Last Quarter Moon in Capricorn: Hands On

Overnight, we enter the Last Quarter phase with the Moon in Capricorn. As I write, it’s early afternoon on April 9 and the Moon has entered Cap.

Something important happens today that I want to name. Mars is about to leave Pisces for Aries. While Pisces may not seem like a strong place for Mars, he rules the ending.

Pisces and Aries have very different worldviews. Neither is great for discernment. Pisces seeks union, chasing collective dreams. Its longings are deeply felt. Aries chases personal goals with a singular drive and strong commitment.

Mars at the boundary is aware of a vast field of dreams while standing ready to reach for personal goals. A heady combination; not a discerning one.

Mars is important right now. As I write, there are three planets and two asteroids in Aries: Sun, Neptune, Saturn, Ceres, Eris. This afternoon, Mars, who rules them all, steps in to join them.

Expect change.

This Last Quarter Moon in Capricorn arrives overnight with work to do. She wants to get to it. Yet the end of Capricorn destabilizes the Moon. She’s determined but feels overwhelmed.

This is very relatable. In the end, though, getting stuff done means digging in and getting our hands dirty.

The last decan of Aries, where we find the Sun, is a creative space ruled by Venus, resting in her very grounded Taurus home. This Sun is also ready to work, as long as it’s creative.

Neptune and Saturn remain in the first decan of Aries, a place of separation. At the moment of birth, a new being separates from its ground. Mars’ entry into Aries brings new Fire into the mix with a strong drive to become our unique self.

Neptune remains confusing. It’s tough to slow down when Mars rushes in, but we might be fooled. Carve out time for checking assumptions, planning carefully, and preparing for surprises.

Saturn becomes increasingly important as Mars moves closer. This is an emerging and difficult conjunction. Mars accelerates. Saturn stops. Mars is stronger here, but Saturn has a lot of inertia. Plan for unexpected barriers, sudden freezes, and frustration.

Another approach will be not sweating the small stuff.

The Last Quarter chart has both a yod and a Thor’s Hammer, which overlap. Both have the South Node in Virgo at their apex. This means Virgo is a way out of difficulties. Slow down. Let go of fixed plans. Take things step by step.

The Thor’s Hammer, a tense and difficult triangle, has the Moon and Sun across its base and the South Node at the top. Since the Sun–Moon square defines the Last Quarter, letting go of unnecessary complications becomes key to moving forward.

The yod has a sextile between Pluto in Aquarius and Saturn in Aries at its base. Again, the South Node in Virgo is at the apex. Holding things lightly (not a core skill for either Pluto or Saturn) might be necessary.

With yods, the solution lies opposite the apex. In this case, the solution is the North Node in Pisces. Perhaps we do not let go of dreams of community, not yet. Mercury remains in Pisces, anchoring our thoughts here.

This is intense. An intense time in April, in the midst of an intense year. If your birth chart connects to these placements, you’ll feel this more personally. We all will, at some level.

Approaches to intensity and overwhelm include getting creative, playing with possibilities, continuing to work toward important goals, and finding community.

Title image from a photo by Will Suddreth on Unsplash

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