Secondary Progressions: Lunar Cycle

The Progressed Lunation Cycle

Predictive Astrology – Techniques for Predicting the Future Continued

THE PROGRESSED PHASES

Examining where a person is in terms of their progressed lunar phase can be illuminating.

In the secondary progressed system, the progressed lunation cycle takes approximately 28-30 years to complete. This reflects the approximately 28-day lunar cycle in day-for-a-year secondary progressions.

For example, someone born close to a New Moon will experience a progressed New Moon at about 28 years old and then again at about 56 years. A person born closer to a Full Moon will go through their progressed New Moon phase at about 14 years old and then again at approximately 42 years of age.

The progressed lunar cycle comprises the exact same lunar phases as the monthly lunar cycle, but we experience it spread out over years in the secondary progressed symbolic system.

Lunar phases:

New Moon phase 0 – 45 degrees
Crescent Moon phase 45-90 degrees
First Quarter phase 90 – 135 degrees
Gibbous Moon phase 135 – 180 degrees
Full Moon phase 180 – 225 degrees
Disseminating Moon phase 225 – 270 degrees
Last Quarter Moon phase 270 – 315 degrees
Balsamic Moon phase 315 – 360 degrees

Generally, we experience the following milestones as we progress through each progressed Lunar phase:

The progressed New Moon phase (the Sun and Moon are 0 to 45 degrees apart)

During the progressed New Moon phase, we instinctively begin a new phase in our life story. It can be difficult to envision where we’re heading at this point, but we’re also starting fresh and intuitively feeling our way toward a new chapter in our lives.

We become far more aware of our emotional and personal life. As such, we might connect with our subconscious attitudes, prompting a strong and deep need for change.

While we may remain somewhat in the dark, our energy and motivation levels are renewing and building. Our instincts are clearer. We’re refueling with more authentic and suitable energy. It’s a period of greater initiative and self-motivation.

It’s a time when we’re more emotional and subjective than usual. The decisions and changes we make during this phase often relate to improving our personal lives. We’re turning over a new leaf in a significant manner now.

As we approach the Crescent Moon phase, our new beginnings are taking more form and we’re gaining a stronger purpose.

The progressed Crescent Moon phase (the Sun and Moon are 45 to 90 degrees apart)

This can be a time of new opportunities and perhaps the shedding of the old, be that relationships, circumstances, projects, or attitudes. We can be inspired and innovative during this progressed Crescent Moon phase. We’re breaking through to our new beginnings, and in some ways, we might struggle with inner or outer resistance to moving forward. An example of outer resistance is people in our lives wanting us to stay the same, while inner resistance can be a struggle with letting go of old attitudes that have prevented us from growing.

As such, there can be some challenges and struggles at this stage, but also a sense of forward movement and looking ahead to better things.

At this stage of the cycle, we’re building a stronger sense of direction and purpose. Certainly, a new way of life is taking shape.

The progressed First Quarter Moon phase (the Sun and Moon are 90 to 135 degrees apart)

During the progressed First Quarter phase, we’re now firmly committed to rebuilding and pushing things forward. We are ready to grow, improve, and achieve. We’re present, focused, and committed. It’s an important phase for inspiration and effort.

At the same time, it’s a period of increased obstacles and challenges to work through. We can face competition or resistance. It’s important to be resilient and persistent since there are rewards to sticking things through, solving problems, and clearing hurdles.

In some ways, this period relates to the teenager and young adult. It’s a period of self-discovery and tests that build character.

The progressed Gibbous Moon phase (the Sun and Moon are 135 to 180 degrees apart)

While the First Quarter phase was for building and taking action, we’re now in the progressed Gibbous Moon phase, and it’s a period of refinement, fine-tuning, editing, and analyzing. It’s a powerful phase for learning and connecting, gathering feedback, exploring, and discovering.

We’re organizing, planning, perfecting, and interpreting during this part of the lunar cycle.

During this lunar phase, we’re also expanding our horizons. It can be a more sociable period. However, we could be tempted to do too much or take on too much.

