Dancing with the Moon - Part 8 - Fourth Quarter Moon Phase

“Heavy with fruit, the plant bends to the ground. It has given all it has to give, poured its life into the fruit, and now waits to be relieved of its burden. What is left of the plant now? The fruit offers food and a womb for the infant seed.” The Lunar Cycle by Philip Levine, M.A.

Let’s review

The Fourth Quarter Phase

Now comes the realization that the goals or activities that once served to fulfill the purpose of the New Moon and the enthusiasm that sustained your efforts are waning. Instead of building, you’re now actively taking things apart, seeing them in a broader context, and letting go of what no longer serves a purpose.

Like the First Quarter Moon, the Fourth Quarter is crisis time. In the First Quarter, you were confronted by resistance in the outer world – now, in the Fourth Quarter, the resistance comes from within. During the Fourth Quarter Lunar phase, you experience a crisis in consciousness as you search for meaning and make decisions.

Do you enlarge the vision, rethink it, or replace it?

In the Fourth Quarter, you can move willingly into a new direction or resist. But, go with the changes – whatever you were trying to build during the waxing two weeks has either already been accomplished, or you’ve been given more information that will allow you to alter your approach in the next cycle.

New Job Example

Continuing with the new job example used in previous Moon Phase articles:

During the New Moon phase, your dream of a new job became a goal.
In the Crescent phase, realizing what a new job could mean raised all your doubts about yourself.
In the First Quarter phase, you acted confidently, committed, and told others of your decision.
In the Gibbous phase, you investigated the jobs available.
During the Full Moon phase, you submitted resumes, went on interviews, and had a realization.
During the Disseminating phase, you reckoned with that realization and began actively promoting yourself and sharing what you have learned with others.

In the Fourth Quarter phase, you’ve either retained that new position or better understood what it will take to get it. But in either case, you begin to let go of the dream of a new job actively.

Each of the 8 Lunar Phases lasts just under 4 days. During the Fourth Quarter phase, the Moon is waning (decreasing in light) and moves from 270 to 315 degrees ahead of the Sun. The Moon rises, on average, around midnight and sets around 6 am.

Born During a Fourth Quarter Moon

Those born during a Fourth Quarter Moon are rebels and iconoclasts who often feel alienated. They are thoughtful and philosophical, and having a solid internal belief system is imperative. They are individualists who are great at turning things around – because of their ability to see what needs to go and what lies just beyond the horizon.

Example:

Venessa Williams was born March 18, 1963, at 11:28 am in Tarrytown, New York. Sun is 27 Pisces – Moon 29 Sagittarius

Secondary Progressed Fourth Quarter Moon

During this SP Moon phase, there’s a crisis in consciousness. You’ll search for meaning and make decisions. The SP Last Quarter phase raises urgent questions about who you are, what you want, and how you see your destiny. For some individuals, there’s a growing sense of emptiness and meaninglessness; for others, the SP Last Quarter Moon is more about the future than about the past. Each SP Lunar Phase lasts 3+ years.

Nelson Mandela’s SP Solar/Lunar Fourth Quarter Phase

Nelson Mandela was born in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa, on July 18, 1918, at 2:54 pm (birthtime accuracy: poor). His Fourth Quarter SP Moon Phase began on March 14, 1989, at Cancer 3:15. On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years, and his eyes were on the future. (Secondary Progressed chart below)

Secondary Progressed chart for March 14, 1989

“Quarter Moons bring two choices: act or refrain. It’s simple. You’ve either got to do something you’ve never done before or stop doing something you’ve always done. The general lunar rule is that you should take new action at the First Quarter, and you should stop and rethink your moves at the Last Quarter. But since we’re discussing change, don’t get too comfortable with general rules.” ~ Dana Gearhartg, Moon Watching

Written by Patricia Lantz, Astrologer and MAAS Member

Dancing with the Moon – Part 8 – Fourth Quarter Moon Phase