Deeper Dive on the Eight Phases of the Moon. Let's Start Now

 

Image from personal Honeycomb almanac

 I have been thinking for a while, that even though I always break down the eight phases in my lunar reports, it might be informative for one month to pull out each phase in real time and give it a little bit more emphasis.   By doing this you can learn to live and breathe the phases in a more focused manner for one month.   Then you will remember to take that knowledge to the future new moons.  So, this has been on mind. On my mind but NOT on my to-do list to start……..until this morning.   

This morning I woke up to a bunch of texts and emails from a variety of folks on a variety of topics and I thought, “How perfectly Crescent Phase.”    Which then inspired me to decide that this is probably the good lunar month to begin our deeper eight phase dives.  

Let’s go for it.  

For general information: The moon forms the following phases:

New

Crescent

First Quarter

Gibbous 

Full 

Disseminating

Last Quarter

Balsamic

Then begins the next new.  

 

Each phase is three and half days long.    

 

In the case of this lunar month, the New moon rolled out on August 22 ,11:06 PM (PDT) at Zero Virgo.     The New lasted until last night, August 27 at 8:44pm PDT.   

 

Please, consider the actions you took during that three- and half-day phase.  What did you do all weekend and most of Monday?  How did you spend your hours?    Why do I ask what you did?  Because as you know, we plant seeds during the new moon.  I always hope you read my reports before the new moon starts so that you can focus your actions supported by the signatures of the new moon sign.    As I wrote in this report, with Virgo  we know that our To-Do lists are important.   The Virgo lunar month puts calendars and schedules front and center.   We benefit when we don’t just sleepwalk and say “Yes, I’ll be there.”   Our daily actions not only take care of our body and our health but also, our daily work helps us accomplish our goals.   So, now reflect on what you started during the last three days?   Does it line up with your goals and what you want in your life?    

 

Now let’s pretend you didn’t read my report, and you are wondering, “Well what did I stir up in the new phase that I am not aware of doing?”   This is when the second phase can be informative.  

 

We are now in Crescent, and it will end on August 30 at 11:25pm PDT.   Crescent is the phase when we get information.    If we were deliberate about a seed we planted, now we may get more data tied to that seed.  For example, let’s say during Virgo New phase you reached out to some people and told them you are looking for a new job.     Now on the Crescent, one of your people texts you back and says, “Hey, there’s nothing over here, but I ran into So&So and they said they are hiring over at their place.”        That is a direct question with a direct answer.  Great.  And you can do from it what you want.   

 

But in Crescent you may also get informed about something that is not exactly so black and white.   Maybe during New you made a budget and really want to cut a couple hundred out of your monthly bills because you are saving money for something important.   Now on Crescent you have lunch with a friend who randomly tells you how they unplugged from cable and are saving a lot of dough.    And lo and behold this is something you have been thinking about doing but still unsure.  You ask a ton of questions of your friend.   You get more informed, and you do with it what you do—this is what Crescent does.  You get informed.   Think of the moon in crescent shape it looks like a cup.   Your cup is filling up with information during Crescent.  

 

Each month has different lessons and signatures per phase.   This Crescent phase launched with the Moon in Libra suggesting some of the information we will receive will be about our partnerships and relationships.   Libra is about being aware of how we ‘respond’.   Maybe someone says something, and you are aware of being angry.   Or maybe someone says something kind, and you get misty. What does that anger or tender mean to you?  Why is it coming up?   Virgo wants to support our values, are these two emotions important in that context?    

 

Additionally, if you have it in you to consider things a bit more way out there, 

perhaps during Crescent, you get a flat tire on your car.    Where in your life is there a metaphorical ‘flat tire’?   What is not rolling the way it should?   How is that not in sync with your goals?   Again, it is a bit more out-there of an approach but still it can be informative.  

Watch what comes up between now and August 30 when we move to the next phase (First Quarter).

 

 

As always, I recommend honeycomb to get your own personalized astrological calendar. 

Astrology Landscape for August 25 - 31

Image:  How Stuff Works 

The first Virgo new moon, yes there are two this year, kicked off on Friday (PDT).    The new phase continues during the beginning of the week.      

 

Look at your calendar right now and ask if you are making the most of your schedule?  What is going on every hour?   How does your calendar reflect your goals?  How can you clean up any messes?   What doctor do you need to see?   What resume needs to be tidied up?    What details have needed a tune up all year?    Virgo is THE lunar month to take care of loose ends. 

The 25-28th have a lot of good juju going on.   Energy may be uplifted.  Make the most of it, folks!   

 

Planetary notes:

8/25: Mercury exits shadow 1:36am PDT (Yeah!) (15 Leo 34) 

8/25: Venus enter Leo (9 :27 am PDT)  Get your love on fire! 

8/25: Venus trine Saturn (00 Aries 25).  Doing good work is easy.  Big goals get the support that they need.  Love is the helper. 

8/26: Venus sextile Uranus (1 Aries 25).  It might be good and fun to say yes to new and different.  Fresh wins the day.  

8/26: Venus trine Neptune (1 Aries 29).  Prayers are strong.  Love is meaningful.  Creativity comes from a divine place.   

