In the sky
Half of the Moon’s face is lit, and it rises around midday. The first quarter is traditionally a point of effort and decision, when early plans meet real conditions and need adjusting.
Why is it called a quarter?
At the first quarter, about 7.4 days after the new moon, exactly half of the Moon’s face is lit. The name refers to the cycle, not the shape: the Moon has completed a quarter of its journey from one new moon to the next. Seen from Earth, the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other.
When and where to see it
- It rises around midday, is highest in the sky around sunset and sets around midnight
- It is often visible in a clear afternoon sky, in daylight
- In the northern hemisphere the right half is lit; in the southern hemisphere the left half
- It is one of the best times to look through binoculars or a telescope: long shadows along the line between light and dark show craters and mountains in sharp relief
Spiritual meaning: a point of decision
Dane Rudhyar called the first quarter a “crisis in action”: the moment when plans made at the new moon meet real conditions. Something usually needs adjusting. In reflective practice it is a time to stay with effort, notice resistance without giving up, and make the decisions that let an intention continue.
Shukla Ashtami in the Hindu calendar
The first quarter falls on or near Ashtami, the eighth lunar day of the bright fortnight. Durga Ashtami, one of the most important days of the Navaratri festival in autumn, is a Shukla Ashtami, devoted to the goddess Durga as a figure of strength and resolve.
A half moon in your practice
Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) suits this phase well: a standing balance that asks for strength and steadiness at the same time. If balance is new to you, practise with your back to a wall or a block under your hand.
Bring it into your practice
This is a good time for strength and steadiness. Balances and standing poses ask you to stay with effort and adjust as you go.
A pose for this phase
Warrior II
Open the pose guideA practice for this phase
Steady standing practice
A grounded practice for meeting effort with steadiness.
Open the practiceQuestions to sit with
What obstacle has appeared, and what is it teaching me?
- What needs adjusting so my intention can continue?
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Questions
Why is the first quarter half lit?
“Quarter” describes how far through its monthly cycle the Moon is, not how much of it is lit.
Can you see the first quarter moon during the day?
Yes. It rises around midday, so it is often visible in the afternoon sky before sunset.
Is the first quarter waxing or waning?
Waxing. The lit part is still growing towards the full moon.
How long does the first quarter last?
It is a single moment, but the Moon looks half-lit for about a day either side.