The progressed Full Moon phase (the Sun and Moon are 180 to 225 degrees apart)

During the progressed Full Moon phase, we are at a place of culmination or full exposure. We are now seeing the meaning behind our efforts or realizing the fruits of our labor. Something has reached its peak. We can find ourselves at a turning point later in this cycle.

The Full Moon phase is also a time of more awareness or illumination. Before this phase in the lunar cycle, we worked more on instinct, our natural or intuitive way of doing things, but we have now become far more aware, cognizant, and perhaps self-conscious.

Depending on what we’ve been working toward and its viability, this can be a time of anywhere from an exciting climax to a washout. We’ve achieved something and can feel fulfilled, or we might feel let down as we face a culmination. However, this is also a time of great potential, a chance for significant achievements. There can be separations, unions, scandals, fame, or significant achievements. Whatever the case, we are at a turning point in our journey.

It can be difficult to escape attention at this point in the cycle. For some, this can be wanted attention; others could feel overexposed. Again, there is a range of experiences, from feeling empowered and accomplished to feeling overwhelmed and exposed. We can have revelations, epiphanies, and great realizations at this stage.

The progressed Disseminating Moon phase (the Sun and Moon are 225 to 270 degrees apart)

During the progressed Disseminating Moon phase, we’re now living out what we’ve learned and embraced at the Full Moon phase. After the accomplishment phase of the Full Moon, we’re ready to share, disperse, and pass on our knowledge. This period is strong for processing and better understanding the new awareness we reached during the previous phase in the cycle. We’re heading toward greater wisdom.

During this stage of our growth, we are more objective and may be spreading the word, organizing, teaching, guiding, and sharing. The theme of joining with a cause or network can make us feel connected and part of a larger community.

The progressed Last Quarter Moon phase (the Sun and Moon are 270 to 315 degrees apart)

During the progressed Last Quarter phase, we can begin to detach from our previous pursuits and explore our personal needs. A quarter Moon phase tends to bring obstacles or resistance and some discontent that spurs us into action. We’re heading to a period of letting go, breaking down, processing, and regrouping. This is a time for deep personal reflection, where we might sense that things need to change, although we are not yet ready to quantify this.

This period can coincide with developments with friends, groups, jobs, paths, or pursuits that could be breaking down or no longer meshing with our current identity or stage of growth. Certainly, some level of disillusionment can occur now, and it can lead to making adjustments and corrections. It’s a more solitary time of the cycle, and soul-searching, which involves reflecting on our deepest values, beliefs, and desires, developing wisdom and maturity, tying up loose ends, and digesting things can be themes.

In a nutshell, it’s a time of reassortment and finding ourselves–or beginning the process of redefining ourselves.

The progressed Balsamic Moon phase (the Sun and Moon are 315 to 360 degrees apart)

In the Balsamic Moon phase of the progressed lunar cycle, we’re even more likely to feel the need to clean up, wind down, and let go. We have been in a stage of dissatisfaction, and we’ve been moved to separate from certain elements of our lives that no longer fit or represent us in our journey.

This phase is the approximately 3.5-year end of the lunation cycle that occurs before the New Moon. The Moon is going dark, and we are also symbolically in the dark. It’s not a time for solid answers or directions. Generally speaking, it’s not an ideal time for brand-new endeavors since we’re in a process of shedding. It’s instead a time of closure. Reflection, regrouping, introspection, and review are the dominant themes now. A feeling of disconnection is possible as we naturally let go of what was and head toward a new beginning.

Example Chart

The following shows an example celebrity chart, Angelina Jolie, to illustrate the technique behind the progressed Lunar Cycle technique.

Using the powerful, excellent Sirius software, we see the following Lifetime Progressed Lunar Phase events for Angelina:

Angelina Jolie
Lifetime Secondary Progressed Major Cycles
(Stations, Ingresses, and Sun-Moon 8 Phases)
Tropical Placidus
July 24, 1975 6:36:13 AM Los Angeles, California
0 hours West Standard time 34 N 03 08 118 W 14 34

Notes: Su-Mo angles are in the progressed chart. However, ingresses into houses are progressed planets in natal houses

