PolarfatePhase 3 of 8
Decisions · Effort · Half-lit
Moon phase
First quarter moon
About a week after the new moon, exactly half of the Moon's face is lit. It's called the first quarter not for the shape you see but for where the Moon is: a quarter of the way around its orbit.
In the sky
At first quarter the Moon sits at a right angle to the Sun as seen from Earth. It rises around midday, is at its highest around sunset and sets around midnight, so it's an easy evening sight. In the Northern Hemisphere it's the right half that's lit.
It's a favorite phase for anyone with binoculars. Along the line between light and dark, called the terminator, the Sun is rising over the lunar landscape, and long shadows make craters and mountains stand out.
Half lit doesn't mean half as bright. A quarter moon gives only about a tenth of the full moon's light, because the sunlight strikes its rough surface at a low angle and much of it falls into shadow.
In tradition
Astrologers often call this the first test of the cycle. The Sun and Moon form a square, a 90° angle that's traditionally read as friction asking for a choice: keep going, adjust, or let something go. Dane Rudhyar called it the crisis in action: the point where an idea meets the real world and has to adapt.
Sailors watched the quarters for a practical reason. With the Sun and Moon pulling at right angles, tides are at their smallest around the quarter moons; these are the neap tides.
Things to notice
- Notice where a plan has met its first bit of resistance.
- Notice a decision you've been putting off, even a small one.
- Notice what might need adjusting rather than abandoning.
A question to sit with
Where would a clear yes or no make the rest of the week easier?
For entertainment and reflection.