time. Some of it has just happened, and some of it is yet to happen.
MEANING OF THE LIGHTS: SUN & MOON
The Sun and Moon are, of course, the most important “planets”. The Sun is actually a star and the Moon is a satellite of Earth. We astrologers often call them planets, simply for ease in speaking about all the objects that influence us.
There are many descriptors for all the planets, including Sun and Moon. And they can all be correct, but not for all of us. We all relate to some descriptors more than others. Essentially, I believe that some Sun qualities describe what we need to learn in life, which is why some astrologers say the Sun represents our life purpose. In my mind, that isn’t the whole truth, as the North Node also shows new directions and purpose.
The Sun represents who we are in many ways. We all have an ego, a sense of self, certain proclivities and talents, and a need to develop our gifts. We need to shine. The Moon represents our subconscious mind, our feeling selves, our consciousness on a deep Soul level. We know who we are through how we feel.
So, when we are working with Moon phases, we are working with the energy exchanges between the Sun and Moon, between what we need to learn from the Sun - and our developing self - and our ability to integrate our experiences into our greater consciousness (Moon), through paying attention to how we feel. The Sun is the “doing” part of us while the Moon is the “reflective” and integrating part of us.
Working with Moon Phases can be complicated, as there are eight other planets also interacting with the Lights and our natal charts, and there are secondary progressions and solar arc directions that can also be influential. Sorting it all out isn’t easy. It takes time and experience to synthesize it all.
MOON PHASES
The Moon phases are determined by the angle between the transiting Sun and Moon. Many astrologers use 8-phases of the Moon Cycle to identify key astrological events. These targeted phases are 45 degrees apart, and the phase lasts until the beginning of the next phase. Astronomically, we call them the (1) New Moon, (2) waxing crescent, (3) First Quarter, (4) waxing gibbous, (5) Full Moon, (6) waning gibbous, (7) Last Quarter, and (8) waning crescent. I capitalized and made bold the most stressful or eventful phases.
WAXING and WANING PHASES
The waxing phases are “building toward something”. There’s a lot of outward energy in it. The waning phases are about understanding what happened in the waxing phases and giving out what we’ve learned and making inner adjustments that prepare us for the next Moon Cycle. There’s more inward energy.
ORBS
I need to point out that astrologers use different orbs for transits. We’re talking about the transiting Sun and Moon here, which is different than the Moon phase we have in our natal charts. For the transiting Lights, I use a tight 1 degree orb, while other astrologers might use a few more degrees. The reason I use tight orbs for transits is because the closer the planet is to aspecting a natal planet or another transiting planet, the more potent it is. Sometimes it’s really difficult to feel how a transit is affecting us, but if using a tight orb, we have a better chance of identifying the transit applying the most pressure, given that there is usually more than one or two happening at once.
NEW MOON
We are presently in a Leo Moon Cycle. It began with a Leo New Moon on August 4 with both planets at 12 degrees, 34 minutes of arc in Leo. So, for this cycle, we are working with Leo themes - self-identity (who are you?), self-development, roles we might play in life, being playful, having confidence, expressing ourselves creatively, learning how to love maturely. These are all Leo themes. You’ll have to decide which descriptors fit you - what’s up for you right now. Because New Moon was in Leo, it could affect the house or houses Leo occupies in your chart, or those houses might help you determine your themes for the cycle. Below is a chart of key words for houses, and also one for Signs, for use studying future New Moons.
At the New Moon, identify what you are working on according to the sign and house the New Moon is in - as well as looking at where the ruler is in its sign and house for the sign of that New Moon. It will be different for everyone. Leo is ruled by the Sun. So where is your Sun? Mine is in Aries in the 8th house.
FIRST QUARTER MOON
Then, on August 12 we had First Quarter Moon, with Sun in Leo and Moon in Scorpio at 20 degrees, 24 minutes of arc. First Quarter is about being motivated to change what needs to be changed in order to progress toward our goal. At crescent moon - you most likely can feel motivated to do something toward your goal. You feel excited and energized. By First Quarter, you need to make some changes in what or how you are proceeding. Maybe an inner conflict comes up or something happens that presents a barrier. You have to adjust. Since Sun is in Leo and Moon in Scorpio, these signs give you hints on what needs adjustment, as do the houses they are in.
