The First Quarter Moon Phase ~ Taking Action with Activities Directed Toward the Future

"Freed from the shell, the sprouting plant decides it's future by sinking it's moisture-seeking rootlets down into the earth. Spreading them out, it stakes out it's territory and wholeheartedly climbs toward the air and the sky, affirming, “Here I will Be.” The Lunar Cycles ~ Philip Levine

At the New Moon a conception occurred ~ at the Crescent the new life quickened in the womb and IF we are successful in overcoming our self-doubt we commit to gathering information and resources as we plan for the action of the First Quarter phase ~ where we announce the upcoming birth to others.

The First Quarter phase represents one of the more critical phases of the cycle. We've reached a turning point. We can feel squeezed between the old ~ what has become so familiar and secure ~ and the emerging new. And we experience outer resistance.

At the First Quarter we must move through that resistance. We have reach a crisis in action ~ a time of choice, when we can either align our life with the future or retreat. During the First Quarter critical decisions with long term implications are made.

It is now we act on the energy of the new Moon, but we are still in the dark ~ the way is only partially lit. During the end of this phase there will be some reconciliation ~ if you have met the challenge of the First Quarter you will do something to make positive and creative changes in your life and you will reap rewards ~ if you didn't ~ things can quickly go down hill.

An affirmation for the First Quarter ~ “This is who I am and this is where I intend to go!”

Continuing with the example used in previous Moon Phase articles ~ during the New Moon Phase your dream of a new job became a goal. In the Crescent Phase the realization of the what that could mean raised all the doubts you have about yourself and your abilities and if you successfully overcame those doubts, at the First Quarter you are ready to let the cat out of the bag ~ so to speak.

It's time to tell your friends, co-workers and family. Sadly their reactions are not all supportive, encouraging or positive. You feel misunderstood but you must move beyond the need for the approval of others. This outer resistance to your change of direction must be broken through and you must move beyond the need for the approval of others and do what feels right to to you. During the first Quarter we must act confidently and make a commitment that will lead us into the Gibbous phase where we adjust and persevere.

Each of the 8 phases last just under 4 days. During it's First Quarter the Moon rises in the east around noon, sets in the west around midnight and is waxing 90 – 135 degrees ahead of the Sun.

Those born during the First Quarter Phase love challenges and will act without the approval of others. As a matter of fact they seldom worry about what others might think. But ~ they also do have a tendency to attract conflicts and disasters.They feel a great deal of inner drive and tension that seems to challenge them to do something, sometimes anything, to release the urge to act now or lose the opportunity for change. First Quarter types are in the business of change.

Note: During each of the eight phase there is the definite possibility that we will become stuck. Unless we can get past the self doubts of the Crescent Phase or the resistance from others during the First Quarter Phase ~ and so on~ we can lose the opportunity of the entire cycle. This is the sort of thing that happens when we vow to lose weight and in only a few days find we are back to our old ways. Overcoming past conditioning can be very difficult but each month we are given a guide for making important changes in our lives.