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Astro 101 by Dawn Elizabeth
During the Balsamic phase of the lunar cycle, the Moon shrinks from the tiny waning crescent to a dark night sky, as one cycle comes to an end in darkness before the next New Moon and waxing light.
Tuesday, July 14 marks the week long period referred to as the Last Quarter (Waning) Moon phase. This is the kick-off season for the dark phase of the lunar cycle and is the best time of the month for reflection and revision.
This phase is similar to the Waxing Moon phase in that there is often a challenge or crisis, but since the Moon is losing light, symbolically, the challenge is less apparent and the processes that are occurring are internal rather than external. It is more like a crisis of consciousness.
Everybody is in it at the same time each month, so you may notice that people seem a little more quiet and to themselves. Allow this.
During this phase, a short term project may have come to fruition, and now that you have successfully handled all of the other phases of development, you may begin to wonder, "what's next?" On the other hand, maybe your project or intention or goal never reached fulfillment and
now is the time that the realization of failure may be particualrly harsh.
Things are winding down. Whether you are looking to wrap up a project, prepare for some new aspect of one, or simply decide that you just want to cut it loose...this is the phase where you will tie up loose ends, take a different tack on an existing project, pass the torch on to someone else or you may simply let go altogether. This is a time when you feel like you could use a little respite.
It's time to start getting inside yourself and reflect on what ought to be changed in your life...let go of whatever is detrimental to your life. If something or someone is not working, the Waning Quarter through the end of the Balsamic phase is about letting go.
Is there a bad habit, an annoying person in your life who commands too much of your time? Do you need to trim a little fat, exercise a bit more? What stands in the way between you and your desires, your aspirations, your truth? Is something or someone draining your energy?
This phase cannot really be planned, simply because whatever is happening here stems from the way you feel. It is about coming face to face with your inner truth, reorienting yourself in order to let go of whatever is standing in the way of that truth and reaching an understanding of the process overall.
The Last Quarter phase gives way to the Balsamic Moon phase ~ the final cycle prior to the next New Moon. This phase is the dreaming phase. It's a time to do some inner work, take a break, meditate, walk on the beach. Give your left brain a rest and allow the intuitive, imaginative, creative side of you to emerge.
I like to think of this time as a clearing of the fields. Most of you reading this are here on Maui, but I think this analogy should work for us all. Think of the sugar cane fields. Think of the New Moon as the time to plant the seeds that will one day emerge into full grown sugar cane plants blowing gently in the wind.
The Waxing Qaurter Moon would be the time to solve any problems such a irrigation difficulties, pest control, etc.
The Full Moon would be the time when the fields have reached maturity and are ready to harvest.
The Waning and Balsamic phase would be the time to clear the ground, take awy the debris and prepare the soil for new seeds.
Just like you would not plant new seeds before the soil has been prepared, you would not want to set new intent (that's for the New Moon phase) until you have cleared away any baggage, psychological or otherwise that stands in the way of the potential for a good a harvest.
The work that needs to be done during the dark phase of the moon is introspective and about letting go, most of all. Quiet time, meditation, reflection and rest are the only tools that you will need to accomplish the task.
Allow yourselves this time, especially beginning this Friday afternoon through Monday of next week. The next New Moon is an eclispse in Aquarius (next Tuesday). But for now, the Balsmic phase calls for our silence, our quiet time. We all need to rest up from time to time. This is the time of the month to do it.
That is all for this week...
Of course, I always welcome your questions and comments.
Until next week,
Dawn Elizabeth
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