Masculine and feminine energies are interwoven within the fabric of existence. All life exists because of the luminaries: Sun and Moon. They represent the essence of yin and yang, the external and internal, electric and magnetic, positive and negative polarization. They determine larger karmic cycles that play out through time.
By meditating upon these luminaries, and any of the planets, spiritual growth and psychic power can be firmly established. Connecting with their ancient astral energies through specific yogic and ceremonial magick practices (Sadhana) will elevate and expand your consciousness. These two luminaries represent the primordial man and woman, both of whom exist within your inner-world. What is within must be without. The temperamental nature of man and woman are expressed through the Sun and the Moon.
How Important are Sun and Moon?
Remember that these colossal celestial beings have existed since before sentient life on Earth. Contemplate the breadth of time which has passed. Let it sink in. The Moon has been around for over 4.53 billion years. The Sun is 4.6 billion years old. The Earth is 4.54 billion years old. We humans have only been around for approximately 200,000 years, the equivalent of a few seconds to the perspective of these grahas.
These beings have witnessed the drama of evolution since before the first single-celled microorganism began replicating itself, since before any conscious human being could look upon them, name them and delegate particular qualities to them.
These ageless beings are none other than you and me. They represent parts of our extended spiritual self. They, along with the other celestial objects, play a role in the spiritual anatomy of mankind. Some of our ancient human civilizations (Mayan & Sumerian) had a much closer relationship to these beings than we do. Unlike today, there were very few distractions blocking them from direct communion with the planets. They were most sensitive to the moon and her cycles. She rules the individualized identity.
The Journey Begins When the Conscious and Unconscious Unify
The new moon is when a lunar cycle begins. It sets the tone for the month. The constellation that this occurs in, as well as the other planetary conjunctions surrounding it, will determine the energetic “theme” of that month. The theme is identified through the significations of the sign, their planetary ruler and deity. It will be further colored through the degrees of a particular sign.
Within a sign, there are three decans, or distinct sections: a beginning, middle and end. In Vedic Astrology there are three nakshatras, delving deeper into the evolution of consciousness within each sign. The constellation that the new moon cycle starts in will show the exact process of the karma that should unfold in that month. Early degrees show a fresh new karma that can be changed, middle degrees show a mature, powerful karma and late degrees show an older but weaker karma. This grading will be the same for both the consciousness and the mind, as represented by the solar and lunar energy of the luminaries.
The moon cycle is split into four essential phases: new moon, waxing moon, full moon and waning moon. We can look at this from the perspective of the four cardinal points of an astrology chart.
New Moon = Ascendant: Beginning or Birthing the New Path
First Quarter Moon = 4th House: Securing and Stabilizing the Path
Full Moon = 7th House: Balancing & Awakening to a New Perspective
Last Quarter Moon = 10th House: Acting to Finish Karma
These lunar phases occur within the four major elements: fire, earth, air water. They occur in this order for a reason. It also occurs in three modes: mutable, cardinal and fixed. The new moon’s mode determines the nature of the cycle.
A waning moon is moving away from what has already been achieved, the older karmas from the past. It is getting rid of things that are no longer necessary. It is moving towards a new mode of being, the next new moon cycle. New moons are mysterious, swallowed by darkness by the brilliance of the Sun. This phase is considered malefic. This is because the energy has not yet been explored and our psychic/intuitive side is all “dried up.”
Conversely, the waxing moon is moving towards fullness, or a complete illumination, signified by the “final understanding” of a particular principle in human experience. This is a developing karma, be it good or ill.
The Sun, on the other hand, is not flexible, nor is he sensitive — he’s hot and dry. It is an energy which fixates upon some distinct purpose; it puts our awareness or consciousness upon a specific area of life: Taurus is finances, Aquarius is friendships, Libra is romantic relationships and so on (quite general, I know).
The Sun will feel weakened in air signs, and very empowered in fire signs. Heat rises. And so, the king, the soul-self, loves to ascend to a higher station in life. The king’s role is to assert his power for the good of the kingdom, not to make concessions with others or comfort them. He has a kingdom to run! In the same way, the Sun cannot stop shining or cease undergoing nuclear fission. If it did, all life in the universe would perish. It continues burning without the help of other planets. it is self sufficient. The Moon, as a counter example, depends on the Sun for its light. Its dependent nature is reflected in our own psychological needs: social connections, comfort, food, water and more.
