Part One: The Moon
Now that you have your 2025 Astrological calendar let’s learn how to use it! Using your 2025 Astrological calendar, you will be able to follow the transiting Moon as she moves through her phases and track when she is void -of -course. Knowing when the Moon is void you will be able to take advantage of the most favorable lunar periods to accomplish your goals.
Understanding the Moon and her phases:
The Astronomy:
The Moon is our only satellite, the fifth-largest moon in our Solar System. The Moon is in a synchronous rotation with the Earth. The tidal forces between the Earth and the Moon slowed the Moon’s rotation until it became locked in its orbit around the Earth. The Moon always keeps the same side of its surface facing the Earth. (The Moon rotates on its axis roughly about the same time it orbits the Earth.)
Synodic Month:
It takes the Moon 29.5 days to completely cycle through eight distinct phases. “The Lunar phases change cyclically as the Moon orbits the Earth according to the changing relative positions of the Earth, Moon and Sun.” (Wikipedia) The Moon is considered extremely significant in all divisions of Astrology. She rules our day-to-day awareness—the perceptional mind of emotions and senses. The intuitive/ instinctive consciousness regulates automatic functions. The Moon is very personal having rulership over all familiar ties, especially female relatives. For women, the Moon is the most important planet in their Natal charts. She describes our emotional nature, and our relationship with the phases of womanhood ( maiden, mother, crone) A woman’s physical, hormonal, psychological, and cultural experience and expression of the divine feminine are expressed through her moon’s sign and placement.
Astrologer, Dane Rudhyar, was a leader in the Humanist Astrology movement. In 1967, he wrote the book “The Lunar Cycle” describing in-depth the astrological implications of each of the phases of the Moon. He was the first to ascribe Jungian archetypal motifs to the phases.
Let’s take a journey through the phases of the Moon using classic archetypes to light the way.
The Dance of Moon, Sun & Earth:
The Moon, through her phases, reflects the Sun’s light to the earth. The Sun is our life-giving star. The Sun represents energy that is constant and positive. Its highest expression is the ability to illuminate our connection to spirit. The Sun gives vitality, confidence, and creative expression when well-placed in a natal chart. Earth is the Goldilocks planet; just the right distance, size, and spin to create a planet that can sustain life. From our planet, both the Sun and Moon appear to be of equal size.
The Phases
The New Moon: 0.00 to 45‘ Archetype: VISIONARY Day 1/Day 29
**Begin new projects**
The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun. Invisible as she rises and sets with the Sun. Rainfall tends to be heavier and tides are higher. This Moon phase is tuned into the collective unconscious and has only an intuitive sense of self. From 0’ to 45’ the energy moves from childlike innocence to playfulness and exploration.
The Crescent Moon: 45’ to 90’ Archetype: The Individualist Day 4
The Crescent Moon rises around Noon and sets around Midnight in the Western sky. The light is emerging. We are conscious of “what could be”. We start exploring our individualism. This Moon rebels against constraints and injustices. Our soul at this stage of development starts to seek more meaningful experiences.
The First Quarter:90’ to 135’ Archetype: The Warrior Builder: Day 7
The Moon is now half light/half dark: the Moon crosses the earth’s orbit moving outward. We struggle with inner conflicts, timeless subjects include the forces of darkness and light, good/bad, right/wrong, and fate vs free will. The individual starts to become social.
The Gibbous Moon: 135’ to 180’: Archetype: The Scholar Day 10
The Light becomes more prominent. We move from intuition to intellect. We direct our psyche into the outer world developing a socialized ego. There is a need to balance the personal and the collective. We explore intellectual possibilities.
The Full Moon: 180’ to 225’ Archetype: The Beloved day 14 The Sun and the Moon are of equal size in the sky facing each other. The earth is farthest from the Sun. The spiritual marriage of the Sun & Moon. The union of anima/ animus, male/female. The Full Moon is pregnant/receptive with creative self-actualizing energy. We are developing integrated personal relationships. This Moon focuses on physical, romantic, and spiritual relationships.
The Disseminating Moon: 225’ to 270’: Archetype: Teacher Day 18
Reemergence of the darkness. Spiritual awakening. Intensified relationships both positive and negative. This Moon seeks to purify emotions. Now we are preparing for the return of the collective unconscious. Ego has reached its pinnacle and knowledge and experience are released. We apply intellect by sharing our knowledge. We open up to the universal; acknowledge the need to return to the source, and explore psyche and philosophical and political activism. Connecting to others who share intuitive truths and intellectual knowledge.
Last Quarter Moon: 270’ to 315’: Archetype: Reformer/Hero’s Journey Day 22
The Moon crosses the Earth’s orbit moving inward: reevaluation We turn towards the subconscious and explore imagination and intuition. Start to link the inner and outer worlds. Creative tension exists between light/dark, a battle between ego and subconscious ( psychological battles)We descend into the darkness to save or redeem ourselves or someone else. Solar light gives form and structure to the unconscious. At this phase, it is important not to hide or repress the inner darkness or intuitive/instinctive information. Exposing lies and, uncovering corruption, or muckraking for the underdog.
Balsamic Moon/The Dark Moon:315’ to 360’ Archetype: Prophet Day 26
The growing darkness, depression, pessimism, a Cassandra visionary. We can now access the accumulated knowledge and wisdom of the collective unconscious. This Moon senses “that which will be”. There can be a need to withdraw from the world to reconnect to the source of inspiration, the Muse. Can become isolated, withdrawn, and depressed.
