Early Thursday, we enter the Last Quarter with the Moon in late Capricorn. This is a pragmatic, hard-headed Moon who knows boundaries are the foundation of good self care and fair exchange creates long-lasting bonds.
Capricorn is the cardinal Earth sign ruled by Saturn. At the Last Quarter, the Moon squares the Sun. In this case, the Moon squares Jupiter, the Sun, and the dwarf planet Eris, all in Aries.
Before we rush headlong toward our desires, or into battle, or just for the love of running–where are we going? Are these desires grounded, realistic, and attainable? What responsibilities do we have and how will they be met? Are we tracking costs? How will they be paid?
In the final decan of Capricorn, we’re asked to attend to these sorts of issues. OK, maybe we’ve gotten somewhere. We have some stuff. How do we keep it? What’s it for?
This question is more pointed with Eris in the picture. Eris was discovered in 2005 and named a dwarf planet in 2006, so very new to astrology. Named for a battle goddess and bringer of chaos, Eris is about the same size as Pluto and located in the Kuiper belt, the same part of the sky.
When I see a strong Eris in a birth chart, this fierce goddess tends to signify someone deeply concerned about and committed to changing issues with our global environment and/or issues related to the health and safety of women and children.
Advocates who work in either of those arenas know they are related: Societies that take care of the environment also take care of women and children. These societies know the web of life must be honored and tended for all of us to thrive.
So the Moon coming to square Eris just before entering Aquarius and joining Pluto asks, what’s it going to cost if we ignore the needs of the planet that keeps us alive?
The Moon will trine Venus in Gemini after leaving Pluto. Perhaps ideas will begin to emerge then.
Although we might need to address more questions first. The next day, April 14, Venus squares Saturn in Pisces as Saturn trines the South Node in Scorpio and sextiles the North Node in Taurus.
Venus in Gemini might long for quick fixes, but Saturn in Pisces knows things are not that simple. We’ll need to look at the past and the future. This work is long term.
We reach the Waning Sextile with the Moon in late Aquarius. This visionary Moon offers support to the Sun in late Aries. The Sun now separates from the other bodies in the sign of cardinal Fire, leaning into the New Moon eclipse.
As we note the chaotic waters ahead, we can use this Last Quarter phase to prepare. It’s time to load up the resources we need, batten down the hatches, and secure everything that can be secured.
