The Universal Moon

There is a natural rhythm to the universe. Consciousness forms matter. Matter exists. Matter dies away and returns to consciousness. Everything that exists follows this pattern. Sometimes this cycle is repeated very quickly, as in the seemingly random activity of sub-atomic particles, coming into existence and disappearing in less than a nanosecond. Sometimes it is very slow, as in the birth and death of stars and their planetary systems.

The moon in her courses reveals the very essence and mystery of life itself. In her waxing and waning she enacts across the sky the story of a lifetime every month. We are born, we grow, we flourish in our prime, we fade, and in the darkness we die, only to be reborn again. Here is the cycle, the circle of life, writ large upon the canvas of the heavens month after month. And it is a cycle which is reflected in our emotions as they ebb and flow, and in the ways we are best able to function in the world.

This lunar cycle provides us with a natural calendar of roughly thirteen moons in each solar year. The twelve-month solar calendar with which we are all familiar is linked to the outer world in which we live, the turning of the year, and the shifting of the seasons. These cycles are physically manifest and easy to follow. We all sense when spring is in the air and when autumn is on the way. It is obvious that we plant in the spring and harvest before the first frosts of winter, as the evidence is present everywhere around us in nature. However, we also dwell in another world of subtle energies, invisible to our eyes but powerful in its effect upon us. This is the world that governs our secret lives of feeling, intuition, and inner knowing, and these are the matters of the Moon. By timing our activities according to the most appropriate phase of the Moon we connect to the natural universal rhythm and are able to use that energy in a positive way. Rather than fighting our way up stream as we struggle against the patterns of the cosmos, we are able to flow with the currents of nature, as do all other living earthly beings, and things which might otherwise be difficult become easier.

If one is a follower of the, 20th century religion of science, then the notion that the moon affects human behaviour may well appear to be nonsense. And yet if one accepts that the moon controls the oceans, which she undoubtedly does, then it is not so large a step in one's thinking to accept that she can influence our little human tides as well. As the waters of the world ebb and flow so too do the physical waters of our body and the emotions which they mirror. The effects of the moon on living creatures have been well documented; even animals that live in the deepest oceanic depths, where no light can penetrate, are known to rise to the surface to spawn once a year at the full moon. Their awareness of the lunar rhythm is inherent in their being, and this awareness is also deeply embedded in the human psyche. It is one of the things from which we have become disconnected, in our modern neon lit reality, where it is no longer ever truly dark on many parts of the planet, and the moon has become a pale and neglected presence in our skies.


The Phases of the Moon

At the Dark Moon the Sun and Moon are Conjunct and their energies work together to affect us in a very intense way. We will be more intuitive and better able to travel our own inner pathways. This is a time of withdrawal from the outer world, when we can meditate on what has occurred during the previous moon and plan our activities for the next. It is a lunar dreamtime for us to connect to our inner guidance, and gain insights that can enable us to integrate our experiences and understanding, and step forward more firmly footed on our path of growth and evolution.

As the first Crescent Moon appears in the sky she starts her journey through the visible world afresh. This is the best time to begin new ventures and initiate new ways of being in the world. It is the turning over of a new leaf for all of us. Now is the time for the seeds, which were planted at the dark of the moon, to germinate and begin to grow.

As the Moon waxes we work towards our goals and nurture what we are growing. By the time of the First Quarter Moon, things are underway, and we concentrate on what we have started but don't begin any new projects. The Sun and Moon are 90 degrees apart and therefore Square to each other at the Quarter Moon, which can present us with emotional challenges.

At the Full Moon the Sun and Moon are 180 degrees apart and in Opposition to each other which may make us feel unbalanced and pulled in different directions, one emotional and intuitive and the other more active and outgoing. This can cause us to feel and act in an unstable way. This particular powerful effect of the moon is well known to those who care for the mentally ill, and those who come into contact with the more aggressive elements of society. When used positively this can be a time of balance and flowering, as we see the results of the work we began when the Moon was new.


