Containing the Imperceptible II
Being the Moon
The first installment of this series, Containing the Imperceptible, was all about a planetary day / chart based method of structuring your time in order to optimize your entry into flow states.
Since today is indeed the first day of Cancer Season and hence Summer Solstice, the longest and most yang day of the year, it seems most appropriate to delve into the planet that rules Cancer and the most visible receiver of the Sun’s light in the sky — the Moon.
Rabbi Simon Jacobson’s talk in this Youtube video This Plan Will Make You Unstoppable literally blew my mind and I found myself crying in the course of it. Basically, for our purposes, the most relevant bit to the rest of this newsletter is the concept that we are each moons. We receive and then reflect light/energy back into the world in cyclical ways that reflect our individual and unique experiences of manifested existence. There are times when light floods us and we easily reflect its full glory back into the world and serve as a light for others. Then there are other instances when there’s very little light for us to reflect and are given a chance to rest and be still. He even talks about the divine purpose of instances and periods in life when we, as moons, are eclipsed — times of distress or trauma not meant to diminish us but show us the fundamental nature of our human dignity in ways that the business as usual cycles are unable to.
With that train of thought in mind, the other great astrological tool in our arsenal is one our ancient ancestors first drew on to organize time as early as 15,000 years ago: moon phases.
A dappled, brown horse and a lunar calendar | Lascaux Caves (~15,000 years old) © webexhibits.org
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The User’s Manual
Using phases of the moon to plan and time events is a minimalist approach that enables you to TRUST YOUR LIFE whilst enabling you to ride that flow with greater sensitivity to and intuition of the energies available to you.
Warning Label: the Void of Course Moon
Firstly, a quick rule of thumb:
Don’t start anything new or make any important purchases when the moon is “void of course” (aka VOC aka “void”).
The moon is VOC when it will not “see” another planet before moving into the next sign. (Some of you who are reading this are astro savvy or astrologers and will be like “Lady, there are so many definitions of this.” I’m not gonna sit here and split hairs — let’s just go with this definition as one that is the simplest.)
Use this link to track the void moons at your location:
MOON VOID OF COURSE CALENDAR/CALCULATOR
Oftentimes the energy around void of course moons, regardless of phase, is sluggish or aimless. Especially for people in years when the moon is activated in their natal charts and/or have solar return charts with Cancer (especially) as the Ascendant or on an angle (if you don’t know if this applies to you, pull up your chart on astro.com or, if you’re a client or would like to be, drop me a line), there is often a listlessness or a feeling of brain fog or shutting down. Listen to this energy! Don’t push through it.
HOWEVER, VOC moons are great for: cleaning, laundry, routine tasks that you know you’ll have to repeat, meditating, ideating, responding to messages for which you want the conversation to end or essentially go nowhere, submitting your taxes (if you don’t want to get audited) … you get the gist.
The Technical Bits: Tracking Lunar Phases
So, before you can use the knowledge imparted by the current moon phase on a given date, you’ll need a way to sort that out:
Bonus Features: Moon Sign + Natal Houses
If you want to go a step further (I know, this was supposed to be the minimalist approach, but I know some of you want all the juicy bits), you can also track the sign the moon is traveling through (it changes signs roughly every 2 - 2.5 days) also on astro.com.
Look to see where falls in your chart and what sort of energy is available to do activities or plan events that correspond to that house and sign in your chart.
If you’d like a more personalized approach to applying this information, schedule a session:
Fundamentals: Waxing, Full, Waning
GROWTH
Activities for which you want to see growth (e.g., new business, relationships, investments, planting, a diet or exercise regime aiming to add weight) engage/activate when the moon is WAXING.
CULMINATIONS
For events or projects that you want maximum exposure for, go for right before the moon goes FULL.** If you’d like for something to reach a culmination so that you can start diminishing your focus on it (especially things started 6 months or 18 months ago when the moon was new in that same sign), then planning it on the full moon is the way to go.