Prog Prog Prog
Date Aspect/Ingress Sun Moon Planet
—- ————– —- —- —-
Oct 26, 1975: Moo enters 10th house 13GE48 17AR53
Feb 19, 1976: Ven enters 1st house 14GE06 21AR45 28CN54
Oct 21, 1976: Moo enters Tau 14GE45   0TA00
Oct 13, 1976: Su-Mo 45 Deg Wane 14GE43 29AR43
Mar 16, 1977: Ven enters Leo 15GE08   4TA59   0LE00
Dec 4, 1977: Jup enters 10th house 15GE49 14TA05 17AR53
Aug 23, 1978: Moo enters 11th house 16GE30 23TA15
Feb 28, 1979: Moo enters Gem 17GE00   0GE00

Jul 14, 1980
: NEW MOON 18GE19 18GE19
May 23, 1981: Moo enters Can 19GE08   0CN00
Mar 31, 1981: Moo enters 12th house 19GE00 28GE01
Jul 14, 1983: Moo enters Leo 21GE11   0LE00
Jun 15, 1983: Moo enters 1st house 21GE06 28CN54
Dec 31, 1983: Su-Mo 45 Deg Wax 21GE38   6LE38
Dec 28, 1984: Moo enters 2nd house 22GE35 20LE50
Feb 22, 1985: Mar enters 10th house 22GE43 23LE01 17AR53
Aug 19, 1985: Moo enters Vir 23GE11   0VI00
Oct 18, 1986: Moo enters 3rd house 24GE18 16VI37
May 17, 1987: Su-Mo 90 Deg Wax 24GE51 24VI51
Sep 27, 1987: Moo enters Lib 25GE12   0LI00
Dec 3, 1987: Plu turns Direct 25GE23   2LI38   6LI29
Jan 2, 1989: Moo enters 4th house 26GE25 17LI53
Nov 15, 1989: Moo enters Sco 27GE14   0SC00
Sep 9, 1990: Sun enters 12th house 28GE01 11SC14
Oct 29, 1990: Su-Mo 135 Deg Wax 28GE09 13SC09
Jul 27, 1991: Moo enters 5th house 28GE51 23SC15
Jan 25, 1992: Moo enters Sag 29GE20   0SA00
Oct 7, 1992: Sun enters Can   0CN00   9SA26
May 22, 1993: Mer turns Direct   0CN36 17SA41 15GE01
May 1, 1994: Moo enters Cap   1CN29   0CP00

Jun 15, 1994:
FULL MOON 1CN36   1CP36
Mar 6, 1994: Moo enters 6th house   1CN21 28SA01
Sep 9, 1996: Moo enters Aqu   3CN44   0AQ00
Aug 7, 1996: Moo enters 7th house   3CN39 28CP54
May 6, 1998: Su-Mo 135 Deg Wane   5CN19 20AQ19 (progressed Disseminating Moon phase begins)
May 22, 1998: Moo enters 8th house   5CN21 20AQ50
Nov 10, 1998: Ven enters 2nd house   5CN49 26AQ32 20LE50
Feb 24, 1999: Moo enters Pis   6CN05   0PI00
Jul 16, 2000: Moo enters 9th house   7CN25 16PI37
Sep 1, 2001: Moo enters Ari   8CN29   0AR00
Nov 29, 2001: Mar enters Tau   8CN43   2AR54   0TA00
Jun 11, 2002: Su-Mo 90 Deg Wane 9CN13   9AR13 (progressed Last Quarter Moon phase begins)
Mar 1, 2003: Moo enters 10th house 9CN55 17AR53
Feb 29, 2004: Moo enters Tau 10CN52   0TA00
Jan 7, 2006: Moo enters 11th house 12CN38 23TA15
May 21, 2006: Su-Mo 45 Deg Wane 12CN59 27TA59 (progressed Balsamic Moon phase begins)
Jul 17, 2006: Moo enters Gem 13CN08   0GE00
Nov 30, 2007: Ura turns Direct 14CN27 18GE17 28LI21
Oct 6, 2008: Moo enters Can 15CN15   0CN00
Aug 15, 2008: Moo enters 12th house 15CN07 28GE01