At First Quarter, the Moon changes direction and the square between Sun and Moon is the most stressful point in the cycle. We are motivated to make necessary changes necessary to grow or meet our goals.
FULL MOON
On August 19, we just had a Full Moon in Aquarius, with Sun in Leo - at 27 degrees, 15 minutes of arc. During waxing Gibbous, we also have opportunity to make adjustments as we proceed to TR Sun opposing TR Moon, which initiates the waning cycle.
At Full Moon, we recognize what we’ve achieved and assess what still needs to be done.
LAST QUARTER MOON
On August 26, (the day I’m publishing this article) we have Last Quarter Moon with Sun in Virgo and Moon in Gemini at 3 degrees, 38 minutes of arc, six days after the Sun moves from Leo into Virgo. This is the point where there is the most tension, as TR Sun and Moon are again square one another.
At Last Quarter, we are motivated to tackle any inner conflict we may have with the new understanding we now have.
On September 2, we’ll have a New Moon in Virgo at 11 degrees, 4 minutes of arc. This begins the Virgo Moon Cycle. Now that we’ve adjusted our ego, we consider Virgo themes, which may include analyzing to deeply understand (ourselves, others, or any topic of interest); facing our self-doubt, self- critical nature, anxieties, or worries; letting go of our egos and focusing on the welfare of others; how we may be of service to others. Do we need to help others less or pay more attention to the needs of our loved ones. These are all Virgo themes.
In my experience, First and Last Quarters bring major outer events. New Moon and Full Moon phases are more inward-oriented.
As I just hinted, we can see the progression of New Moons in a developmental way - from infancy to adulthood, or something within ourselves we are developing. Aries is all about Self - birth, a new beginning - a recognition of our individuality - our independent consciousness - our need to be a unique person. Then comes Taurus, which is about developing a self-concept, self-value and worth, and what we need to become our potential. Gemini follows, with learning how to think, communicate well, which includes flistening and speaking, perceiving and knowing. And we can go on with each sign learning what is necessary to grow and become. Hence, you can also track present New Moon progressions and see them as developmental themes.
How is the Full Moon (or Any Moon Phase) Affecting Me?
If you have a planet, angle or significant point (like the Moon’s Nodes) at 26 - 28 degrees (or so) in your natal chart, then the last Full Moon at 27 degrees had the Lights shining upon that planet. Did you feel it? You may have noticed that area of life represent by the planet’s house being highlighted in some way. If you didn’t, you may not have been highly affected by the Full Moon. You might have felt it if you have planets at 24 - 00 degrees, but it may have been more difficult to feel.
The problem is, there are other planets transiting and aspecting your chart. So, it isn’t so easy to know what is affecting what. But, you can look more deeply into it. Here’s what you can look for:
Are there any other transiting planets aspecting your natal chart? If so, what house and sign is the planet transiting through? What planet, angle or point is the TR planet aspecting? What sign and house is the aspected natal planet in? What type of aspect is it? (Square, trine, opposition, etc.). You’ll need to analyze what areas of life are being stimulated and how they are being stimulated.
You can check your secondary progressions. Is the Full Moon aspecting the SP Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus or Mars? Are there any other transiting planets aspecting them?
You can also check your solar arc directed planets. Are any transits - including the Full Moon, aspecting any of those planets?
Are any of the Secondary Progressed or Solar Arc planets aspecting natal planets, angles, or points?
After you’ve noted all the influences, then, you can determine which ones you might be feeling. It isn’t enough to mentally think how it might be impacting you. If you don’t feel it, imagining that a symbol is impacting you doesn’t mean it is. Then it is intellectual speculation. We need to use both our mental and feeling selves.