The Sun is about duty and performing one’s duty whether we feel like it or not. The Moon is all about how we feel, superseding what we “do.” We have a strong need to feel good and have some level of comfort in life. Too much of it is a negative thing. Too much duty is also bad for us — we burn out and explode (eventually our sun will do just that…it will mean the end of phenomenal existence as we know it, just so that God may reanimate a new universe and begin a new cycle of sentient life, as he has done before).
The lunar cycle and its effects are at the mercy of the Sun’s cycle. The Sun is the great generator and illuminates the world so that we may live and act within it. The lunar queen is powerful and vital to the kingdom’s flourishing success; but she is only second to the king: the absolute authority of pure consciousness. Moon has a yin nature, being receptive and flexible, turning the energy inward. We close our eyes in meditation to turn inward. It is like turning down the Sun and turning on the Moon (our psyche). Just as she reflects the light of the Sun, she enjoys supporting and nourishing, rather than initiating.
Our solar system’s giant star is what makes life possible. The Moon’s cycle is what makes the continuation of our species possible. Without the moon, pregnancy would not occur. The cycle of life would cease. The cosmic drama would end. The Sun represents the yang energy, being outward-oriented, direct and fixed in its constitution, focused on the external phenomenal world. If a solar cycle is strong, the lunar cycle must also be weaker. This is the case for when the sun transits through signs like Aries or Leo. There is enormous power given to the external world, but nearly none to the presence of being within.
If there is damage to the moon, be it through transit or an individual’s natal chart, there can be problems with “receptivity” in life. This could mean we cannot receive love or connect with other people’s feelings. Or, on the other hand, it could mean that we cannot receive correct sensory input from our reality, making us incapable of actually knowing the world around us (eg: lunacy).
If there is an issue with the Sun, we might have trouble asserting ourselves, finding our way in life and using our intelligence, logic and personal power in an appropriate fashion. We might not be able to “see” (the sun provides light) all of the opportunities available to us, nor can we find a clear vision or purpose to inspire our daily mundane existence. A clear-cut purpose is something we all need in life. Man perishes without a strong vision.
If the solar cycle is weaker, the lunar cycle will have to be stronger, lending to a more sensitive and receptive period of internalizing and reorganizing energy. Powerful lunar cycles show a predisposition towards psychic sensitivity. Powerful solar cycles show a propensity towards understanding the world and “acting” or initiating on inspirations. On the other hand, a powerful lunar cycle is about allowing life to just happen, not spurring into action.
Lunar cycles begin in either a masculine or feminine sign, quickly encountering a first-quarter crisis when the Moon is called to integrate the masculine polarity of a different element. Soon after, the full moon hits, the energy hits a high point and awareness blossoms forth. This point of awareness is in the same masculine or feminine point where the cycle began. Finally, the last quarter phase of the Moon shows an integration with the opposite gender before completely winding down the cycle and beginning a new one for the next month.
Masculine new moon cycles show highly active time periods for our psychic energy, whereas the feminine promotes receptive and nourishing time periods. This matches up with the sun’s cycle. It will illuminate either the feminine or masculine energy. If this occurs in the angles of a person’s horoscope, it becomes a more powerful cycle that impacts them deeply: the 10th house new moon awakens us to a career change, 7th house can show a relationship change and so on.
Jan. – Aquarius – Masculine
This is a solar cycle that illuminates our relationship to the collective and the larger issues of our society. or culture. It’s where the sun’s power is slightly weakened. It is devoted towards humanitarian service, rather than the unabashed expression of personal power (the king archetype).
First quarter crisis: Taurus
This is a stabilizing period, where we secure and support the larger vision of the solar cycle (Aquarius) by fundamentally understanding our
Full moon awakening: Leo
Personal creative power becomes heightened within the psyche. It serves to balance out the duty-bound Saturnian cycle that focuses on service.
Last quarter crisis: Scorpio
We let go of any fixed emotional states that have built up within us, right before entering into a new cycle, one in which we illuminate our connection to something beyond this world.
Feb. -Pisces – Feminine
This is a strong solar cycle in the sign of a friend, Jupiter. However, it is a feminine energy, an odd situation for the masculine power of the Sun to be in. This prepares him for the next month’s cycle, when he enters into exaltation, his most powerful position.
