First Quarter
Push through resistance
Next First Quarter: Tue, November 17, in Aquarius (UTC)
Half the Moon is lit. The first quarter is a turning point where the first obstacles appear and decisions get made.
The meaning of the first quarter
At the first quarter, the Moon is a perfect half, lit on the right in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a moment of tension between the plan and reality. Something gets in the way, and how you respond decides the rest of the cycle.
Treat obstacles now as information. They show you which part of the plan was guesswork. Adjust that part and keep moving.
During the crescent you took the first steps on faith. By now you have had enough contact with reality to see what is harder, slower or more expensive than you hoped. Astrologers call this a crisis in action, the point where you commit for real or quietly drop the idea.
Here the Moon is 90° from the Sun, a square in astrology, and squares are about friction that forces a choice. Use the friction. A decision made this week gives the waxing gibbous days something solid to polish.
The first quarter in the sky
- Disc lit
- 50%, exactly half
- Angle from the Sun
- 90°, a right angle to the Sun
- Rises
- Around midday
- Sets
- Around midnight
- Northern Hemisphere
- Right half lit, with the straight edge on the left
- Southern Hemisphere
- Left half lit, with the straight edge on the right
The angle is measured from the Sun eastward to the Moon. Rise and set times are local and shift with the season and your latitude.
First Quarter rituals
- ✦Name the main obstacle to your intention and one way around it.
- ✦Adjust your plan instead of abandoning it.
- ✦Move your body. Walk, run, dance. Physical effort helps with mental friction.
In love
A disagreement now is a chance to understand each other better, so stay in the conversation. Say what you need in plain words and ask the other person to do the same. If you are getting to know someone, watch how they handle a small change of plan.
In work and money
Make the decision you have been avoiding and commit to it. Choose the version of the project you can actually finish this month and cut the rest. If a problem needs someone else to fix it, raise it with them today.
What to avoid during the first quarter
- ×Taking the first setback as proof the idea was wrong.
- ×Arguing to win. You learn more by asking what the other person needs.
- ×Saying yes to every new request while your main plan is still wobbly.
Journal prompts
- “What is in my way, and what can I change about my approach?”
- “Which decision have I been putting off, and what would it cost me to make it today?”
- “Where do I need to be firmer with my time?”
Dane Rudhyar’s lunation type: First Quarter
Born under the first quarter
Rudhyar’s First Quarter type covers a Moon 90° to 135° ahead of the Sun. It is read as a builder’s temperament: strong-willed, practical and at its best when something old needs clearing away so a new structure can go up. People with this phase often seem to do well under pressure and take on responsibility early.
In natal astrology the phase comes from the Sun-Moon angle in eight bands of 45°, so it can differ slightly from the phase you would have seen that night. Since the band starts at the exact quarter, it also covers the first few days of the waxing gibbous seen in the sky. Your free birth chart shows where your Sun and Moon were when you were born.
Upcoming first quarter dates
The exact moment of each first quarter for the next year and the sign the Moon is in.
- Tue, November 17First Quarter in Aquarius
- Thu, December 17First Quarter in Pisces
- Fri, January 15, 2027First Quarter in Aries
- Sun, February 14, 2027First Quarter in Taurus
- Mon, March 15, 2027First Quarter in Gemini
- Tue, April 13, 2027First Quarter in Cancer
- Thu, May 13, 2027First Quarter in Leo
- Fri, June 11, 2027First Quarter in Virgo
- Sat, July 10, 2027First Quarter in Libra
- Mon, August 9, 2027First Quarter in Scorpio
- Tue, September 7, 2027First Quarter in Sagittarius
- Thu, October 7, 2027First Quarter in Capricorn
Dates in UTC.
Common questions
When is the next first quarter?
The next first quarter is Tue, November 17 (UTC), with the Moon in Aquarius. The one after that is Thu, December 17.
How often is there a first quarter?
Once every lunar cycle, which averages 29.5 days, so there are twelve or thirteen a year. The exact phase is a single moment, but the Moon looks half lit for about a day either side.
Where do I look for the first quarter?
It rises around midday, is highest in the south around sunset and sets around midnight, so it is easy to spot in the afternoon and early evening.
How is the first quarter different from the waxing crescent?
The crescent is less than half lit and best seen low in the west after dark. The first quarter is exactly half lit and stands high in the sky at sunset. Astrologically the crescent is about starting, and the quarter brings the first test.
What comes after the first quarter?
The waxing gibbous, a week when more than half the Moon is lit and the full moon is close. It is a phase for refining the work you already have.
Why is it called the first quarter when half the Moon is lit?
The name refers to the cycle. The Moon has completed a quarter of its trip from one new moon to the next. What you see lit is half of the face turned toward us, which is a quarter of the whole sphere.
What does it mean to be born under the first quarter?
It means the Moon was 90° to 135° ahead of the Sun when you were born, the First Quarter type in Rudhyar’s lunation cycle. Astrologers link it with willpower, decisiveness and a talent for building under pressure.
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