Introduction to Moon Cycles: The Phases & Energies…….
We initially started the Moon Cycles portion of The Asceni Method by learning and studying Buz Myers’ book on the Moon’s Phases, “Getting On Time With Your Life.” In typical Theos fashion, they pretty much broke it all down and rebuilt it to suit their goals.
In modern parlance, the Phases can have more than one name, for instance, some use the terms Waxing Crescent and Waning Crescent or Waxing Gibbous and Waning Gibbous. Theos prefers Crescent for Waxing Crescent and Balsamic for Waning Crescent; Gibbous for Waxing Gibbous and Disseminating for Waning Gibbous, as it is less likely for anyone to become confused.
Theos paired the Moon’s Phases with the 7 Divine Will energies, added Qualities from our Totem Friends, (1 from each of the 3 lower Kingdoms, per Phase), and then set us to learning about the 12 Signs of the Zodiac, which demarcate the cusp of the Phases ~ in rotation ~ from Cycle to Cycle.
The Sun and the Moon form a specific Aspect in every Phase, determined by the angle they form with one another. These Aspects are repeated over and over ~ in the exact same order ~ in every Cycle. The Aspects each carry a set of Qualities and/or character traits which indicate the predominate energy of that Phase.
- New = Conjunction + Will to Initiate;
- Crescent = Semi-Sextile + Will to Harmonize;
- 1st Quarter = Square + Will to Evolve;
- Gibbous = Trine + Will to Unify;
- Full = Opposition + Will to Act;
- Disseminating = Quincunx + Will to Express Divinity;
- 3rd Quarter = Square + Will to Cause; and
- Balsamic = Sextile + Will to End, (Will to Initiate).
The Will to Initiate and the Will to End are two poles of the same Will, which carries the power to start and the power to finish. Of the Phases, only 1st and 3rd Quarter Phases have the same Aspect ~ the Square. Theos calls the Square in 3rd Quarter “an older, wiser Square,” through carrying a different Divine Will energy – the Will to Cause. While the Will to Evolve begins the process of transformation, the Will to Cause furthers that process and sets up the energies for the end of the Cycle.
It’s important to remember that of all the planets, Pluto ~ like the Will to Initiate ~ is about beginnings and endings, which is clearly the necessary energy for New and Balsamic. There is also the consideration that it is virtually impossible, without an ephemeris, to know when Balsamic ends and New begins. Theos has assigned at least one Heavenly Body to every Phase, which are static and unchanging. (At least for now.) They are:
- New = Pluto;
- Crescent = the Moon;
- 1st Quarter = Saturn;
- Gibbous = Jupiter;
- Full = the Sun;
- Disseminating = Uranus;
- 3rd Quarter = Oceana/Neptune; and
- Balsamic = Pluto.
Also playing an important role in our study of Moon Cycles is the Sign on the cusp of each Phase. Theos has often described the Sign as the “container” for the energies of the Phase, as well as “modifying” the energies of the Phase in a specific way.
There are always at least one triplicity of energies at play in any given Cycle and in any given Phase. For the Cycle, those energies are the Quaternary Sign of the Cycle, its Modality and Element. For instance, the Lunar New Year for this group is the Sign of Libra, which is Cardinal Air. The first 3 energies under consideration for each Phase are the Aspect, Sign, and Planet.