Soli-Lunar Cycle: Third Quarter Square, Scorpio/Aquarius, February 13, 2023

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life, and you will call it fate.”

~ C.G. Jung

The Third Quarter Square commenced on February 13 at 8:01 a.m. Pacific with the Sun at 24° Aquarius and the Moon at 24° Scorpio. As the Lunar cycle moves toward its archetypal completion, it is important to reflect on what was revealed at the Full Moon and how this cycle has evolved since the New Moon in early Aquarius. This period is referred to as a crisis of consciousness, where individuals likely experience a change in perspective and thinking.

In the chart for the Third Quarter square, the Sun and Moon are in close alignment with Saturn in Aquarius. Saturn is a grounding force that can help us shed any delusions we may have regarding our lives, our inner state, and our external circumstances. The Sun moving into its exact conjunction with Saturn on February 16 at 27° Aquarius intensifies the archetypal pressure to confront our unconscious programs and hidden motives. If things aren’t as we would like them to be, we may need to ask ourselves how we can close the gap. With Saturn’s influence, an authentic need for self-awareness may open us receive this answer.

The Moon in Scorpio also forms a trine to Venus and Neptune, enhancing our ability to go deeper into our unconscious. However, the dreamy, sensitive atmosphere created by this alignment may prove problematic since it tends to avoid the severity of Saturn. A desire for escapism may lead some to sacrifice deeper realizations and personal growth in favor of easy pleasures. In his famous quote, Carl Jung suggests that hiding from our own subconscious leads to self-deception and a lack of empowerment. When we are in this helpless mindset, we feel as though life happens to us rather than making choices for our own future and being active participants in it.

It is possible, however, that by accepting things as they are, we may increase our sensitivity and compassion towards others and ourselves as well. We may come to recognize that our shadow side comprises the programs and behaviors we adopted to survive our life circumstances and that although we differ in aspects of our human experience, the fundamental building blocks are the same. Therefore, facing the unconscious head-on requires no shame or blame.

Saturn, strong in the fixed air sign it co-rules, offers an opportunity to step back and impartially discern what’s working and what’s not without pretense. While the watery nature of the Scorpio Moon and the Venus/Neptune conjunction, exact on February 15 at 24° Pisces, if not used for escapism, can offer support and foster empathy, allowing individuals to carry the same compassion back to themselves.

The Third Quarter Square chart presents us with a paradox: Sun/Saturn is highly realistic but may lack sensitivity; Venus/Neptune is highly idealistic but may not see things as they are. The Moon aligning with both these planetary pairs indicates a need to integrate the two seemingly incongruent archetypes in order to gain maturity in our process of individuation. Jung is clear on the need to focus realistically on recognizing our internal programming. He also writes about the importance of ideals as being sign posts we can follow that lead us on the path to becoming who we are meant to be. This week, may we ask ourselves how the responsible, practical nature of Sun/Saturn can lead us step-by-step towards manifesting the ideal of Love and connectedness represented by Venus/Neptune.