First quarter crisis: Gemini
This is where we reorganize the mind’s reservoir of information gained from illuminating our fantasies, delusions and emotional beliefs.
Full moon awakening: Virgo
We purify our mind and external world, balancing our soul’s need to accept something greater than the self with the emotional need to be of service and have the world make sense in a pragmatic and orderly way.
Last quarter crisis: Sagittarius
A final turning point in our journey through unionizing with something greater and higher than the individual self.
March – Aries – Masculine
This is a powerful solar cycle of discovery and “knowing” our place in relation to the world through the logical intelligence. There is a reason why so many atheists, militant skeptics and scientists are Aries. They want to “know” something formulaically, not just believe or “feel” something to be true (Moon’s domain). The energies of cardinal fire are direct, self-centered and uncompromising. This is a very odd place for the receptive and sensitive moon to be in. This prepares the moon for entering the most comfortable and powerful position, the solid, stable earth of Taurus.
First quarter crisis: Cancer
The true self reaches a turning point where it must turn inward and reintegrate an emotional connection of the inner-world, not focus entirely on the external world.
Full moon awakening: Libra
The mind balances the need to connect with others with the soul’s need to externalize a personal vision.
Last quarter crisis: Capricorn
There are some final psychic stresses and pressures laden upon the mind to move (cardinal) towards finishing the soul’s inspirations and drives to express the unique self within the world. This is where the anxiety to finish things up is heightened.
April – Taurus – Feminine
This is the most powerful lunar cycle, but amongst the weakest of solar cycles. Taurus is the exalted position of the Moon and it is in a feminine sign to boot. Moon is in her own element. It is a time to grow and support the things we have. One must fertilize the grounds of the mental sphere in order to allow for a great bounty to yield itself.
First quarter crisis: Leo
Our heart’s inspirations and passions must be rekindled so as to promote the larger goal of the Sun in Taurus, discovering and executing on issues of financial security and sensual pleasure in our life.
Full moon awakening: Scorpio
The potential to be receptive to the deeper meanings of our inner-world are wide-awake. Moon is weakened. The mind and soul are both pressured to sink into tamasic energy or to commit to owning the journey. The internal discomforts of the mind become fully illuminated by consciousness, even empowered within the darkness of Scorpio’s waters.
Last quarter crisis: Aquarius
We externalize the fixed feminine energy of Taurus out into the collective mental realm, activating a psychic change in the larger society through our individual change in values. This final retuning of the psyche in the element of air prepares it for the new solar cycle in the changing air element of Gemini.
May – Gemini – Masculine
This is a more powerful lunar cycle, and, of course, a weaker solar cycle, despite the moon transiting within a masculine (yang) overlay of energy. This is because the Moon and Mercury are friendly to each other. The emotional body and the mental body can work in harmony with one another to help the evolutionary process of spirit.
First quarter crisis: Virgo
We assimilate and discriminate between what makes sense to our mind and heart, filtering out what is and isn’t fitting the larger vision of the soul: acquiring truth and expressing the individual will.
Full moon awakening: Sagittarius
The hope and optimism to emotionally experience more purpose awakens within us. The consciousness becomes fully aware of the manas. The soul’s search for truth, and the moon’s search for inspired purpose attempt to find an equilibrium. This is a highly external/action-oriented cycle, as these are masculine signs.
Last quarter crisis: Pisces
We allow our truth to be released and flow into the unknown. We must allow and let go, as this lunar cycle is in energetic decay. Lost items flow back into one’s life.
June – Cancer – Feminine
This, as one could easily imagine, is a very powerful lunar cycle, as the moon feels right at home in the sign of Cancer. The Sun also enjoys this position. It illuminates the soul’s need for connection, family and home. The active and passive principle become a bit more balanced during this month.
First quarter crisis: Libra
We find a way to balance the heart. We try to make connections and concessions with where our needs can be met, where nourishment can be achieved and where we choose to act on our feelings.
Full moon awakening: Capricorn
We awaken to a higher authority within us. The mind and psyche feel pressured to make sure that enough mental energy is moving towards self-sufficiency, and enough of our soul’s energy is moving towards emotional connectivity with a “tribe.” The paternal and maternal energies become vibrant and awake during this time.
