When we observe a new moon, in this case the new moon in Libra, this means the sun, the light of consciousness (also another symbol of the masculine) comes together at the same degree of Libra with the moon, the subconscious (another symbol of the feminine). While the sun's ingress into a sign marks the beginning of the solar month of that sign - in this case what we would call "Libra season" - the new moon, when the sun and moon make their annual conjunction in that same sign, mark the beginning of the lunar cycle of that sign. (To learn more about working with solar cycles and lunar cycles, check out my blog posts, "Know to Flow", and "Consciously Creating Using Lunar Cycles.") The new moon is where we set our intentions for the lunar cycle. In this case, the new moon in Libra would be when we set our intentions for the lunar cycle of Libra - so intentions focusing on the themes of Libra - relationship, partnership, peace, harmony, balance, diplomacy, compromise, cooperation, fairness and justice. Being Venus-ruled, other themes of Libra include beauty, aesthetics, love, love expression, self-value, self-worth, self-esteem, and how we attract what we desire into our lives through receptivity and alignment.
The first quarter moon, also know as the waxing square or first quarter square, is the moon phase that occurs directly halfway in between the full moon and new moon. This moon phase was identified by astrologer Dane Rudhyar as "a crisis in action", or when we reach a point where we encounter a fundamental challenge as to what to do next. It is called a square, due to the reference to the geometry of the sun and moon in the sky. When the sun and moon come together at the same degree of the zodiac for the new moon, this is known in astrology as a conjunction. When the moon is opposite the sun at the full moon, this is called an opposition, as the two are exactly 180 degrees from each other. The square is when the moon is at a ninety degree or right angle to the sun in the heavens. This means the two celestial bodies involved - in this case the sun, light of consciousness, and the moon, the subconscious - are at an energetic intersection which creates a scenario for us of a challenge to overcome, or a problem to solve, thus creating a situation for us that forces learning and growth. There is a waxing square between the new moon and full moon, just as there is a waning square between the full moon and the following new moon. Rudhyar identified the waxing square as a crisis in action and the waning square as a crisis in consciousness, as it comes after the illumination/realization of the full moon and helps us integrate the information from the full moon and realign our consciousness in light of this new information and release what no longer serves in preparation for the upcoming new moon. The first quarter square, referred to by Rudhyar as a crisis in action, during a lunar cycle in Libra is going to then be referring to this in terms of relationship. This is a checkpoint as we travel towards the illumination of the full moon. This is a our point during the waxing moon to find out if we are on track with our intentions set at the new moon or off-course. This is our opportunity to make adjustments during with waxing phase of increase and growth. At the full moon, the sun, still in Libra, fully illuminates the moon, now in opposing sign Aries. Aries and Libra form the first axis of the zodiac - the axis of self and other. When we look at an astrology chart, we look at the sky from a central point of earth. The chart is a circle, with us in the center. To the left is the eastern horizon, or ascendant, the angle that represents self, to the right is the western horizon, or descendant, the angle that represents other, below is the IC, or angle that represents where we are coming from, our childhood home, ancestry and past, and above is the MC, the very top of our chart, the most visible point of our lives, what we aspire to, the farthest we will ever go from home, our public image and career and reputation, and the legacy we want to leave the world. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, the sign of self, ruled by Mars. Libra is the seventh sign of the zodiac, the sign of other, ruled by Venus. The Aries-Libra axis is about balancing the polar opposites of self and other. We need both in our lives.
The shadow of Libra in this case would be found in Aries, the sign of self, leadership and assertion. With sun in Libra, the conscious focus is on how to create balance, harmony and cooperation with others and in relationship. When our conscious focus is here, then the qualities of Libra's polar opposite, Aries, can become thought of as not so desirable. At the new moon, when the sun and moon came together in Libra to begin this lunar cycle, we had the opportunity to align conscious and subconscious to set our new moon intentions. At the full moon, we will experience sun in Libra while moon is at opposition in Aries. What this means is at the full moon the sun in Libra (partnership and relationship) is going to fully illuminate our shadow or subconscious, the moon, in opposing sign Aries (self, leadership, confrontation, assertion). This gives us the opportunity to see how to better balance this axis of the zodiac from the Libra point of view. (Likewise, in March when the sun is in Aries and the full moon occurs with moon opposing from Libra, then we get the chance to better understand this axis from the Aries point of view.) 
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Those who don't believe in magic will never find it. ~Roald Dahl I believe in magic. I believe in magic and I have found magic. But not in the places I thought I would. And truth be told, maybe it was actually magic that found me.
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Kasey Ford, Soul-Aligned Love & Life Mentor to Women
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