 

Crescent Moon Phase

August 26, 2025

8:44pm   

 

 

Focus on: What are you being informed about your relationships?   What are you learning about the power/importance of negotiation?   What knowledge are you gleaning about the way to find balance?   

 

Planetary notes: 

8/26 : Venus Oppose Pluto (1 Aquarius 51) Where is that deep value that needs to be revealed?   What superpower are you sitting on? 

8/28 Uranus sextile Neptune (1 Aries 26) (see separate post) 

 

 

First Quarter Moon 

August 30, 2025

11:25PM 

 

Focus on:   What actions are you taking that expand your world or world view?  What actions are you taking that are based on think globally act locally?   What actions are you taking that are based on bigger philosophy?   What actions are you taking that support the power of story?   What is that super cool, interesting area of your town that you have never visited?   Maybe now is a good time to check it out.  

 

  

 

Planetary Notes:

8/31: Mercury trine Chiron (26 Aries 43). Our thoughts and conversations inspire healing around independence and self-agency. 

 

Uranus sextile Neptune. August 28: Round One of Five

 

Images: Wikipedia

Uranus sextile Neptune 

August 28, 2025 (1 Aries)

November 20, 2025 (29 Taurus)

July 25, 2026 (4 Aries)

January 15, 2027 (1 Aries) 

June 6, 2027 (6 Aries) 

 

 

On August 28 Uranus and Neptune form a sextile.  This is part of the kite aspect earlier in August and this sextile will be in our on-going astrology landscape filled with opportunities.  August 28 is the first of five rounds spread over two years where we should anticipate quick awakenings that speaks to Neptune.   Religion, spirituality, art, mysticism, humanitarian causes along with film, music, oil and anything involving the oceans, rivers and lakes will all have some new beginnings.   With Uranus everything moves quick and new ideas along with new technology.    We go from darkness and then prest-o-change-o, a light is on and we’re off!   Remember how there was life, and we did what we did and then bam, we all got Zoom?    That experience will be repeated from now until the end of the decade in one form or another.   As for this year, a tripwire may get activated around August 28 and by the time we get to November 20 we will see some echoes that go back to now.   Four out of five of the exact dates are colored by Gemini, which is reliant on fresh facts, lots of data, lots of communication and Aries which seeks independence and breaking new ground and tapping the power of self-agency even if it bugs others.   

There is an exact date, which is round two, in November that is not Gemini/Aries.  In November, both planets have retrograded to their former signs at the 29^th degree.   Neptune is finding out what he needs for the last time in Pisces which means tapping the spiritual, metaphysical and unworldly.  Uranus is back in earthy Taurus which focuses on practicality, sustainably and matters that support security and wealth.   It is almost as if the universe has rewarded Uranus and Neptune for their hard work in the last seven years (Uranus) and fourteen years (Neptune) transiting Taurus and Pisces.   Now they get to find the last goodies in Pisces and Taurus and make some good out of them.     For the record, sextiles between Uranus and Neptune do not happen often, the last time they sextiled was 1966-1968 (Virgo & Scorpio).      We should anticipate a lot of happenings going on that could be inspiring and revolutionizing between 2025-27.   For sure a lot of what we look like now in August of 2025 will be very different than what we look like in August of 2026.     

The First Virgo New Moon is August 22

 

                              Virgo, , c. 1475; in the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York City (MS. G.14).

 

Virgo New Moon 

August 22, 2025 

11:06 pm

(00 Virgo 22)

 

Occasionally, there are back-to-back new moons in the same sign. 

Ask the ancient Romans, Babylonians and Egyptians how long is a month, and they would tell you 28 days.  That was the way it was for thousands of years, then with time; royalty, kingdoms, religions, you name the power, decided to construct calendars for their own reasons.  Eventually we ended up with a 30-day month.  This 30-day count causes a gap since the 8-phase cycle of the moon only takes 29.5 days. So, occasionally there will be ‘catch up’ (so to speak) moon at either zero or one degree of a sign which is followed by a new moon at the end degree of the same sign.   Thus, is true for this and next month’s Virgo new moon.  

 

Coming in at the end of summer in the northern hemisphere, Virgo is the sign of the harvester and is often depicted with a sheath of wheat.   Virgo’s nit-picking strength is perfect to separate the wheat from the chaff.   In the southern hemisphere where they are wrapping up winter, Virgo knows the ground will need to be prepared for upcoming seed planting season, again a detailed loving skill Virgo understands.    If you know Virgo energy, then you know they love to put that thing there and that other thing over there and so on and so on and so on….   Every container is ready for Virgo to use.  

 

Virgo is daily habits.   In the Virgo lunar month, we get real with our schedule.   How do we spend our time?   What does every hour of every day say about our life?    Virgo can go through the schedule with a fine-tooth comb and ask, “How am I utilizing every hour to improve my life?”  

