Last Quarter Moon: When It's Darkest

Starry Night Over the Rhone –– Van Gogh

Last Quarter Moon in Cancer
October 8, 2012

So, let's acknowledge up front that things feel a bit bleak, now Saturn has followed Mercury into Scorpio.

They're trining Neptune and Chiron in watery Pisces. The Moon's in Cancer, at her most emotional, and Venus is in anxious Virgo.

I've already seen Facebook posts from usually cheery friends talking about climbing back into bed with hot cocoa and blankets, even though the sky is blue and clouds fluffy. This is internal weather we're talking about, and sometimes a lovely day just makes it worse.

We're in a Shadowy season, and this year's will be more intense than usual. Those of us interested in psychology reach for the James Hillman. Fantasy fans may find cheery tales just don't cut it right now. Happy endings? I double-dog-dare ya.

Sooooo ... what do we do with all this heaviness?

Satire is always good, while remembering the distinction between satire and mere sarcasm. Scorpio excels at both.

Creative work is an excellent choice. Saturn loves form. He's trining gifted Neptune, with communicative Mercury and mentoring Chiron in close attendance. This pattern pushes us to go beyond wallowing in drama du jour, and instead see what it's made of, what can be made of it, and––in the process––what we're made of.

Wallowing is a bit of an issue when the Moon's in Cancer, which is exactly the challenge presented by tomorrow's Last Quarter Moon. The Sun's at 15 Libra, the Moon at 15 Cancer, and the Water Trine is Grand, with Saturn, Mercury, Neptune and Chiron as described and Ceres (Demeter) holding the third corner in emotional Cancer.

At the Last Quarter, we turn toward the coming New Moon, and look at what we need to let go of ... but, oops, Cancer and Scorpio hate to let go of anything. Old patterns? Check. Hurts and losses? Check. Grudges and resentments? Check. We've got 'em, and they're all up for review. Sounds fun, huh?

This is where the good side of Saturn comes to the fore. (Yes, Saturn has a good side.) This is the serious guy, the one who wants to see hard work, responsibility, commitment and patience. Raising a sardonic eyebrow at all this emotional baggage, Saturn asks whether any of it really matters.

Which issues contribute to our lives going forward, and which are so much dead weight? Which ones are we ready to commit serious time and effort to understanding, and which can we just let go of, right now, this week? Suddenly we notice things on the list not worth worrying about ... sure, pitch those over the side ... buh bye!

The opportunity at this Last Quarter Moon is to commit to spending serious Saturnian time with the real issues in our lives and let the rest go. With Saturn in Scorpio, we're in for some heavy weather, and traveling light is an excellent choice.

It's time for realism. The old proverb "It's always darkest just before the dawn" is not helpful, and not true. It's darkest right in the middle of the night, and that's where we're headed.

Instead, I offer Emerson: "When it's dark enough, you can see the stars." This, I like. Darkness offers contrast, the velvety blackness that makes any spark stand out. I've been in caves deep beyond any ambient light. It's surprisingly comforting ... and wow, do candles look great!

At this Last Quarter Moon, we've got Uranus in fiery Aries lighting a huge candle. He's at the apex of a yod with Saturn and Mercury on one side and Venus on the other, sextiling each other. So, he's the answer, the way out, the light in dark places when all other lights go out.

Sagittarean Mars is trining Uranus, boosting Fire's energy exponentially, combining to offer a double-edged sword: Are we looking for piercing personal insight, or a torch to burn something down? Could work either way.

The Chicago Marathon is today, another setting in which blazing energy and long-term commitment combine to create success. I'm not a runner myself, but some of my nieces are running––I wish them well; may Aries and Uranus put wings on their feet, and Scorpio ensure their energy never gives out!

For the rest of us, let's pull those tired old issues out into the light, and toss the ones we don't need onto our personal bonfire of the vanities. We commit to a journey into the depths for important issues, but not for trivial matters that are just. so. over.