At the Last Quarter our flowers have born fruit, and we can harvest and then clear away the dead wood ready for the next cycle to begin. From now until the next New Moon is the best time for finishing projects, ending things and decluttering your life in general.

Once in every lunation cycle the Moon will be at the same phase that it was when we were born. This is the moment of our monthly lunar return and is a powerful time for us. This is particularly important for women, as they can be fertile at this time, even if it does not occur at the appropriate time in their menstrual cycle. Research has shown that if a women has sex during the few days around her lunar return she can spontaneously ovulate, which may go some way towards explaining how women fall pregnant at times when they least expect it, such as when they are menstruating. It is therefore extremely useful to find out what the Moon was doing at the time of our birth. For further information about this and other matters pertaining to women and the moon there is an excellent book, The Wise Wound, by Penelope Shuttle and Peter Redgrove. There are also a variety of books on natural fertility by Francesca Naish.

In addition to this lunar phase return there is another very important moment for each of us every month. That is the time when the Moon is at exactly the same position in the Zodiac as at the time of our birth. It is like a personal New Moon for each of us and offers us the opportunity to make a new beginning in terms of our emotional and intuitive lives. We will feel things particularly strongly as the transiting Moon conjuncts our natal Moon and gives us a double dose of lunar energy in the area of our chart where the natal Moon sits. It is often the case that the way we feel at the time of this conjunction will tend to govern our feelings for the rest of that moon.


The Astrological Moon

In astrological terms the Moon represents the feminine and our Mother, as the Sun is the masculine and the Father. She feeds, loves and nurtures us, but she can also starve and neglect us. She is the creator and destroyer. In pagan spiritual traditions the Moon in all her aspects represents the Goddess. The young crescent moon is the maiden, budding with new life and infinite possibility; the full moon, the mother, flowering with love and fertile fruitfulness; and the dark moon, the wise crone, powerful in her knowing, and ruthless in the clarity of her vision.

Where the Moon falls in our natal chart (i.e. A chart illustrating the position of all the heavenly bodies at the moment of our birth) shows us what feeds us during our lifetime and where we can starve ourselves or be starved by others. It shows us what we need and where we need it. It also speaks to us of the past, and tells us how we operate emotionally, and how we can connect to our intuition and use it for the greater good of others and ourselves.

As the Moon waxes and wanes she moves across the sky passing through each of the signs of the zodiac once in each lunation period. As she journeys through each sign her emotional, intuitive energy is expressed in the ways pertaining to that sign and in the areas of life governed by the house which the sign rules. Each month she will be at a different phase as she transits each sign, and during the course of a year we will experience all of the phases in each of the signs. It is important to take this into consideration as a full moon in each sign will feel very different to a new moon, and so we need to look at both the phases and transits together.

Aries

Aries is the firestarter, the great initiator. When the moon is in Aries we may feel highly energised and keen to begin new projects. However, things that are started during this Moon may be short lived as the fiery, cardinal energy of Aries can burn out quickly, so go for for a quick result rather than the long haul. This is not a good time to plant in the garden. Fuelled by the energy of Mars, the ruling planet of Aries, the moon connects us to our inner warrior and we are keen to be active in the world. However, Aries is also the sign of the child so it is important not to charge recklessly into situations without due thought and care. Socially we are self-assertive and confident and are quick to express our feelings. Emotionally we feel restless and are looking for new experiences and fresh ways of doing things. We feel things very intensely and angry outbursts are easily provoked under an Aries moon. When the moon is new and waxing she is comfortable here, but as she wanes to dark we may experience feelings of frustration and find ourselves being overly aggressive as we endeavour to make things go our way.

