The phases of the Moon are perhaps the most evident phenomenon which give credence to the ancient alchemists' adage: "As above, so below." Indeed, this striking glimpse beyond duality still receives reverence from policemen all over this country, as they beef up forces for Full Moon Fever. Heck, prehistoric stargazers could have told them that, and more. Nowadays, we don't notice the Moon's phases so much, although we retain the instinctive urges of a simpler life dictated by available natural light.
So the Dark Moon, or New Moon, becomes an introspective time: a quiet time of spiritual seeking, of finding those darker places within that need light, and so a time of new beginnings. This is why the crescent Moon has taken on such an occult and popular significance. These are times when we are either emerging from or descending into this place of spiritual realization. As above, so below. Everything follows from awareness.
During the waxing fortnight, energy builds toward the coming radiant fullness. There is a sense of anticipation, a bustling following the quiet. First quarter, with the Moon half aglow, represents the crossroads between this gathering of energy and the eventual snowball out of control. So, it is a time of crisis. After this, energy seems to take on a life of its own. Forces set in motion are now promised culmination. So the gibbous phase takes on a footloose and fancy-free kind of poetic wandering feel. And then we have the Full Moon's wild orgiastic release of all the pent-up forces held in during the darkness.
In the waning fortnight, we have a dissipation of light and energy. This is the darker side of life, where many destructive urges come forth as we sink into the shadows. The disseminating Moon is that odd-looking, lop-sided ball that reminds us the party's over. Moonrise disappears from our evenings and moonlight becomes more an early morning affair.
At the crossroads of last quarter, we find ourselves out of stories to tell from our Full Moon escapades and looking toward the horizon where we know soon we'll find the crescent Moon shining above the ancient cave and quiet time ahead.
One of the simplest and most profound astrological tools is the delineation of New and Full Moon each month. Simply look up the position of the Sun on the day of the New Moon, and take its opposite on Full Moon. If it falls in your Fifth, Seventh or Eleventh house of your natal chart or is aspected by the rulers of those houses or Venus, watch out! Romance may be in the air. Happy Huntin'!