Last quarter crisis: Aries
We find ourselves taking action from a place of receptive sensitivity in order to externalize our predisposed emotional state into the world. It’s accessing an active and external element of our mind during a very relaxed and receptive month. This last quarter phase is winding down the psychic energy that built up to the full moon and preparing to enter into the fixed and determined fires of Leo.
July – Leo – Masculine
This is yet another powerful solar cycle, where the lunar energy takes a backseat, showing us how we might express our truest self in the world. Leo is representative of the kingdom we create in this world. It is a personalized sign, showing who we are and how we make our creative mark (strong masculine energy).
First quarter crisis: Scorpio
We go deep into feeling the vulnerabilities that hang in our life. Where does it hurt to be you? We can really get fixed on a particular emotional state, brooding on it. The mind is moving inward, not paying much attention to taking bold actions.
Full moon awakening: Aquarius
The energies of inspired purpose and humanitarian service become fully awake. This is a time when the mind becomes highly aware of its connectivity to larger aspects of society, while balancing the soul’s need to express a unique creative vision to the world.
Last quarter crisis: Taurus
This will stabilize and internalize the creative power of the solar circuit by firmly establishing the mind in a particular state. What needs will have to be relinquished in order for the soul to finish the creative process and for one to be properly prepared for the next solar cycle. It is the changeable earth element of Virgo.
Aug. – Virgo – Feminine
This is a stronger lunar cycle. A new moon here signifies that there will be a purification and recalibration of the psychic sphere, the astral realm of emotion. Mercury organizes and orders things. The universe illuminates the imperfections and impurities of life. Virgo is about running the kingdom with smooth efficiency, handling and sorting all of the details. The moon cycle beginning in this earthy feminine sign is trying to sort out both the conscious and unconscious energies, the active and passive principles that are the luminaries.
First quarter crisis: Sagittarius
We begin to become aware of the externalities that give way to the need for purification in our world. What
Full moon awakening: Pisces
Letting go and become receptive to hidden or mysterious aspects of our universe become alive. This is where the Sun and Moon are both internalizing energy
Last quarter crisis: Gemini
The mind finally reorganizes itself and all of the disparate directions it takes can be centered. This prepares the mind to enter into the new cycle of cardinal air, where we move to connect with other people and share experiences with them.
Sept. – Libra – Masculine
This is where the solar cycle is the weakest. We must compromise on our personal vision and power, all in order to bring more balance and ease to our lives. It is a cardinal cycle, which signifies that we are moving towards something, beginning and initiating. Both lunar and solar energies become weakened. The strongest lunar phase is when the psychic energies are weakened and waning, in signs Cancer and Taurus.
First quarter crisis: Capricorn
Our psyche grounds and reorganizes. This is a time period of stillness, where we listen to our internal dialogue and recognize how to permanently achieve a sense of balance, and also prepare the practical groundwork in our psychic sphere for allowing others into our world.
Full moon awakening: Aries
The mind becomes aware of the need to act, not just plan and think about the vision. Moon is naturally on edge in the sign of Mars, showing us that the mind, which is used to allowing impressions to be made upon it, externalizes the psychic energy in order to provide balance to the soul’s limited power of awareness in Libra.
Last quarter crisis: Cancer
We internalize, momentarily, as a means of understanding how we truly feel about the relationships and trade-offs happening in our life. This is a time of internal connection, rather than external achievement. We are preparing and tuning the mind for the next water cycle, the most tumultuous and intense one of the year.
Oct. – Scorpio – Feminine
This solar cycle is rather strong, but operates within a feminine energy mode. The karma here is fixed and sturdy, finding points of completion throughout the moon cycle. The power to illuminate the darker aspects of consciousness, the locked-away emotions that have stagnated and fixated themselves into immutable parts our out being. From these often-negative emotional states, beliefs about the world are formed (Sagittarius). This is where we receive emotional connection with another human being, deep vulnerable intimacy.
First quarter crisis: Aquarius
The mind focuses on the varied things outside of its own emotional nature. Moon is in yang element, transiting within a yin solar circuit. Every year this transit happens; and every year there is a serious karmic burden to be worked through on the psychological and spiritual level of being. Fixed phases like this provide a reorganization of mental (air) and emotional (water) foundations within our being.