Dec 3, 2009:
NEW MOON 16CN21 16CN21 (progressed New Moon phase begins)
Mar 19, 2010: Ven enters Vir 16CN38 20CN31   0VI00
Oct 16, 2010: Moo enters 1st house 17CN11 28CN54
Nov 13, 2010: Moo enters Leo 17CN16   0LE00
Sep 24, 2011: Mer enters 12th house 18CN05 12LE36 28GE01
Apr 15, 2012: Moo enters 2nd house 18CN37 20LE50
Nov 29, 2012: Moo enters Vir 19CN13   0VI00
Feb 13, 2013: Mer enters Can 19CN25   3VI04   0CN00
Mar 21, 2013: Su-Mo 45 Deg Wax 19CN30   4VI30 (progressed Crescent Moon phase begins)
Jan 18, 2014: Moo enters 3rd house 20CN18 16VI37
Dec 22, 2014: Moo enters Lib 21CN10   0LI00
Mar 25, 2016: Moo enters 4th house 22CN22 17LI53
Jul 28, 2016: Su-Mo 90 Deg Wax 22CN42 22LI42 (progressed First Quarter Moon phase begins)
Feb 5, 2017: Moo enters Sco 23CN12   0SC00
Oct 22, 2018: Moo enters 5th house 24CN50 23SC15
Apr 25, 2019: Moo enters Sag 25CN19   0SA00
Feb 27, 2020: Su-Mo 135 Deg Wax 26CN07 11SA07 (progressed Gibbous Moon phase begins)
Jun 17, 2021: Moo enters 6th house 27CN22 28SA01
Aug 13, 2021: Moo enters Cap 27CN31   0CP00
Jan 24, 2023: Sun enters 1st house 28CN54 18CP22
Dec 31, 2023: Moo enters Aqu 29CN47   0AQ00

Dec 24, 2023
: FULL MOON 29CN46 29CP46 (progressed Full Moon phase begins)
Nov 28, 2023: Moo enters 7th house 29CN42 28CP54
Mar 22, 2024: Sun enters Leo   0LE00   2AQ48
Sep 12, 2025: Moo enters 8th house   1LE24 20AQ50
Jun 16, 2026: Moo enters Pis   2LE08   0PI00
Nov 6, 2027: Moo enters 9th house   3LE28 16PI37
Jan 7, 2028: Su-Mo 135 Deg Wane   3LE37 18PI37 (progressed Disseminating Moon phase begins)
Jul 24, 2028: Mer enters 1st house   4LE09 25PI05 28CN54
Dec 22, 2028: Moo enters Ari   4LE32   0AR00
Jan 31, 2029: Mer enters Leo   4LE39   1AR18   0LE00
Jun 26, 2030: Moo enters 10th house 5LE59 17AR53
Jun 30, 2031: Moo enters Tau   6LE57   0TA00
Feb 12, 2032: Su-Mo 90 Deg Wane 7LE32   7TA32
May 21, 2033: Moo enters 11th house 8LE45 23TA15
Dec 1, 2033: Moo enters Gem   9LE16   0GE00
Mar 6, 2036: Moo enters Can 11LE26   0CN00
Nov 24, 2035: Su-Mo 45 Deg Wane 11LE10 26GE10
Dec 20, 2035: Mar enters 11th house 11LE14 27GE07 23TA15
Jan 13, 2036: Moo enters 12th house 11LE17 28GE01
Dec 21, 2037: Ven turns Rx 13LE09 25CN29 11VI43
Mar 16, 2038: Moo enters 1st house 13LE22 28CN54
Apr 12, 2038: Moo enters Leo 13LE26   0LE00
Mar 14, 2039: Mer enters 2nd house 14LE19 13LE39 20LE50

