• MODULE EIGHT: MONTHLY CYCLES

  • Day 1: The One Month Cycle

    Astrology has many different parts to it and they all fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. One of the parts that are considered to be most important is understanding the different types of cycles which present themselves through the planetary cycles and the monthly cycles. In this module we are going to look at how the monthly cycles of the sun and moon and a few other different types of cycles, to get a good idea on how they can be used to further discover more in the chart about its dynamics, and connecting, and synchronizing with it.

    We are going to learn how to interpret a monthly cycle as it works through patterns and phases in the chart. The planetary cycles also give a window into deeper significance of a planet’s esoteric functions and how their monthly cycle fits into other charts patterns.

    Fortune Emblem

    The One Month Cycle

    The one month cycle defines the phases of the Sun and Moon in particular as they go through each sign on a monthly basis until the cycle completes itself in a years’ time. It’s a cycle well known because it’s actually makes up a larger cycle being the seasonal cycles and is probably the most common one everyone is familiar with and knows most about. These two planets are highly important as they represent in everybody vital aspects of human life and are regarded as the two most important of all the planets with the Sun especially being the primary force to which all life owes its existence from. The cycle is broken down into eight phases which represents the moons journey around the whole 12 signs of the zodiac in that month, while the sun in its journey goes through the one sign only in the same month.

    The Sun represents our essence and vitality. It is the life force and the “joi de vive” and be brightly alive. During the course of its journey in a month it can come in contact with other planets and there can be different energies from the aspects which the sun can be involved in. Everyone knows what the effect of the sun has on the planet as the life giver to the planet. The Sun represents inside of us qualities which we come to recognize as being the essential nature of ourselves. This is why sometimes it’s described as representing the “life force” and “creative principle” and the essence of the “sense of self” and who we are as being distinct from another.

    The moon phases however are different. Its phases are really denoted by the angles in the aspects it makes to the Earth and the Sun. So it’s important that we understand the sun has its aspects to the moon and to the earth and planets in its cycle, as well as the moon forms aspects to the sun, the planets, and the earth in its cycle and the Earth forms aspects to the sun and moon in its cycle.

    This may sound the same, however the energies are different as the sun forms different aspects during each of the moon phases with other planets. So it does help when doing a monthly plot assessment to note the suns transits and ascertain what the aspects are during that month as some can be of relative importance in terms of they support other aspects or they make a prominent connection with some other part of the chart such as the angles or a house cusp for example.

    The sun goes through only one sign as stated but it still has its phases as noted by its transits. The keyword for the sun is “vitality” and “sense of self.” So when looking at the Suns transits cycle for the month they are part of the inherent energies in the aspects pattern between it and another planet or planets.

    Monthly Moon Phase

    1. Monthly Moon Phase Chart

    The moon’s cycle on the other hand is where the monthly phase is shown in more detail. The moon represents many different things and some of them relate to our feelings, our habitual nature, the subconscious and nurturing qualities, and on another level the soul. The moon reflects sunlight however it is well known the effects it has on the tides and other fertility cycles of life on earth including the energetic levels regarding one’s electromagnetic make up to do with the subtle bodies.

    Of most noticeable are the times of new moon, and full moon, and quarterly phases. With the new moon a new cycle begins and the focus is on the inner passive build-up of energy that’s very strong with the moon in between the sun and the earth which is when the conjunction aspect occurs—then from that point all the way through the first half of the cycle it gradually increases into becoming an outward active force until it reaches culmination at the full moon, and the electromagnetic currents are equally as strong again with the earth in the centre, and the sun on one side, and the moon on the other making it an opposition aspect. This can be quite noticeable in public with a much heightened outward activity given off by people and life in general.

    Then in the last half of the cycle the phase forces start to coalesce and disseminate building up again however in dissolution and strength from the active outer energy to within, until the inner highest peak of energy is reached at new moon again—then a new cycle starts this time in another sign and a whole new array of different electromagnetic forces from the planets take effect. We always need to remember that the other planets are in the background are as well doing their transit cycles and changes so there’s many different aspect energies operating in a monthly phase especially the sun and moon in particular.

    The phases in between the four quarter phases, namely the crescent, and the culminating, and the disseminating, and the balsamic phase also have their energy build ups as well as part of the whole eight phase process. The whole cycle frequencies has an undulating effect of highs and lows as it builds up in both halves from new to full and back to new again.

    The third part to the cycle is the planets and their transits during the month through a sign, especially the quicker moving planets. While the slower planets may only move a degree or two or sometimes just a few minutes. It’s the quicker ones and their transits that give the moons monthly phase its colour and background description.

    All the monthly phases throughout the year between the sun and moon and from the other planets can be likened to a kaleidoscope of transiting aspects to each other, and to the angles, and to the different houses, all of which can make interpreting the chart very interesting—especially when in a particular month a group of planets seem to build up into forming a pattern of aspects which can not only highlight the astrological months features, they may in fact be catalysts for longer term cycles and activations regarding major transformations in planetary activity going on in the chart—especially in regards to the slower moving planets being triggered and coming to the fore, due to the transits of the quicker planets forming a pattern that takes shape during the month.

    So monthly phases contain a number of elements which can make for the whole show being something that can very much be of the moon, and the suns, and planets patterns—all of which are very helpful for showing the smaller details of your life on a monthly basis.

Astro ActivityModule Eight/Day One - Activity

  Print out your natal chart and from an ephemeris look up the moons monthly phases for the month we’re in and draw them in where the degrees of each phase correspond in your chart. (see diagram above)

The phases can be drawn indicating the particular dates when the moon passes through each phase and in addition if you want to add the planet transits, they can be drawn around the outside of the chart to see what areas in chart they are in and to give the interpretation, a much easier means to interpret.

To get the 4 phases that occur between each quarter, namely the crescent, and culminating, and disseminating, and balsamic phases as they are not included in the ephemeris, all you need to do is divide the number of degrees that separates each quarter into half and—then count the number of degrees forward from the sign corresponding with each phase given in the ephemeris. That will give you the approximate and near enough day to the when the next phase will begin. It doesn't really matter if you don’t put the times down for them however the day is required, and to get that note the moons daily 2 twelve hour motions in the two columns in the ephemeris next to the suns column and follow it through each sign, starting with new moon until you get to the sign and its corresponding date for each of those 4 phases which will be round about 3 days or so after each quarter.

When you do the day and time for the new and full moon remember to allow for your local time difference from GMT and also note whether the ephemeris is a noon one or midnight one, as whatever one it is you add or subtract your hrs to get your local time. (to find your local time just google to get your time zone 1st and then ask the question what your zone time is from GMT)

Next: Module Eight - Day 2