Last Quarter Moon in Aries ☾ July 12, 2020

Artist: Mia Ohki

Sunday, July 12 at 4.31pm 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 fiery moon in Aries squares the tender Cancer sun. The moon initially moves into Aries late on July 10, which is really like our monthly mini awakening moment. Luna transitions to Taurus on July 13, the day after the quarter moon.

Quarter moons are crossroads. Last quarter moons clear the way for the new moon / new lunar cycle. This phase prepares us for another New Moon in Cancer, following the New Moon Solar Eclipse in Cancer on the summer solstice.

Here comes Aries, quivering with impatience. Invisible waterfalls burst into flame, no longer silent. Aries heaves magma into Cancer’s quiet ocean and her calm waters suddenly begin to boil. Ram rage is impervious to even the most intense dancing or exercise. The only way to release the fire is by talking and feeling it out.

The Last Quarter Moon in Aries addresses feelings vs. actions: the ancient contention between water and fire. Together the ram and crab teach peace, cooperation, and open communication. From Aries we learn to be bold and fearless, and from Cancer we learn compassion. Cancer is our mother, and Aries her fiery firstborn son. Cancer exemplifies healthy sensitivity and unconditional love. Aries exemplifies movement, heat, and vigor.

Aries can be reckless, temperamental, and excited all at once. At his worst, he shuts the crab down, watching her crumple from an empowered goddess to a vulnerable child. In this world, many are conditioned to value the qualities of fire over water. Shy or gentle people are considered weak. We do not all express ourselves uniformly, nor should we. Some speak slowly, others like lightning. Meditate on assertiveness. Are you more of a water or fire person, or an air person, floating in between? What can we learn from one another? Fire people frequently hurt water people’s feelings as they are easily frustrated by water’s meandering, dreamlike rhythms and perspectives. We have different responsibilities depending on our disposition.

This quarter moon will square the outer planets in Capricorn, with the closest square to Jupiter and Pluto respectively. The sea-goat throws in a stressful influence here, asking us to look back one week prior to the Lunar Eclipse in Capricorn. This is a very sobering influence, not to mention self-critical. Ego issues are up for examination. This T-square between the cardinal constellations signals that we need re-centering and realignment. With the quarter moon in Aries, this realignment primarily takes place through the trials and tribulations of the ego. Try sitting with your hands together at your heart for as long as you possibly can. Everyone you hate, everything that makes you angry, all the evil in the world, imagine it all crumbling in the emerald light beaming out of your heart. Or try standing in goddess pose (utkata konasana) for two minutes straight. Find some way to move the tension out of your body.

This moon phase is a good time to eat, harvest and preserve (red) fruits. Fortify your energetic walls daily and stay well hydrated. In meditation, focus on the solar plexus chakra. Visualize the mind and body licked clean by cool, blue flames. Wear the colors of fire and the rising sun and/or energizing gems such as ruby, jasper, carnelian, or orange calcite. Start the day with Aries Yoga. To find your personal moon sign, click here.

Affirmation:  calm heart