Apr 1, 2039
: NEW MOON 14LE22 14LE22
Sep 5, 2039: Moo enters 2nd house 14LE47 20LE50
Apr 14, 2040: Moo enters Vir 15LE22   0VI00
May 22, 2041: Moo enters 3rd house 16LE25 16VI37
Apr 14, 2042: Moo enters Lib 17LE17   0LI00
Jun 13, 2042: Su-Mo 45 Deg Wax 17LE26   2LI26
Jul 4, 2043: Moo enters 4th house 18LE27 17LI53
Jan 4, 2044: Mer enters Vir 18LE56 25LI06   0VI00
May 9, 2044: Moo enters Sco 19LE16   0SC00
Nov 6, 2045: Su-Mo 90 Deg Wax 20LE42 20SC42
Dec 24, 2045: Sun enters 2nd house 20LE50 22SC29
Jan 14, 2046: Moo enters 5th house 20LE53 23SC15
Jul 25, 2046: Jup turns Rx 21LE23   0SA20 24AR42
Jul 17, 2046: Moo enters Sag 21LE22   0SA00
Aug 13, 2046: Mar enters Gem 21LE26   0SA59   0GE00
Nov 6, 2048: Moo enters Cap 23LE35   0CP00
Sep 10, 2048: Moo enters 6th house 23LE26 28SA01
Aug 2, 2049: Su-Mo 135 Deg Wax 24LE18   9CP18
Mar 2, 2051: Moo enters 7th house 25LE49 28CP54
Apr 4, 2051: Moo enters Aqu 25LE54   0AQ00
Dec 19, 2052: Moo enters 8th house 27LE33 20AQ50
May 15, 2053: Nep turns Direct 27LE56 25AQ40   9SA01

Jul 29, 2053
: FULL MOON 28LE08 28AQ08
Sep 23, 2053: Moo enters Pis 28LE17   0PI00
Aug 11, 2053: Mer enters 3rd house 28LE10 28AQ35 16VI37
Feb 14, 2055: Moo enters 9th house 29LE37 16PI37
Jul 8, 2055: Sun enters Vir   0VI00 21PI17
Apr 1, 2056: Moo enters Ari   0VI43   0AR00
Sep 11, 2057: Su-Mo 135 Deg Wane   2VI06 17AR06
Oct 5, 2057: Moo enters 10th house 2VI10 17AR53
Oct 12, 2058: Moo enters Tau   3VI09   0TA00
Sep 12, 2060: Moo enters 11th house 5VI00 23TA15
Mar 30, 2061: Moo enters Gem   5VI32   0GE00
Sep 20, 2061: Su-Mo 90 Deg Wane 5VI59   5GE59
Jun 21, 2062: Mer enters Lib   6VI43 15GE36   0LI00
Jul 26, 2063: Moo enters Can   7VI46   0CN00
Jun 1, 2063: Moo enters 12th house 7VI38 28GE01
May 25, 2065: Ven enters Leo   9VI33 25CN28   0VI00
Apr 30, 2065: Su-Mo 45 Deg Wane 9VI29 24CN29
Sep 17, 2065: Moo enters Leo   9VI51   0LE00
Aug 20, 2065: Moo enters 1st house   9VI47 28CN54
Feb 14, 2067: Moo enters 2nd house 11VI13 20LE50
Sep 23, 2067: Moo enters Vir 11VI48   0VI00

Jul 21, 2068
: NEW MOON 12VI36 12VI36
Nov 16, 2068: Sat enters 1st house 12VI55 17VI33 28CN54
Oct 24, 2068: Moo enters 3rd house 12VI51 16VI37
Sep 10, 2069: Moo enters Lib 13VI43   0LI00
Nov 16, 2070: Moo enters 4th house 14VI52 17LI53
Dec 20, 2070: Ura enters Sco 14VI57 19LI14   0SC00
Sep 12, 2071: Moo enters Sco 15VI39   0SC00
Sep 30, 2071: Su-Mo 45 Deg Wax 15VI42   0SC42
Sep 5, 2072: Sun enters 3rd house 16VI37 14SC08
Apr 30, 2073: Moo enters 5th house 17VI15 23SC15
Oct 26, 2073: Moo enters Sag 17VI43   0SA00
Apr 1, 2075: Su-Mo 90 Deg Wax 19VI06 19SA06

Positions of Planets at Birth:
Sun      0 LE  46               Plu       6 LI  51
Moo     12 AQ  06               Nod      28 SC  59
Mer     21 CN  30               Asc       9 VI  18
Ven      8 VI  48                MC       7 GE  12
Mar     16 TA  02               2nd       4 LI  54
Jup     23 AR  57               3rd       4 SC  38
Sat     23 CN  37               5th      10 CP  04
Ura     28 LI  29               6th      11 AQ  06
Nep      9 SA  14

Angelina was born in a Last Quarter Moon phase, so she would experience her first progressed New Moon quite young, and then every 28-30 years after that age.