Full moon awakening: Taurus
This is where the feminine energy becomes fully awakened. This is the time to grow and finalize something permanent and lasting. The mind becomes aware of what it needs to complete the soul’s vision: transforming and transcending to a higher realm (ascending past the lower self into the heavenly states, a far cry from crawling in the muck of dark human emotions that have plagued mankind for time immemorial).
Last quarter crisis: Leo
Final stabilization of psychic energy turns outwards in this masculine fire sign. The mind prepares for a new cycle in the expanded fires of Sagittarius, where we follow our inspiration and zeal.
Nov. – Sagittarius – Masculine
This is another very powerful solar cycle. The Sun is delighted to transit through here. We illuminate the larger principles or beliefs guiding us through life. This is where our soul’s journey to amass horizon-expanding experiences kicks into high gear.
First quarter crisis: Pisces
Our emotional nature becomes sensitive and receptive to the chaos of the world. We recalibrate how we feel about our principles and beliefs. Energy is moving towards a greater awareness of what’s true and what is just illusion.
Full moon awakening: Gemini
The soul’s higher inspired vision must now come into balance with the mind’s need to filter and understand the information acquired up till now. The higher and lower mind become active. It is an action-oriented time period, as these are masculine signs (yang energy).
Last quarter crisis: Virgo
The mind wishes to finally purify and reintegrate the larger focus on the soul. In this final attempt to ground, organize and assimilate the emotional backlog in the psyche, it prepares the soul for its next cycle: building power within the world of forms (climbing the ladder of success, and what have you).
Dec. – Capricorn – Feminine
This is a rather weak solar and lunar cycle. It’s a time to be still and turn inward, connecting to the heart. We think about what our place is in society and who we are in comparison to others by “rank” or social position. This solar cycle is occurring in the winter. Everything slows down and becomes quite cold. These are descriptors of the planet Saturn, Capricorn’s ruler. Both of the luminaries feel pressured to slow down in Capricorn and put into action the principles that were established in Sagittarius. There is immense pressure upon the consciousness and the mind, but also an immense strength. Our fears, worries and duties become illuminated by the Sun.
First quarter crisis: Aries
We are faced with confronting how we identify (form a sense of self) with our own mental imprints. The moon’s receptive nature becomes active and aggressive in Aries. This is a highly active period. It’s shows us coming to terms with the inner-activity and the outer-action, the presence of both being and doing.
Full moon awakening: Cancer
We awaken to where our needs and sensitivities are. The mother and father archetype are wide-awake in December and in June (respectively), in the summer and winter seasons. The energies here are at their peak. This is where we receive a particular message of understanding.
Last quarter crisis: Libra
This is a time of reconciliation of masculine and feminine energies. This is where the mind is seeking a sense of balance between the quiet inaction of the Capricorn solar cycle and the active mental sphere of the lunar cycle. The final lunar quarter prepares the soul to enter into the most karmic air sign: Aquarius.
A Wholistic Look
The natural rhythm of life occurs from the interplay of cosmic yin and yang energy. They cycle around us constantly, on both a micro and macro frame of scope.
Obviously one cannot work all the time. We have to have moments of silence and stillness, moments where we get the nourishment (Moon’s signature theme) we need for recovery — the equivalent of those “Netflix and chill” days. A fine balance should be achieved between these two distinct states. Too much of one or the other, action or inaction, will create serious issues: burnout, laziness, compulsory behavior or generally unskillful ways of being.
In order to take hold of your life and actually implement your vision (soul’s individual purpose), you will have to develop a schedule. It helps to be in alignment with planetary energies. Managing things on Wednesdays, the day of Mercury, getting the toughest work projects done on Tuesdays, the day of Mars, and planning out the rest of the week accordingly. There simply isn’t enough time in the world for you to drift through life waiting for something to happen in the “future.” The future is a concept in the mind. The cycle of Sun and Moon have been moving through the yin and yang energies like this since before humanity existed. It’s part of the very fabric of our universe.
There are certain times in life when the Sun’s energies are potent. It is in those moments where we must act and achieve in the world. Other times provide us with a more receptive period, a lunar period where acting according to our will won’t be so easy. The act of “doing” becomes harder because the universe is flowing in a different direction than that of our personal will (ego). Yin energy shows that we must stay and support the things already present in our life, not actively charge towards manifesting something new externally.
