Last Quarter Moon in Capricorn ☾ Apr 14, 2020

Tuesday, Apr 14 at 3.56pm PST

At the last quarter, the moon rises at midnight, peaks at dawn and sets at noon – no matter your time zone. At this station, the pragmatic moon in Capricorn squares the fiery Sun in Aries. The moon initially moves into Capricorn on Apr 12, two days before the quarter moon. Luna will then move on to Aquarius the following day (Apr 15). This is the last moon phase of the Aries sun cycle. In Capricorn the moon is strained, in her “detriment,” opposite the sign she rules, which would be Cancer. A planet is weakest in detriment. For those who are especially sensitive, you may feel more stressed at this moon phase.

Quarter moons are crossroads. Last quarter moons clear the way for the new moon / new lunar cycle. This phase prepares us for the New Moon in Taurus on Apr 22 – more earth energy coming our way.

Earth (moon in Capricorn) and fire (sun in Aries): smoky glow, rich black earthworm heaven. Lumps of lava sprout from humid fumes. Golden nuggets crystallize, become honey quartz, then sink back softly. The ram, red eyes cooled, descends the desert mountain to meet the shaggy sea-goat. At the base of the ocean cliffs they sit in a tide pool, horns locked.

Both Aries and Capricorn belong to the cardinal modality. To be cardinal is to be centered, aligned, self-directed. Cardinal energy in the skies means that it is time to bring more balance and structure to our lives. Whatever structural reconfigurations come our way will be inherently supportive. This moon phase is powerful enough to melt away the entire winter: afloat the unknown, just you and the fire on your breath. Aries (first sign in the zodiac) teaches us that sometimes the best structure is a brand new one. It is time to break away and strike out on our own.

The archetype of Capricorn, on the other hand, is all about work and long-term plans. Where do you want to go, what do you want to do? Push yourself, see what is possible. Get up early and set a clear intention. Keep your mind alert and open, to the best of your ability. Choose a direction and see where the path takes you. That’s really what this quarter moon is about: laying the groundwork for the coming year without fear. The quarter moon in Capricorn makes life feel serious and weighty, I know. And though it is daunting to think of this season as the cosmic drafting period, it’s ok to make mistakes. Take Capricorn with a grain of salt – know that this influence is hyper pressurized and performance-oriented. Tap into other elements of Capricorn, like his impressive energy. Climb a mountain, get some exercise.

About 12 hours before this quarter moon comes exact, the sun and Pluto enact their own Aries-Capricorn drama with a hard square to one another. This is a restless influence which causes us to overdo things, so maybe take it easy and don’t go full Capricorn-workaholic-mode. As for the moon, she will be sandwiched between Pluto and Jupiter in Capricorn, closer to Jupiter. This is the best possible location for the moon, where she can draw on both the light, festive energies of Jupiter and the deep, intellectual inquiry of Pluto. This will be an exceptionally powerful moon phase with heightened feelings and emotional reactions. There is potential for just as much joy as there is intensity. Focus on the earth element – be like Capricorn, strong and steady as a mountain. Stay rooted with Capricorn Yoga. In meditation, focus on the root chakra. To find your personal moon sign, click here.

Affirmation:  I am a mountain