Technically, her first progressed New Moon occurred in July 1980 when she was 5 years old. The next progressed New Moon occurred in December 2009, 29.5 years later, when she was 34 years old. The third progressed New Moon will occur in April 2039, approximately 29.5 years after her second one.

Her progressed Full Moons occurred when the Sun and Moon were opposite one another in her secondary progressed chart: the first in June 1994 and the second in December 2023, representing culminations and exposure.

Her first big role happened while she was in a progressed Full Moon phase, for example. In 2002-2003 came her first adoption and the Sri Lanka journals around the time of her progressed Last Quarter phase. She filed for divorce as she began a progressed First Quarter phase.

Angelina Jolie Progressed Full Moon Chart

More examples

Some examples of famous people and their progressed New Moons and other progressed lunar phases:

Prince Charles pr. New Moon February 2024
Joe Biden pr. New Moon May 2019
Justin Trudeau pr. New Moon November 2023
Elon Musk pr. New Moon January 2025
Donald Trump pr. New Moon September 2019
Queen Latifah’s first Emmy nomination occurred in 1991 in her progressed New Moon phase; in 1993, she released the iconic Black Reign album during her progressed Crescent Moon phase; autobiography released in her Disseminating phase.
Jane Fonda’s fame lifted in her Full Moon phase in 1963; her controversial visit to Vietnam occurred in a progressed Last Quarter phase; her workout videos came about in her late progressed New Moon phase + Crescent Moon phase as she rebranded.
Ron Howard starred in Happy Days during his progressed Full phase; had his first major directorial debut in his Balsamic phase; released the highly successful and acclaimed Apollo 13 in his progressed First Quarter phase; receives Lifetime Achievement Award in his pr. Balsamic phase, a year before the New Moon.
Ella Fitzgerald gained national fame during her progressed Last Quarter Moon phase, however. She embarked on her solo career in 1942-1943 at her progressed New Moon. A turning point in her career came in 1956, later in her Gibbous Moon phase. Her first Grammy wins came at her progressed Full Moon phase and at her subsequent Full Moon phase 29 years later, received her National Medal of Arts.
Aretha Franklin’s breakthrough album was released in her progressed Crescent Moon phase; became the first woman inducted into the Hall of Fame in her progressed Last Quarter phase.
Renee Zellweger gained recognition during a progressed Crescent Moon phase in 1996 and further acclaim in her progressed Gibbous phase, marriage in Full Moon phase; return to acting in 2016 after a long hiatus (since 2010), during a progressed Balsamic Moon phase; role as Judy Garland and subsequent Academy Award in 2019-2020 in her progressed New Moon phase.
Elizabeth II, Queen of England became Queen in her Crescent Moon phase.
Prince William’s mother, Princess Di, died in his pr. Full Moon phase; last New Moon was June 2011 and next is September 2040.
Prince Harry stepped back from his royal duties around the start of his progressed Balsamic Moon phase; progressed New Moon in mid-2023.
Kamala Harris inaugurated Vice President of the US in her progressed Gibbous phase.

Note that this system is quite dependent on accurate birth times.

The following is a sample of the Lunar Phases report.

Ella Fitzgerald Lunar Phases Report Sample

Lunar Phases Report for

Ella Fitzgerald

January 1, 1942

Birth Data for Ella
Fitzgerald:
April 25, 1917, 12:30 PM, Newport News, Virginia

The positions
of the planets in your progressed chart are given below:
Sun 28 Tau 48 Pluto 3 Can 04
Moon 21 Tau 11 N. Node 11 Cap 23
Mercury 23 Tau 19 Asc. 8 Vir 20
Venus 5 Gem 10 MC 5 Gem 29
Mars 11 Tau 32 2nd cusp 3 Lib 11
Jupiter 20 Tau 50 3rd cusp 2 Sco 35
Saturn 26 Can 17 5th cusp 9 Cap 01
Uranus 23 Aqu 41 6th cusp 10 Aqu 21
Neptune 2 Leo 28

