Cycles & Rhythms
Our ancestors watched the seasons, the cycles & rhythms, of the year with great interest. It was with the knowledge that the basic building blocks of life itself depended on the elements brought in by each season. Food, warmth & shelter all depended on the Sun and Moon giving the different energies to the abundance of crops. Light and warmth from the Sun & Moon made travel and socialising possible at different times of the year. Time was measured and plans made by these most natural of calendars. I’m concentrating on the Sun and the Moon for this article yet it is worth remembering that the other planets have their own cycles and rhythms. All adding into the curious and amazing blend of energy available to us all from living in this Universe!
The Sun
The Sun is our star. It is by the position of the earth in relation to the Sun that we know the time of day and the season of the year.
And so if we consider this celestial body for a moment, and appreciate that the Sun is a star that constantly burns in the sky, then it follows that it sends us light and heat in order for our planet earth to have life.
Our planet Earth orbits the Sun. However it takes more than the 365 days of our Gregorian calendar (only in use since approx. 1582) year. We add a leap day every four years to make the calendar ‘fit’ with the rate of orbit. And so we need to consult an ephemeris for a particular year in order to be certain of the exact day/time that the Sun will appear in the next zodiac sign. The Sun entering a constellation (from our perspective) may be from the 19th through to the 23rd of a month.
There is no such thing as a planet being on a cusp. A star/planet will always be in one sign or another and this will vary from year to year. By consulting an ephemeris we find the exact day/time. Are you ‘on the cusp’ and unsure about your zodiac sign? A reputable astrologer will be able to work it out given your date of birth and year!
The Moon
And now we consider the cycle & rhythm of the moon. From the sliver of light that is the New Moon, through the growing towards fullness. Then the diminishing of energy to the darkest of the cycle before the next new moon. The Moon has no light and reflects light from the Sun. The amount of moonlight that we ‘see’ shows us the phase of the moon.
New Moon = astrologically in the same sign of the zodiac as the Sun as it occupies the same part of the sky. We only see a very small amount of light growing as the Moon separates away from the Sun.
Full Moon = astrologically in the opposite sign of the zodiac as the Sun as these two celestial bodies are opposite each other. And the light is at the fullest, maximum beam, as the Moon reflects the full amount of light available to it from the Sun!
Symbolically we can look at this cycle as:
New Moon = new beginnings, inspirations, joy of the light returning
Growing / waxing = light & energy. What has been planted at the new moon grows and expands.
Full Moon = appreciation of growth, celebration. This is a time of maximum light and vibrant energy.
Lessening / waning = time for the energy to be grounded, embedded and thought about.
Dark of the Moon = no moonlight and a time for inner reflection.
Observance
There is a power and usefulness in observing the cycles & rhythms of the earth, and our universe, for the key to how we ‘fit’ in! And even more information to our belonging in this Universal system of ours is the observance of the 8 seasons of the year. 
Download my guide to working with planetary energy every day! <<link here>>
I hope you have enjoyed reading about some of the Cycles & Rhythms in astrology. There are many more as, just like our home universe, the information and potentials are ever-unfolding.
As always, with love from Alison x
PS – Here is a link to the Encyclopaedia Britannica and some information about the Gregorian calendar which you may find interesting! <<Gregorian Calendar>>
xx
