Basic broad strokes
Timing is everything! Long before we thought we were living better chemically, farmers and fisherfolk lived by the rhythmn of the moon!
Why? The proof of the pudding is always in the results! How does it work? Why is one day better or worse than the other?
The Lunar Cycle
Every 28 days the moon passes through a complete lunar cycle. There are four quarters in each cycle. After each new Moon, the cycle begins again with the first quarter. At the end of the second quarter is the Full Moon, which is followed by the the third quarter. Finally the fourth quarter leads again to the New Moon.
Moon Signs
Moon Signs: During each lunar cycle, the moon passes through twelve Moon Signs.
Six signs are classed as Barren: Virgo, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Aries, Gemini and Leo.
Three are classed as Semi Fruitful: Libra, Capricorn and Taurus.
Three are classed as Fruitful: Scorpio, Pisces and Cancer.
Moon Quarters
Duriing each lunar cycle the moon goes through four quarters:
New MoonFirst QuarterSecond QuarterFull Moon Third QuarterFourth Quarter
Timing is Everything
To use any Moon tables, you must consider both the quarter and the moon sign. The first and second quarters are good for beginnings.
I have always planted annuals in the first and second quarters. The third and fourth quarters are good for endings and completion. That is also always when I have had the best success in planting perennials. It is also the time when I prefer to transplant or divide.
Naturally any planting or transplanting is best done in a Fruitful sign. However, root vegetables do best when started in Capricorn, no matter what the quarter. By the same token, flowers will always do best when started in Libra.
The opposite also holds true. Weeding is most effective during a barren sign. Indeed if you do not want your lawn to grow back as quickly, mow it during a barren sign. However, if you want your lawn to thicken up, then mow during a fruitful sign.
Barren signs are a good time for someone with short layered hair to get a trim, as it will last longer. Naturally fruitful signs would be a better time for a trim to encourage hair to grow quickly.
At one time, I was able to find the time to maintain a decent moon table on this site. But then .. I retired and discovered the truth of the old saw …that now I cannot possibly imagine how I ever had time to go to work … lol!
My best advice would be to pick up your own lunar almanac … I have tried a few of Llewellyn’s variants over the years.. Which one is my favourite? In spite of being a witch .. it is not actually the Magical one. Although I love herbs … it isn’t the Herbal one either.
At the end of the day, the best one for any purposes …. imho … is still the plain old annual Moon Sign Book that Llewellyn puts out each year. Why? Because it has all the other useful bits the others don’t from planetary aspects to favourable / unfavourable days!
Even when the dollar was nowhere near par, I have never spent more than fifteen dollars on any year .. and the best bit of course is that it allows one to really plan long range!