Tropical Placidus
Standard time observed
GMT: 09:59:25 Time Zone: 0 hours West
Lat. and Long. of birth: 36 N 58 43 76 W 25 42
Progressed Chart Calculation Date:
May 20, 1917, 9:59:25 AM, Newport News, Virginia

The two most fundamental energies in our birth chart are the Sun and the Moon. While the Sun is the most yang, projective, giving us our sense of individual self and purpose, the Moon is the most yin, receptive, providing us with the application of our purpose. The Sun is the light and life of our system. The Moon being the closest heavenly body to us controls the rhythm of the sea and all its creatures as well as the flow of blood in the human body. As the Moon distributes the light of the Sun each night, we experience this partnership and are able to understand their relationship in forming the personality of the human being.

Each night, a different amount of light is given off by the Moon according to its changing relationship with the Sun. Within an approximate twenty-eight day cycle the Moon will have passed through eight phases, each phase lasting about forty-five degrees or three and a half days.

These phases each have their own unique characteristics which influence all life on the planet. The first phase is the New Moon at which time no light is emanating from its surface. Beginning at zero degrees, it will have completed its cycle at three hundred and sixty degrees.

One way to describe these phases is to use the analogy of the plant.

At the New Moon, the seed is in the ground preparing for germination. It is implanted in a new beginning.

In the early degrees of the Crescent Phase, the sprout is drawn up from the earth by the initial impulses of light. During the remaining stages of the Crescent Phase the plant goes through a strengthening process, mobilizing its energies against the elements of nature.

When the First Quarter comes about, the plant has passed the initial stages of survival and is now sending down roots. By firmly anchoring its life force, the plant is able to concentrate its energies in the growth of stems and leaves with the tiny buds appearing by the beginning of the Gibbous Phase.

During the Gibbous Phase, the plant is focusing on the reason for its existence. By ridding itself of everything superfluous, the culmination of its entire past from its beginning is brought to the moment of its achievement by coming into bloom.

The phase of the Full Moon is the completion. The work has been done and the gardener can stand back and assess his efforts. As the Full Moon progresses through its forty-five degrees, the flower becomes the fruit.

Next, the Disseminating phase is the harvest. The purpose of the plant is to now to give back to the earth to those who brought it into being and to nurture others.

By the time the Third Quarter comes around, the harvest is over, the abundance has been shared and what is left in the fields begins to decompose. The cycle is beginning to end.

During the Balsamic Phase, the seed capsule is buried underground. It is clear that what was, no longer exists in its original form. This is the time of transition. The light of the Moon has grown very dim and, by the end of this phase, it will have disappeared into darkness.

When we are born we come in under the influence of one of the Moon’s phases. The degree will pinpoint its intensity.

THE PROGRESSED PHASES

The progressed lunation cycle lasts for approximately twenty-eight years. This is, in effect, a macrocosmic illustration of the microcosmic monthly lunar cycle.

During a progressed New Moon, people instinctively begin a new phase of their lives.

As in all new beginnings, the Crescent Phase will bring about challenges during the struggle forward in this new enterprise. Old friends may fall away, while new opportunities will present themselves, helping them get on with the business at hand. Sometimes they will feel as though they are moving in blind faith as old values and outmoded systems fall to the wayside, being replaced by new approaches acquired through inspiration.

The progressed Third Quarter presents a time of action in which the building stage is in full force. At the onset of this phase, sometimes still without tangible form, one instinctively forges ahead in a creatively progressive mode, until towards the end of the three and a half year period there is a sense of being grounded in the process now having something to work with.

The progressed Gibbous Phase brings about the stage of refinement. The techniques of the process which was begun is perfected now and fine tuned during this time.

The crucial stage comes with the phase of the progressed Full Moon. It is during this time that the fruits of one’s labor are made obvious. The structure has been built and it is time to find the meaning, purpose and content of its creation. If one doesn’t allow for a change in the way of operations from here on, the structure usually breaks down, for it is useless without a purpose. This time usually marks a turning point in one’s life in which he realizes that he must gradually disengage from the way he has been doing things for the next fifteen years.

