Last Quarter
Let go and clear
Next Last Quarter: Sun, November 1, in Leo (UTC)
Half the Moon is lit again, the other half this time. The last quarter is for clearing, forgiving and ending what no longer fits.
The meaning of the last quarter
At the last quarter, the Moon is a half again, lit on the left in the Northern Hemisphere, and rises around midnight. It mirrors the first quarter: where that phase pushed forward, this one clears away.
It is the right time to finish, declutter and close loops before the next new moon.
During the waning gibbous you looked at what the cycle taught you. The last quarter turns that lesson into action. If something did not work, this is when you stop doing it, whether it is a habit, a commitment or a way of talking to yourself.
Like the first quarter, this is a square between the Sun and Moon, so expect some friction. This time the pressure points inward. Followers of Dane Rudhyar call it a crisis in consciousness, a moment when you change your mind about something first and your outer life catches up later.
The last quarter in the sky
- Disc lit
- 50%, the second half moon of the cycle
- Angle from the Sun
- 270°, a right angle on the other side
- Rises
- Around midnight
- Sets
- Around midday
- Northern Hemisphere
- The left half, its flat edge facing right
- Southern Hemisphere
- The right half, its flat edge facing left
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.
Last Quarter rituals
- ✦Declutter one space, physical or digital.
- ✦Forgive something, starting with yourself.
- ✦End or pause one commitment that drains you.
In love
Let go of an old grievance. It takes up room the relationship needs. If the same issue keeps returning in every argument, name it once, calmly, and agree on what you will each do differently.
In work and money
Close open loops. Finish, delegate or cancel what is lingering. Cut your task list down to the items you would still choose to start today.
What to avoid during the last quarter
- ×Signing up for something new just to fill the space you are clearing.
- ×Making cuts out of anger. Decide what goes when you are calm.
- ×Clearing everyone else’s clutter before your own.
Journal prompts
- “What am I holding on to that I no longer need?”
- “Which commitment would I not say yes to again?”
- “What can I finish this week so it stops taking up space in my head?”
Dane Rudhyar’s lunation type: Last Quarter
Born under the last quarter
In Rudhyar’s system the Last Quarter type has the Moon 270° to 315° from the Sun. It is read as a reforming, principled nature, someone who questions the beliefs they grew up with and builds a life around what they have decided is true. You may feel a little out of step with your own generation, and be fine with that.
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. The band starts at the exact last quarter, so it also covers the first days of the waning crescent. Your free birth chart shows where your Sun and Moon were when you were born.
Upcoming last quarter dates
The exact moment of each last quarter for the next year and the sign the Moon is in.
- Sun, November 1Last Quarter in Leo
- Tue, December 1Last Quarter in Virgo
- Wed, December 30Last Quarter in Libra
- Fri, January 29, 2027Last Quarter in Scorpio
- Sun, February 28, 2027Last Quarter in Sagittarius
- Tue, March 30, 2027Last Quarter in Capricorn
- Wed, April 28, 2027Last Quarter in Aquarius
- Fri, May 28, 2027Last Quarter in Pisces
- Sun, June 27, 2027Last Quarter in Aries
- Mon, July 26, 2027Last Quarter in Taurus
- Wed, August 25, 2027Last Quarter in Gemini
- Thu, September 23, 2027Last Quarter in Cancer
Dates in UTC.
Common questions
When is the next last quarter?
The next last quarter is Sun, November 1 (UTC), with the Moon in Leo. The one after that is Tue, December 1.
How often is there a last 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 last quarter?
It rises around midnight and is highest around sunrise, so it is a morning moon, often visible in a blue daytime sky.
Is the last quarter the same as the third quarter?
Yes. Last quarter and third quarter are two names for the same phase, the moment the Moon is half lit on the waning side, about three weeks after the new moon.
How is the last quarter different from the first quarter?
Both are half moons, lit on opposite sides and seen at opposite times. The first quarter is up in the afternoon and evening, while the last quarter rises around midnight and is easiest to see in the morning. Astrologically, the first pushes a plan forward and the last clears away what the cycle no longer needs.
What comes after the last quarter?
The waning crescent, the final week of the cycle, when a thin sliver rises before dawn and fades into daylight. It leads into the next new moon.
What does it mean to be born under the last quarter?
It means the Moon was 270° to 315° ahead of the Sun at your birth. Rudhyar named this the Last Quarter type and saw it as a temperament that reworks inherited beliefs and acts on principle.
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