Taurus

Through Taurus we experience a deep intuitive connection to the Earth and the material world. The Taurean bull knows his field and is aware of all that happens within it. Ruled by pleasure loving Venus, Taurus is a deeply sensual sign that delights in all things physical. This is an excellent time to dig your fingers deep into the earth and plant in the sure knowledge that your plants will root deeply and grow strong. It is also a time for getting your physical house in order and making your environment more beautiful, as well as appreciating the beauty which already surrounds you. The Moon is exalted in Taurus so she is very happy here and her energy can be used for love and creativity, as we are able to transform our intuitive inner knowing into manifest physical reality. Taurus is a fixed sign so things that are done now will be lasting in their effects and, as with Aries, it is important to look before you leap. Emotionally we feel calm and stable, but we can be stubborn and will not feel comfortable with change. This is not a good time to take risks either emotionally or financially. Taurus is concerned with money and possessions and we are likely to take great pleasure in the purchasing of beautiful things during this moon. But keep an eye on your spending, as it is important to take care of all your resources at this time.

Gemini

Under the rulership of wing-footed Mercury, messenger of the Gods, Gemini deals with communication and matters of the mind. During a Gemini moon interesting ideas come to us easily and we are keen to gather information and disseminate it to those around us. We may feel restless during this mutable, shifting moon, and take short trips to keep us on the move. This is an excellent moon in which to spend time with friends and family, as our wit is at its most sparkling and we are fed by good conversation, which stimulates our mind. The energy of the Gemini moon can also be used for studying, writing, research and similar intellectual pursuits. This facility for using Gemini's energy outwardly in the world or inwardly in more solitary pursuits is a reflection of the dual nature of the sign. Gemini is traditionally represented by the heavenly twins, Castor and Pollux, but the symbol of the sign also signifies the two pillars of wisdom which stand before the veil between our outward mundane reality, and the invisible realms which surround us. Gemini can therefore act as a gateway to enlightenment when this moon is used for more esoteric pursuits. However, one aspect of Gemini is that of the trickster, so things may not always be as they seem. As far as the garden is concerned you can weed and dig but do not plant in this airy, barren moon.

Cancer

The moon is in her own sign when in Cancer and thus feels very comfortable. She is also at her most powerful. The first of the water signs, Cancer rules the tidal shores where life teams in myriad shallow pools. This is a very fertile time and an excellent moon for planting and tending all living things, being both watery and cardinal. We are likely to feel very emotional and may be oversensitive, as underneath its protective shell the Cancerian crab is very vulnerable. It is important to be kind to oneself during this moon, and careful of the feelings of others. We all feel things very intensely during the moons transit of Cancer and emotional issues from the past may rise up from our inner psyche to be addressed. Our feelings will be changeable and we can easily go from laughter to tears, and from joy to the deepest depression, in the course of a few hours. Cancer is the sign of the Mother and under this double lunar influence we will feel connected to home and hearth, our desire to nurture ourselves and others, and our need to be nurtured in return. We will take great pleasure in good food, both eating it and preparing it for our loved ones. This is also a time to care for oneself and take time to be alone, as we are highly intuitive during this moon and can use this opportunity to gain inner clarity and heal old emotional wounds.

Leo

Leo is a fixed fire sign that builds and sustains the fire started by Aries. When the moon is in Leo we can be at our most noble and dignified as this is the sign of royalty. We are charming and generous, expressing deep warmth from the heart, which is ruled by Leo. However we can also be proud and use the power of the lion to control other people, as the king always wants to rule. This is the performing moon, so let your inner child come out to play. It is an excellent moon for all creative pursuits, and for romance and matters of the heart. Play with your children and dance with your friends. Don’t bother with planting during this moon; apart from pulling up the odd weed your garden should be used for soaking up the heat as the sun shines down or throwing a fabulously dramatic party. Remember that all cats need to doze after the exertions of the hunt, so we may also need to rest and recover from the emotional ups and downs of the moons passage through Cancer. Allow yourself to withdraw from the party and digest your emotional discoveries and understandings.