DIMINISHING RETURNS
For anything you want to lessen or diminish (e.g., paying off a debt, a diet and exercise regime designed for weight loss, wrapping up a project), schedule it for when the moon is WANING.
During each sign’s “season”, you get a pair of new and full moons:
The NEW MOON in the same sign as the “season” is a great time to bring matters that started six months previously at the full moon of the same sign to a close in order to seed matters you want to grow in that sign and house.
The FULL MOON in the opposite sign to the “season” that often brings whatever started six months prior at its new moon to a culmination/fructification and enables you to withdraw your energy/attention on that matter.
Phases of the Moon
Now to the nitty gritty. Here is a quick rundown of the moon phases and potentially what you can use them for:
NEW | Ground
No. Do not use this for setting “new moon intentions”. End stop. Instead get comfortable in stillness and wait for what new focus or energies start to call you out of that meditative, actively inactive space.
Recharge, ideate, vision board (especially as an exercise to see what out of your subconscious is ready to manifest IRL), engage in exploratory conversations, job search, research (possibilities).
CRESCENT | Intend
Yes. Do set “intentions” now. The moon has caught light and energy! Listen carefully to the “Call to Action” that comes about now. Become clear on “mission” and “vision”. Evaluate obstacles to forward movement especially past issues that may no longer be relevant to the current circumstances. Attend to any red tape, procedural details, set task lists and identify action items.
FIRST QUARTER | Take Action
Initiate action! Configure project architecture/structural frameworks. Elucidate what you need to achieve your goal. Recruit stakeholders and clearly state how you need their support. Muster the resources needed to execute. It’s a great time to network with purpose; consult with coaches and accountability partners; implement any apps or tools that will help with staying on task; and/or draft story outlines or business plans.
GIBBOUS | Amplify
Get exposure! Amplify. Continually clarify and ensure that projects and tasks relate back to the intended “mission”. Start to apply the gas on moving forward on actions initiated during the First Quarter phase. Pick up the pace. Manage expectations and your own nerves so that you don’t get derailed by burn out. Great for interviews, launches, pitches, participating in panels — again attracting attention to your and/or your project.
FULL | Complete
Get perspective in order to course correct if necessary to ensure you’re still answering the “Call to Action” from the New phase. Seek feedback from a trusted mentor or friend and use active listening to get a clear sense of how your project and/or initiative is being perceived. Check back in with your coach or accountability mentor. Delegate tasks so that you can focus on fulfilling your unique contribution and bringing the project through to completion. Sign contracts, close deals.
DISSEMINATING | Sow
Exactly like the name — disseminate! Sow your seeds for the next cycle. Send those “thank you” emails or notes for interviews or launch attendees. Follow-up lead generation or sales calls from the First Quarter or Gibbous phases. Optimize your SEO.
THIRD QUARTER | Wrap
Start winding down. Do project or event post mortems. For those in film and television, this energy is perfect for wrapping and preparing for post production. Get quiet again and follow your curiosity and intuition regarding anything new that is piquing your interest. Begin clean up procedures. If you’re dealing with health issues that require the reduction of something, this is can be an ideal time to start (but please do check with a medical astrologer!). If you’re restructuring debt/improving your credit, start pay down cycles now. Evaluate how well you’ve executed the “Call to Action” in the New phase — integrate the lessons of what went well and what could be improved.
BALSAMIC | Rest
Seek out stillness and emptiness. Close out accounts. Initiate and/or complete endings. Quit a job or situation that no longer serves you.Recharge. Retreat from society and/or social contact. Listen to yourself. Veg out. Rock a sensory deprivation tank or a sound bath or do a spa day.
THE TAKEAWAY
Our bodies are roughly 60-65% water and, like the oceans, are just as affected by the phases of the moon. Using lunar phases to time activities and the engagement or withdrawal from activity strengthens your intuition, mind/body/spirit integration, and ability to “ride” the flow of your life with full trust…ALSO, make time to gaze upon Luna and meditate on her!
If this newsletter in any way feels like it’s been of service, please consider making a donation that will enable me to keep writing this content here.
Lots of light,
Anak.
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