For instance, during the last full Moon, a person asked me if it was the reason an acquaitance moved away (apparently without telling them). The TR Sun was in their Leo 12th house nearing the ASC and TR moon was nearing the 7th house, but was definitely in the 6th. They wondered if it was affecting the 7th house because it was close (but not conjunct the DES). My answer was “probably not”. Why?
None of his natal planets, angles or points were even close to 27 degrees. Their natal Sun was also in Leo at 1 degree, but that’s way too far away for it to be stimulated. Yes, the New Moon themes matches his Sun’s themes. TR Pluto was opposite his natal Sun. TR Neptune was 2 degrees from an exact quincunx to his natal Sun. These might have influenced his reaction. But the Full Moon itself was not activating the natal chart. I was responding to a forum question and didn’t have his birth data, so I could not see how Secondary Progressed or Solar Arc Directed planets might have impacted him. Perhaps, something was going on there that heightened this person’s pain around someone they liked (but didn’t know well) moving away. Just looking at transits does not always show us all the influences. Perhaps he is overly identified with the need to be recognized - being a Leo Sun - and he may have felt slighted by this person moving away regardless of Moon cycle.
I personally have Saturn at 28 degrees in my natal chart. So, the last Full Moon was shining upon my natal Saturn, applying to it. Did I feel it? Probably. Why am I hesitant? TR Uranus was in Taurus at 27 degrees too, trine my Saturn. And I had other things going on. I had TR Saturn quincunx natal Pluto, square SP Sun and conjunct natal North Node. I had TR Neptune opposite natal Saturn and if I told you all the things going on in my Solar Arc Directions, your head would be spinning. I also had TR Jupiter conjunct SP Sun and sextile natal Pluto.
How do I separate out all these influences? Honestly, even though I keep an astrology journal, and routinely ponder these things, it is really difficult to separate out all the influences going on at one time. Sometimes it’s easier than other times. I only say “probably” because I think the full moon must be an influence here, but I could be feeling these other influences even more. I don’t know for sure which ones I’m feeling.
One way to connect with your themes is to notice what you are inspired to do.
What was I inspired to do? From New Moon to Full Moon I was feverishly working on some astrological research projects that I intend to publish. But at Full Moon, I took a break and redid a portion of my website that needed updating. Some time ago, I decided to change the structure of how I give classes, due to the fact that my students live all over the world in different time zones, and have busy lives. My schedule has become more chaotic as well, since the pandemic. So, scheduling is often a frustrating problem. Do I think the Full Moon contributed? Yes. I do. But I also think the planets aspecting my Saturn did too. Saturn is about structures, and I made it official that I’ve restructured how I’m offering classes. This also marked a final decision within myself. This actually seems like an appropriate response to a Full Moon.
Since the Leo New Moon was in my 12th house, I asked, what part of my ego or self-identity needs “letting go of”? The 12th house is a house of letting go. What is interesting, is, I was (and still am) without a car during this Moon Cycle. A transmission part broke, and the new part was delayed in shipping for several weeks. I won’t even get my car back until after Last Quarter. So, I had to ask people for rides for a month or so - something an independent Aries would rather not do. But I did, and people were very kind to me. I made a new friend and it brought me closer to one person, in particular. Was THIS what the cycle was about for me? Perhaps the lesson can also be applied to my career as an astrologer - connecting with other astrologers or clients? I’ve taken note!
NOTE: I error on asking open-ended questions, rather than coming to firm conclusions, especially when it comes to myself. I figure, if I keep the question open, I may receive more intuitions about it even after the cycle ends.
Mercury went retrograde at the New Moon (and will be) during most of this cycle, but my transmission troubles started a couple weeks before Mercury retrograde. Shipping of car parts has been an issue since the pandemic. I do think that retrograde asks us all to reflect, and this cycle was (and is), in part, about reflecting upon who we are, our self-identity, and what is up for us in that department.
Anyway, I hope this helps you go deeper into how to use the Moon Phases. Of course, there’s more we could talk about concerning Moon Phases, but this is quite a lot to digest for now. Feel free to comment on what’s happened during your Leo Moon Cycle.