Virgo

Virgo is the second of the earth signs. She represents all the Earth Goddesses and it is she who tends the crops, planted in Taurus, and nurtures them into fruition. Like Cancer, Virgo is a nurturing sign, but whilst watery Cancer operates on an emotional level, Virgo deals with practical, physical things. When the Moon is in mutable Virgo we will want to keep busy and need to have things to do. This is an excellent time for organising things in your home and for tidying the garden - although it is not a good planting moon. Like Demeter or Gaia who sieve the wheat from the chaff, Virgo is highly discriminating. During the Virgo moon we can clear out clutter from our lives as we have a high level of clarity about what is of value and what can be discarded. This is true of intellectual matters as well as physical. Virgo tempers the emotional nature of the Moon and enables us to access the analytical aspects of our mind. However, it is important to be discerning without becoming overly critical. The energy of Virgo has a sacrificial quality so we must not allow ourselves to wander too far down the path of self-denial and give away things that we really need, but understand the sacred nature of the physical world. Do not make the mistake of offering up the whole crop when only a token is required.

Libra

When the Moon is in Libra we will be constantly seeking balance and harmony both in terms of our emotional and intellectual life, and in our relationships with others. We are better able to understand the dance of our partnerships and friendships at this time, and relationships of all types are important to us. There is a real need for closeness and intimacy during this tender, loving moon, which can sometimes make us feel insecure and unbalanced. We may also become very indecisive as we continually place things in Libra's scales in the quest for balance and the right choice. This is a splendid time for social gatherings and we will enjoy our friends and our lovers. Libra shares with Taurus the rulership of Venus and is thus very creative. But in Libra this creativity is expressed in an airy intellectual way rather than in the earthy physical manner of Taurus. Poetry and music are the gifts of Venus when in her Libran way and this is very much an artistic, musical moon. We will want to be surrounded by beauty, so as well as planting flowers, we will want to pick them to fill our rooms and give to our lovers. Libra also rules legal matters through its connections with contracts, partnerships, and the scales of justice, so this moon can be very helpful to those of us with a litigious nature.

Scorpio

When in Scorpio, the Moon is deeply intuitive and we are able to connect with aspects of our consciousness, which may normally be hidden from us. We are at our most psychic and can access unknown layers of inner knowledge. This is the best time for working with esoteric mysteries and for any kind of magical or divinatory activity. Scorpio is the second water sign and is associated with deep still water. Although the surface may be turbulent, at the bottom of large lakes the water is still and the temperature constant; and so it is for us emotionally when the Moon transits Scorpio. We feel everything very intensely and are at our most volatile and passionate. Scorpio is highly sexual and we can expect to find our inclinations in that direction heightened during this period. Ruled by Pluto, Lord of the Underworld (and also by Mars) Scorpio is traditionally associated with death. Out of death and dissolution come birth and new beginnings, so this is the perfect time to disable old, fixed, emotional patterns and start things afresh. The Scorpio Moon can thus be very transformational if we have the courage to travel into the dark realms of our inner world and bring out what is hidden there. If you are looking for a little light relaxation, this is an excellent watery moon for planting in the garden.

Sagittarius

The last of the fire signs, Sagittarius, the archer, dips his arrow into the fire and sends it out into the world. When the Moon is in Sagittarius we experience a deep, emotional desire for freedom. The symbol of Sagittarius is the centaur, half man, and half horse. This represents the meeting point between our wild animal nature, which longs to be free and run like a horse, and our rational human mind, which seeks to tame that wildness. Under the influence of this adventurous, mutable moon we will want to be out and about in the world as we are easily bored, but this may conflict with what our brains tell us would be the sensible thing to do. Run wild and free, but don't take unnecessary risks. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, bringer of joy and expanded horizons, so we may experience a great sense of optimism and happiness during this moon. We will feel highly gregarious and sociable and will be very good at teaching others. We will also want to pursue our own spiritual quest for higher knowledge, in order to formulate our personal philosophy of life. This is an excellent moon for problem solving as Sagittarius sees the bigger picture and is able to take information and disseminate it in the right places. In the garden you can weed and prune and also harvest fruits and vegetables, but don’t plant anything new.

