Last Quarter Moon in Leo ☾ Nov 16, 2022

Artist: Cassandra Jean

Wednesday, Nov 16 @ 5:27 am PST

The Waning Last Quarter Moon rises at midnight, peaks at dawn, and sets at noon all over the world. Here the fierce moon in Leo squares the equally fierce Scorpio sun. Last quarter moons are turning points or crossroads, clearing the way for the new moon / new lunar cycle (which will be in Sagittarius). This is the last moon phase of the 2022 Scorpio Season.

So what happens when Scorpio the anti-heroine emerges from the water to meet Leo, fiery prince of the zodiac? Turns out it’s not as bad as we think. We can find common ground. We can merge water and fire in a way that mutually increases our power rather than dampening both parties. We can see eye-to-eye, compromise.

Leo is ruled by the sun, the center of our solar system, and Scorpio by Pluto, the planet farthest from center. When these two archetypes intertwine in some remote asteroid belt, the center of centers (the ego, central consciousness) reaches down to the Scorpio underworld. It is this vast distance within us which must be crossed by the psyche. And it is possible! It is beneficial, healthy, cathartic.

Leo and Scorpio belong to the fixed modality. They ascribe to this or that, nothing in between. Fixed skies fix us in place and yoke us to our nature, our most basic impulses. They do not encourage change or new beginnings. They want to sustain, solidify. They speak to endurance, perseverance, obstinance.

Until they encounter one another, that is. What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?

To survive this moon phase, Scorpio must climb a mysterious mountain within her, a mountain which has previously prevented her from seeing the other side, from feeling real empathy or understanding. And on this mountain path is Leo, golden teeth snapping brightly in the rays of the setting sun. I see hearts settling, burning feelings subsiding, insistence on peace rather than conflict. The moon in Leo is bright, chunky, shining from the same constellation the sun calls home. It is as though the sun and moon see themselves clearly for the first time, with the sun reflecting darkness back to the moon, and the moon reflecting fire back to the sun. Self in Other, Other in Self.

At this moon phase one year, I traveled to the Oregon coast only to be a sentient blob of depression, morbidly self-involved, unable to get over my work blues. But then last year I saw that it can be different. I experienced levity and relief. We have some wonderful allies on our side this year so I think we’ll get more of this warmth. The moon herself will form a friendly sextile to Mars Retrograde in Gemini. This moon phase also coincides with a harmonious trine between Mercury in Scorpio and Jupiter Retrograde in Pisces.

Power colors for Leo are warm colors like red, orange, yellow or purple, invoking the regal lion. For diet I recommend staying away from nightshades, spicy peppers, or fried food as the body will hold more internal fire than usual. Check out guidelines I have compiled for an anti-inflammatory diet. If you want more inspiration, look up “pitta pacifying diet.” In meditation, focus on the heart chakra. Power up with Leo Yoga. To find your personal moon sign, click here.