During a progressed Disseminating Phase, one is living out one’s values accumulated through the period of growth prior to the progressed Full Moon.

When the progressed Third Quarter comes around feelings of dissatisfaction with the way things are begin to emerge. Perhaps a lack of interest in a once compatible system of living. Change is in the air, although it is not in one’s consciousness as of yet. Things just don’t fit the way they used to and may feel like they are already becoming a part of the past.

The progressed Balsamic Phase is the time when one begins to sense the future and dedicates themselves to it. It is the transiting ending to all that was. Old issues and loose ends may come for review. As this phase progresses it becomes a time of enforced isolationism. One may feel like they are going crazy as it is hard for them to identify with things in the so called real world. They may think they have made a mistake or that there must be something wrong with them. Try as they may , they just can’t seem to get with the program.

It is at this time that one needs to understand that those things that are no longer valid or have passed away had a purpose, and that part of the fulfillment of that purpose was to make way for what is to be born. The Balsamic time is a time of meditation, of inner searching. It is a time of transition from DOING to BEING. People need to realize that it is O.K. to do nothing, to become receptive and allowing. People often retire during a progressed Balsamic Moon and sometimes pass on from physical life.

YOUR NATAL PHASE
Crescent Phase:

Ella, you were born during the Crescent Moon Phase of the Lunar Cycle. Having passed through the darkness of the new Moon, a sliver of light has just begun to illuminate the path as the Moon embarks on it’s new cycle.

Your greatest challenge is to become independent of belief systems and concepts that are part of the past. This is necessary in order to fully realize selfhood and individuality. Be aware of comfortable ruts and habitual behavior. They represent the chains of the past. As you break free, opportunities will open up to you. The first is the hardest. It may feel as though you are going against the grain. In many ways, you are.

As you take the initiative to make changes, you may find a lot of resistance in those who are used to relating to you in a certain way. They may feel threatened by your breaking from the status quo. However, by asserting your will and determination, you will foster belief in yourself and develop creative new vision.

YOUR PROGRESSED PHASE
Your progressed Lunar Phase now is in the last third of the Balsamic Moon Phase. Each phase lasts about 3 1/2 years, so the next phase will begin soon.

When you began the Third Quarter Phase, which is the phase that precedes the balsamic phase, things were beginning to wind down as the cycle continued to wane. What had been started to feel old, as though it or you just didn’t fit any more, giving rising to rumblings of discontent. A reorientation of energy had begun to take place.

The Progressed Balsamic Phase is the end of a thirty year Lunation Cycle. In essence, it is the dark time of the Moon when the completion signifies a shutting down. It is not the time to venture into something new. Those of us who lead active lives with initiating qualities may feel like they are going crazy. In other words, there may be a sense of loss, perhaps a feeling as though you are losing your identity.

This is a time of enforced isolation. It is a meditative time for inner searching. Additionally, it is a time for letting go of the past in order to prepare for the new. Although the new is still totally unrecognizable, it is important to allow the necessary surrender to the unknown.

Be aware that whatever passes away during this time is necessary to make way for the new. Knowing, satisfying the mind with answers is not your focus now. This is a time of Being, inward as opposed to outward. Sensing the future and dedicating yourself in its direction will bring you to the next Lunation Cycle, which begins when this balsamic phase ends.

References or suggested further reading:

Riding the Wave: The Progressed Lunation Cycle at Astro. This article presents an interesting perspective as it relates the New Moon not to Aries and the first house but to the fourth house. As such, the Full Moon phase is related to the Midheaven.

(1) Progressed Horoscope (affiliate link) by Alan Leo. First published in 1923, this book is now a classic.

Progressions (Astrology: a Language of Life) (affiliate link) by Robert Blaschke

In Predictive Astrology: The Eagle and the Lark by Bernadette Brady, an illuminating chapter dedicated to progressions offers students of astrology tools to help understand the meaning of progressions in individual lives. Excellent!

Find out more about this book (affiliate link)

In The Art of Predictive Astrology, Carol Rushman shares with readers some very valuable predictive techniques, culled from over 30 years of experience. This is a fascinating read for intermediate students of Astrology. The book contains quite a bit of information about progressions in addition to other techniques.