First Quarter
Overcoming obstacles and the power of decision
The First Quarter is the moment when the moon is "torn" in half: one side in light, one side in shadow. This is precisely where the first serious obstacles arise. Not everything goes to plan, and that is fine. The First Quarter is a phase of decision: to give up or to continue.
Energetically this is the most "martial" phase of the waxing moon. What is needed here is firmness and the willingness to make decisions even amid uncertainty. If the New Moon was for sowing, now it is time to weed — to remove what obstructs growth.
In many cultures this phase was associated with Ares and warrior energy. Celtic warriors preferred to begin battles at the First Quarter, believing the moon filled them with courage. For the modern woman this is a time to remove inner doubt and say "yes" to her path.
A ritual: write a list of "obstacles" standing between you and your goal. For each obstacle, identify one concrete action that diminishes it. Take at least one of those actions today. Remember: the moon does not stop for clouds — it keeps growing.