Last Quarter to New Moon: Single Point Focus

what are you focusing on?

Last Quarter Moon:
February 3, 8:56 am EST
Balsamic Moon:
February 6, 6:26 pm EST
New Moon in Aquarius:
February 10, 2:20 am EST

We turned the corner this morning, heading into the home stretch, reaching toward the quirky individuality of the New Moon in Aquarius.

We've passed the Last Quarter Moon mark and energy shifts from sharing to releasing––take stock, see what we've outgrown, used up, don't need, and let it go.

And this time around, it'll be easy. Well ... let me qualify that. It'll be easy to see what needs to go. Actually letting go––your mileage may vary.

This last half of the waning Moon phase brings us the Sun in Aquarius, clear-sighted, strong-minded, and revolutionary. This Sun pulls no punches and doesn't mess around. Is the way forward clear? All right-y then, let's roll up our sleeves.

In my last post, I pointed to the Sun squaring the Nodes of the Moon, saying we're asked to clarify our vision and apply it to our life goals. If you look at the charts here, for the Last Quarter, Balsamic, and New Moons, you see that Aquarius Sun square just gets tighter and tighter.

The Sun forms an applying square to the Nodes (in astrology-speak), one that's getting stronger. So, our vision is becoming more clear and more compelling. Inescapable, one might say. In other words, we know what we need to do.

At the same time, the focus in the dreamy sign of Pisces is increasing. Right now, we see Neptune and Chiron, who've been in Pisces a while, joined by Mars. Mercury will soon join the gathering, bringing mind and action into the Piscean ocean.

On one hand, this makes letting go easy. Pisces, after all, is the sign associated with loss and sacrifice. On the other hand, Pisces can generate a lot of fog. When we're with the Aquarian Sun, clarity is right there in front of our eyes. Step into the Piscean mists, and ... what did we want to do? Suddenly it's much less certain.

This is where the single point focus becomes essential. In photography, single point focus is where the energy of the image is gathered, where the eye wants to go. The photographer creates this focus by framing the shot and choosing the depth of focus that will bring the key element into prominence.

Pick up a camera and focus it on the vision you hold for your life. How are you going to frame the shot? What needs to be included? Where is your point of focus? Many photographers can look at the same landscape; each will create a different image. What's yours?

In meditation, single point focus is a technique for quieting the mind, reducing inner chatter. The simplest point of focus is the breath, following each inhale and exhale, calmly, peacefully. Over time, maintaining this focus becomes easier. Inner clarity and strength increase.

This second kind of focus is helpful if we find ourselves in Piscean fogginess. Are we distracted by media, food, alcohol, drugs, whatever? Are we drifting and zoning out? Are we confused? Welcome to Pisces waters ... now breathe. Follow the breath.

This New Moon in Aquarius invites us to step into our strongest, clearest vision of who we are and what we want for ourselves and our world. Exactly square the Nodes of the Moon, the New Moon calls us to commit to our best and brightest image of a possible future.

It's this bright image that can motivate us to gently, compassionately release what we no longer need. We've turned the corner. Punxsutawney Phil, king of groundhogs, has called for an early Spring. Brigid lights the fires of new growth. Let's get ready.