When I was learning astrology, I remember asking an astrologer friend why the transit of Jupiter that I was experiencing at the time was not “more pronounced” ? I thought it was indeed rather “timid” in its effects…
He explained to me the importance of the new Moons as pivotal phases intended to “set fire to the powders”, it’s not for nothing if we study the Lunations every month, this Conjunction of the 2 luminaries is very powerful and energetic, it has vocation to really galvanize what it touches, as much in birth chart as in transit ! (Read the excellent book The Lunation Cycle : A Key to the Understanding of Personality by Dane Rudhyar)
And indeed, when the new Moon contacted this transit of Jupiter, all the hopes it contained became clearer…
Determine the periods of the month and electional chart
An electional chart is simply the fact of searching according to one’s birth chart and all its forecasting elements, the best period to do this or that, it’s a common practice in astrology, this is asked a lot from astrologers, and generally transits of fast planets are very important obviously to refine things.
As such, the Moon is the fastest planet, since it remains roughly 2 days and a half per sign, its cycle -the lunation- being 28 days, and this planet is very useful to determine more precisely the content and nature of the cycles, the rhythm of daily life.
Moreover some people, often women, but it can also be men, are very sensitive to its cycle, to its influences, they feel them very finely and are even able to say exactly where the planet is in relation to its own cycle, increasing, decreasing (some people are very receptive by their natal energies to the changing lunar forces).
During its transit in the sky, this planet does not cease to make important aspects, as much in relation to its own generic cycle (new moon, increasing square, full moon, decreasing square) but also in relation to your birth chart according to its configuration, it thus rhythms in a very fast and sometimes violent way the alternation of influences.
Typically these different phases are divided into 2 parts, those which are rather dynamic, active, positive, and those on the contrary which have a more passive, receptive polarity, useful for withdrawal, retirement.
Each birth chart being particular, it’s a true astrological DNA that the Moon will weave through its multiple passages during a lifetime, some parts of the chart being obviously more sensitive for you than others, for various reasons…
What are the main points to remember in order to live at the Moon’s rhythm ?
- The New Moon of the month focuses the energies of the period where it stands in relation to your birth chart
- The Moon is particularly sensitive when it changes sign, it’s equivalent to an elemental change, and it can be an important flip-flop in what you are experiencing
- In the same spirit, it’s necessary to watch the Moon’s transit in houses, its advance in your personal zodiac sets the rhythm of the daily life, the transit on a cusp is equivalent to “passing the door” of the house, it’s often the most sensitive period (remember also to control the equal houses system in Domification which is very speaking !)
- The rules of all aspects are valid, but here the Orb is very short in time, during the phase where the aspect is applying things are formed, at the exact aspect it’s the flowering, then a digestion phase, here it’s only a matter of a few hours even by applying a wide Orb of 10°
- The passage to the Ascendant is very much remembered as the beginning of your personal cycle ! Consequently, it will be very useful, for example, for anything that is creative or that requires investment, dynamics, violence of self-affirmation, or that affects vitality
- The contacts to the luminaries are very important, especially your Sun which produces a personal new Moon and is therefore to be directly connected with your individuality, your realization
- In its alternation phases, the Moon works a lot like a roller coaster, and if it’s important to spot the waves crests, it’s just as important to spot the troughs ! Often the ends of Signs, the ends of Houses, or when the planet just finishes a very energetic major aspect, there is an important feeling of emptiness that can be exploited more for introspective, receptive, preparatory elements, but the Moon needs a break
- In the spirit of a humanistic astrology, just as it’s important to find a conscious exteriorization to energies, it’s useful to really live consciously to the Moon’s rhythm, if for example this planet transits in 4th House, it will be more favorable to be interested in the family and home, household, to be a homebody, rather than to go for an escape, and there is no point in forcing things
- The lunation can allow an interesting system of dating, of timing, since by definition by determining the phase of the cycle where an element begins, one can make different projections on its evolution and its end
There would be a lot to say about the lunar cycle because there is so much to study in parallel, here are a few leads to help you better explore things on your own birth chart ! Think about taking notes, from month to month, it can be useful as I mentioned in the “astrological diary”. 🙂