 

The chart of this Virgo new moon is interesting.    As we have discussed in previous reports, Pluto, Neptune, Saturn and recently Uranus, have all entered new signs.   These planets will create a landscape of opportunities over the next few years as they form sextiles and trines with each other.   Great.  However, and this speaks to Virgo’s ability for exactitude.  This New Moon at 00 Virgo forms a square with Uranus at 1 Gemini and a quincunx with Saturn & Neptune at 1 Aries and Pluto at 1 Aquarius.Talk about threading the needle, this Virgo new moon got in that perfect place which forms tough aspects with all four planets!  With harsh aspects we can expect the challenging side of Virgo to be present all month.   

 

Virgo’s drive for perfection is legendary.   We get it and benefit by it in many ways.   However, what activates that perfection is a through line of insecurity and anxiety.  “Is this good enough?” or “Am I good enough?”    The square and quincunxes suggest we may have to work for opportunities especially when our insecurities pop up.  Do we just roll over when we get self-doubt?  Or do we pivot and move and figure a way through it all?   

 

Go to LINK for the rest of my article on Virgo New Moon #1 

There is a lot going on this cycle.  

Conscious Luck

 

In honor of yesterday's big ol' Venus Conjunction Jupiter in Cancer I want to offer up something cozy and big.

How about deepening your luck?

I started this book a few days ago. I am liking the process.

Here is a chapter to listen to if you desire.

Astrology Landscape: August 12- 22

 

Image: Llewellyn 

Disseminating

August 12, 2025

12:38pm  

 

     

 

Disseminating: Reflect on what has transpired this lunar month What have you learned?   How can you share some of your knowledge?  What past experiences are you sharing?  Are you in the need to teach?  Or is it find a teacher?   Maybe we find a rabbi or a minister or therapist who gives us more insight.   

 

 

Focus on:   How are you sharing the power in independent actions?   How are you sharing the value in being fiery?   How are you getting knowledge or sharing knowledge that supports actions for self-interest?  

 

 

 

Planetary Notes:

 

8/14: Mars sextile Mercury (5 Leo 05) Actions are clear.   Relationships that need clarifying conversations excel.  

8/15: Venus trine north node (18 Pisces 34).   Tender and misty get a boost from spirit.   Emotions meet the needs of our psyche.   We value space for things that are bigger than us.  

 

Last Quarter Moon Phase

August 15, 2025

10:12pm PDT 

   

 

Last Quarter moon:  Now we do the final adjustments to the seeds we planted on new. The final call, the final letters to send, we follow all the trails that came up that still make sense.  And we let the other parts lay fallow. It is a time of action but wise action.  It is a time for living “The serenity prayer” 

 

God, grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change Courage to change the
things I can, and the
Wisdom to know the difference.

 

 

 

Focus on:

What final actions are you taking from anything you started on new moon that benefit by practical actions?   What did you start three weeks ago that you can do now that is concrete and inspires you?   How are you learning about the power of creativity and drama?  What pragmatic action can you take now that speaks to what you have learned.   

 

 

Planetary Notes: 

 

8/17: Mercury sextile Mars (7 Libra 04) The mind and actions are in sync.   Dynamic energy is motivated by clear thinking.   

 

Balsamic Moon Phase

 

August 19, 2025 

8:37am PDT  

 

Balsamic:   We let go.  By releasing we can prepare for the new.  

 

 

Focus on:  What does it mean to let go of emotions, feelings and moods?   What is it like to release all of it?   

 

Planetary Notes:

 

 

8/19: Sun trine Chiron (26 Aries 59) Healing around being bold about independence.   

8/22 : Sun enters Virgo 

8/22: Venus square Chiron (26 Aries 55) Being too emotional deflates self-agency. 

 

 

Virgo New Moon August 22, 2025 11:06pm PDT (00 Virgo 23)

Mercury Direct: August 11. Can You Roar with Confidence?

 

Image: Lion Landscapes.   

Mercury Retrograde 

6/29: Mercury shadow (4 Leo14)

7/17: Mercury station retrograde (15 Leo 34)

7/31:  Sun conjunction (inferior) Mercury (9 Leo) 

8/11: Mercury station direct (4 Leo14)

8/25: Mercury exits shadow (15 Leo34)

 

 

At 12:29am PDT on August 11, Mercury stations direct.   I see you nodding your head saying, “Thank God.”   I know.  I feel the same.  

 

Mercury retrograde started on July 17 which feels about eight lightyears ago (ask the couple on the Coldplay Jumbotron).    

It has been a big ol’ bold experience for all of us as Mercury went from 15 to 4 degrees of Leo.    In these last three weeks what have we learned about our vitality?  As Mercury unwinds, we can continue good practices that we learned during the retrograde that uplift our ability to be bold.  Where have we stepped up and exhibited Leo strength?   How have we tapped our generosity?  How have we shown courage?  Where have we shown self-confidence?    What have we done to utilize our god given skills?   How have we tapped our self-respect?    

 

Our unwinding period lasts until August 25, when Mercury finally exits the shadow period which began June 29.  We may revisit people, places, experiences that came up since the end of June and now we bring a new self confidence that honor our gifts, skills and strengths.    Marvel on all you have experienced and where you did a major job of ‘showing up’.   And if you didn't,  now see if you can do it.  Great.   Hold all of it close to your heart just the way Leo likes it.   Also do yourself a favor and

learn why Lions roar    Then give yourself a gentle prideful roar.