Capricorn

After the wild adventures of Sagittarius, we become aware of the need for structure and discipline in our lives when the Moon moves into Capricorn. During earthy Capricorn we are able to ground our intentions in the material world and are at our most practical and hard working. The ruler of the sign is Saturn, the great teacher, who encourages us to learn through experiencing limitation and restrictions. We will feel quite emotionally detached during this moon and will not be inclined to romantic involvement or spirituality. The Moon is not really happy here, although she is wise, and is thus able to help us transform our old fears and grief into courage and strength. There is a highly intuitive and sensitive aspect to Capricorn, which is illustrated in the symbol of the goat with a fish's tail, which hangs in the water. It is this combination of intuition with emotional detachment and Saturnian authority, which makes this moon so profoundly wise. However our detachment may make us a little careless of the feelings of others so remember that a little humility can work wonders. We will be very committed to whatever we are engaged upon during this moon and make steady progress through our diligence and strength of will. It is also a good time to get your financial house in order and pay attention to your career and business interests. This is a building moon and not to be used for starting new projects, although it is an excellent moon for planting vegetables which need strong roots.

Aquarius

Aquarius is the great humanitarian so when the Moon enters this sign we turn our attention to the needs of the community, and to our friends and the groups we are involved in. Aquarius is ruled by Uranus the revolutionary, who never wants to be told what to do, so we may feel quite rebellious at this time and will certainly want to do things in our own way. We will want to be free of the constraints of other people, but at the same time desire to spend time with others. Emotionally we will still feel somewhat detached, as we did during the Capricorn moon, and this can be confusing as Aquarius loves to be involved in the group, and yet has a fixed desire for emotional privacy rather than intimacy. We can feel like an outsider and rather lonely because of this. It is however, an excellent time for networking and the exchange of intellectual ideas, as Aquarius rules the higher mind through ideologies. Freedom in all its forms and for all humanity is important to us now. Aquarius has traditionally been referred to as the Water Bearer and the symbol of the sign can be read in that way. However this is an airy sign and it is air itself that Aquarius bears; air and all the electric and etheric energies contained within it. We can therefore expect all manner of electrical and energetic surprises at this time. Anything can happen under the influence of a Uranian moon which brings out the unconventional and unusual in all of us. This is a cultivating and weeding moon and not for planting.

Pisces

When the moon is in Pisces we feel deeply our connection to the sea of souls from whence we came. As when the moon is closely aspected to Neptune, the ruler of Pisces, it is easy to feel overwhelmed as things rise up from the deep Piscean ocean. We can feel as though we are literally drowning in emotion. This is exacerbated by the deep empathy we experience for the feelings of others, as Neptune dissolves all our boundaries and sets us adrift in the formless sea. As Pisces is mutable it is easy to take on other people's emotions and believe them to be our own, which can cause the Moon in Pisces to fall into delusion. We can get caught up in trying to alleviate the pain of others, when we ought to be seeking to understand our own. Because of this we may want to be alone during this moon to explore our strong intuitive connection to all that is. All tidal water has memory as it dissolves and takes into itself everything it touches, so we may find many memories arising from our unconscious at this time. And this includes memories from past lives, as it is in Pisces that things surface to tell us what our soul's work is in this lifetime. This is a very magical moon and thus very powerful for deep, prophetic, psychic work. Listen to your dreams and your intuition, and allow your inner guidance to help you integrate the lessons the Moon has been offering you during its passage through the eleven previous signs. And stay off the drugs for a day or two as your consciousness has already been altered. Go into your garden and plant for the future, as this is another fertile, watery moon. Allow your creativity free reign as your dreams gift you with poetry and song.


The End and the Beginning

Now the cycle is completed and another round begins. Out of the wise, all knowing oneness of Pisces, and the consciousness of which we are all a part, the Moon begins her journey again, into the individuality of Aries. The process of separation from and return to the whole is repeated over and over, round and round, on an eternal spiral. Each month we have the opportunity to work with the energies of the different signs and learn the lessons that they have to teach us. Each month we can choose to be more aware and more attuned. The Sun and all the planets are also moving in their circles and they have their own lessons to impart. It is well worth having your natal chart drawn up so that you can follow the planets as they dance with each other across your personal sky. It is also important to remember that we will all experience the transits of the Moon differently according to which house the signs occupy in our charts, and where the Moon herself sits.


© Susie Hazell 2003

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