Tonight we have a Third Quarter moon.

And Mercury just stationed retrograde.

Themes for this phase: assertiveness, honesty, patience

Tonight, April 1, 2024, we have a Third Quarter moon occurring at 11:14 p.m. EDT. Since half moons occur when the sun and the moon, or the yin and yang of our personal identity, form a square with one another, they can be a time of tension or even conflict (either internal or with others). This is always true, but it’s possible for this tendency to be even more exaggerated now due to the fact that we currently have so many celestial bodies (the sun, the north node, Chiron, and Mercury) in the direct, assertive, and sometimes impatient sign of Aries. Mercury – the planet that rules communication and thinking – also stationed retrograde today (again, in Aries), which could lead to misunderstandings, prickly conversations, short tempers, and (potentially) hurt feelings as people struggle to organize their thoughts or express their feelings clearly and constructively (and maybe take actions impulsively).

Fortunately, the moon is currently in the stable, grounded Earth sign of Capricorn, while also forming a trine with Saturn – both of which could provide some emotional stability and help smooth out some of the gritty energy (or at least help people resolve any conflicts that come up in a mature, responsible way).

Third Quarter moons are also a great time to make course corrections and adjustments to whatever projects you’ve been working on, so if some problem-solving is in order somewhere in your life, the shrewd and disciplined Saturn-Capricorn energy, in partnership with the moon, can help with that too.

The best course of action now? As much as possible, try to remain patient with yourself and others. If conflict does pop up, communicate with honesty (this comes with Aries’ territory), but remember that honesty can always be delivered with respect and gentleness of heart. Finally, make sure to give yourself the things you need in order to thrive both physically and emotionally now. New beginnings are just around the corner.