First Quarter Moon in Leo

The First Quarter Moon that takes place in the early morning hours of Sunday, April 29th, is an exciting one, aspecting both Pluto and Chiron. The Sun in Taurus trines Pluto in Capricorn exactly, with Chiron residing in Pisces at almost their perfect midpoint. Traditionally this phase represent a time when the rubber meets the road as far as seeing the changes through that were only glimpsed at the time of the New Moon a week earlier. Since this New Moon was a powerful one, closely aspecting Neptune, it stands to reason that this First Quarter phase would be powerful as well. We are enjoined to attempt to see through the illusions and potential confusions of Neptune and to strive for greater clarity in our dealings with others, within the deeper levels of our own psyche, and regarding our inner mandate for spiritual evolution.

With Pluto so involved we are of course reminded of the transformation of death and rebirth that he represents, and as well of the pain (Chiron) of the implied loss. We might be more than ready to shuck important pieces of ourselves in our own best interest, but that doesn't make it any easier to follow through with that high resolve and actually do so. As a noted astrologer of my acquaintance recently put it, the butterfly is in the womb of its process and great beauty will result, but that doesn't make it any easier for the caterpillar.

As the caterpillar's cells turn to mush there are initially only a few butterfly cells that are engendered and, as Chakra specialist and activist Anodea Judith likes to point out, these are called "imaginal" cells, and although the immune system tries to fight them off they overpower it and succeed in changing the form that they invade. And of course this is just what we as individuals need to do in order to accomplish what is necessary for the surrounding society where we make our home and which provides our sustenance. If we are talking about the structure of our own separate lives the metaphor remains the same. Even though the system fights back with all its dying powers, we must become the imaginal cells in that failing system, forcing it to its knees, and to the promise of its eventual evolution that we envision. We already hold that vision firmly in our hearts and only need to externalize it into the world, giving it a new birth.