*** Next we will discover the meaning of a Void-of-Course Moon. ***
The Wandering Moon: void of course
By observing the daily lunar motion, you can take advantage of the most favorable time periods to accomplish your goals. You can minimize difficulties by knowing when the Moon is void of course. Understanding when the Moon is void-of-course allows us to consciously choose the best time to take action to produce the outcome we want.
You can minimize difficulties by knowing when the Moon is void -of -course.
The Moon waxes (increases) and wanes (decreases) from New Moon to New Moon in 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes and 2.7 seconds. The Moon moves from 12’ to 15’ in a day. (It moves 1/2 a degree in 1 hour.) The sign the Moon is traveling in will change every 2 1/2 days. The Moon is considered void- of- course when it ceases to make any major applying aspect to another planet before entering into the next zodiac sign.
During the void- of -course, the Moon is “free-floating” creating a feeling of non-structure. It can be difficult to ground ourselves during the void of course. The last aspect will provide clues about how the void -of -course will “feel” and what might happen.
William Lilly, a seventeenth-century Renaissance horary astrologer believed that when the Moon was void-of-course in Taurus; her exalt, Cancer; her rule or traveling in Sagittarius and Pisces, signs that are favored by Jupiter, the void-of-course Moon could be relied on.
The last aspect the Moon makes before she goes void-of course can be any one of the Ptolemy* aspects. (see below) Aspects are the geometry between the planets and show if the relationship between the planets will be easy or difficult. Your Astrological Calendar will have a glyph key explaining the symbols used on your calendar.
Conjunction: (0’) initiate actions (actions best applied via creativity)
Sextiles: (60’) provide an opportunity
Squares: (90’) difficulties that require action to overcome
Trine: (120’) positive results
Oppositions: (180’) Compromise or imbalance
If possible, during a void- of – course we should avoid activities that require alertness such as using machinery we are not familiar with. Traditional astrology counsels that during a void Moon, individuals should avoid making important decisions. If it is not possible to avoid events that require focus pay close attention to what you are doing and take breaks.
The void-of-course is an excellent time for working with creative energy! Use this time to tap into your subconscious/dream space. Do what you find relaxing: meditate, practice yoga, and work on artistic projects.
Between the first and last aspects made by the Moon, you can effectively take action to influence the outcome expressed by the zodiac signs the Moon is passing through. By the time the Moon goes void- of- course the energy has passed and any action we initiate during the void course will be ineffectual.
How to find the void- of course on your daily astrological calendar.
You will need to find the -v/c- which tells you that the Moon has made her last aspect. In our example, the Moon in Sagittarius is making a harmonious sextile to Saturn at 2:09 am. This tells us that this void-of course Moon is easy to navigate. The void- of course is over at 11:11 am when the Moon enters Capricorn.
If instead, the Moon’s last aspect was a square; the void-of-course time period may be fraught with conflict, or if the Moon’s last aspect before going void-of-course had been an opposition we know that we will need to balance the nature of the planets involved. The opposition works best if the Moon is moving towards (applying to) Jupiter, Venus, or Mercury.
If the Moon’s last aspect is easy ( sextile 60’ or trine 120’) and especially so if she is in Taurus, Cancer, Sagittarius, or Pisces we can expect the void- of course, to go well.
If we know what the last aspect is, what sign the Moon is in we can use the void of course to navigate a potentially difficult period. A void-of-course Moon can last hours so it’s good to know what kind of energy the day might bring.
EXAMPLE
Once you use your daily calendar you will begin to notice how a particular transiting Moon or aspect affects you. Some people find squares invigorating while others might find them frustrating. By using your daily astrological calendar you will start to develop a unique understanding of your relationship with the Moon.
The Moon through the Signs:
Cardinal Fire Moon Aries: energetic……headstrong
Fixed Earth Moon Taurus: cautious practical…….obstinate EXALT
Mutable Air Moon Gemini: indecisive restless…. open-minded versatile
Cardinal Water Moon Cancer: nurturing….shrewd RULES
Fixed Fire Moon Leo: enthusiastic…. proud
Mutable Earth Moon Virgo: competent….critical
Cardinal Air Moon Libra: teamwork….acquiescent
Fixed Water Moon Scorpio: perceptive…….secretive Detriment
Mutable Fire Moon Sagittarius: Spontaneity……Naive/ boasting
Cardinal Earth Moon Capricorn: realistic…. pessimistic FALL
Fixed Air Moon Aquarius: friendly……….detached
Mutable Water Moon Pisces: imaginative……….distracted
Phases of the Moon
New Moon: New beginnings subjective self-centered imprinting moment ( 0′ conjunction)
Crescent Moon: planting, building, the struggle to create structures
First Quarter Moon: the square (90’) brings forth crisis, lights a spark, stepping forward to meet a challenge.
Gibbous Moon: evaluation of goals, accomplishment-oriented, blending of passion and intelligence.
Full Moon: emergence illumination, clarity awareness of others, finding meaning through others. (180′ opposition)
Disseminating Moon: filled with knowledge and experience. Sharing life purpose/ mission with others.
Last Quarter Moon: the beginning of the end, tearing down, discontent with the status quo reorientation
Balsamic Moon: alienated from the past yet unclear about the future. Sensing what could be. Release the past.
*Ptolemy Aspects: Conjunction (0°), Sextile (60°), Square (90°), Trine (120°), and Opposition (180°). Major aspects are those that are divisible by 10 and evenly divided into a 360° circle.