Juliet told Romeo, “O, swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circle orb, lest that thy love prove likewise variable.” She knew her moon! Its face and phase change a little every day (actually hour by hour), never resting in its incessant alteration.
Astrologically, we see the Moon move forward through the zodiac by a degree every couple of hours or so. Its relationship with the Sun and Earth creates the phases, as the amount of sunlight that the Moon reflects to Earth increases from a New Moon to a Full Moon (the waxing half of the cycle) and decreases between a Full Moon and the next New Moon (the waning portion).
The waxing period is ideal for setting activities in motion to help them gain momentum and grow. The waning half is suitable for reaping the results of what already exists and has been growing, or for bringing activities to a conclusion. Knowing this natural process, you can work with lunar cycles for your endeavors to propel them forward by beginning them or adding another feature during a waxing Moon. Put on the brakes or cash in during a waning Moon. To take advantage of the desired half of the lunar cycle, you won’t have to wait more than a couple weeks to switch from waxing to waning or vice versa.
If you know your birth time and have calculated your chart, you will see which zodiac sign aligns with each of your houses. By knowing what the houses signify (see my Cheat Sheet), you can work with the lunar cycles in another way. The Moon usually travels through each of your houses for two to three days every month. When it visits, you get an extra impetus for the activities of that house.
When you want to begin something important, you’ll benefit by starting during a waxing Moon in the appropriate house. Depending on the time of year, the Moon might not be waxing in that house for some months. For example, say you want to increase your wealth (2nd House) and the sign there is Aries. That is a sign where the Sun travels in spring, and a New Moon always occurs (by definition) in the sign where the Sun is traveling. The waxing period goes until the Moon is in the sign opposite the Sun (the definition of a Full Moon). The Moon will travel through Aries in the waxing portion of cycles that begin with a New Moon past Aries’ opposite sign (Libra), therefore in Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius or Pisces (also in a certain segment of Libra or Aries). Theoretically, you might have to wait as long as six months to catch the appropriate part of the lunar cycle in the house where you want to work with it.
Here’s the rule of thumb: count six to seven signs past the sign of the house in question and look for a New Moon in that sign or in any of the next five to six signs. (Look at the specific degrees of your house and where the New and Full Moons occur.) The twelve signs always cycle in the same order and you can assign each a number for counting purposes if that helps: (1) Aries, (2) Taurus, (3) Gemini, (4) Cancer, (5) Leo, (6) Virgo, (7) Libra, (8) Scorpio, (9) Sagittarius, (10) Capricorn, (11) Aquarius, (12) Pisces. If you use the numbers and your counting takes you above 12, then subtract 12 and you’ve cycled around.
Sometimes, you can’t wait as long as six months. In that case, use the desired half of the lunar cycle at a time when the Moon makes a positive aspect to the ruler of the sign at the start of the applicable house. In the example given, Mars rules Aries, so a waxing Moon making a trine or sextile to your Mars will stimulate your 2nd House for growth. In this case, you don’t really care through which house the Moon is traveling as it makes that positive aspect.
On a day-to-day basis, you can track the Moon around the circle of your chart. Pay special attention or take action in the matters of a house as the Moon visits it. Just be careful to avoid initiating anything important when the Moon is Void of Course or you may not get your intended results.
Enjoy planning your actions by the light of the transiting Moon!
