A first quarter moon is upon us – this is how it will impact your star sign, according to an astrologer

Occurring approximately seven days after a new moon, when the sun and moon form a 90-degree angle known as a square, this lunar phase represents tension, challenges and the kind of personal growth that makes you want to throw your phone into the sea, change your name and move to another country.

“The new moon is where we plant the seeds of our intentions, but the first quarter moon is where our dreams meet reality, and we’re confronted with the difference between the life we say we want and the choices we’re actually making,” explains Betty Andrews, astrologer and founder of MY SZN.

The first quarter moon can be confronting, as it reveals whether you’re all talk. But this decisive moment is also an opportunity for change. Don’t let this turning point slip through your fingers. 

We’ve only just got over Venus in retrograde, and now we have another astrological menace upon us? Don’t fear: the moon’s impact isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“The tension between the sun (representing our conscious identity and direction) and the moon (governing our emotions and subconscious patterns) can expose everything we’ve been avoiding,” Andrews says.

“From a shadow work perspective, these moments are absolute gold, particularly when they reveal inherited beliefs about money, relationships, success and visibility that have been quietly influencing our decisions for years.” 

Each zodiac sign is impacted by the first quarter moon, delivering its own personal reality check. But the extent to which each sign is affected depends on where the moon falls in the zodiac and how it interacts with your personal birth chart. Understanding how the first quarter moon will influence your sign will help you prepare and make the most of its energy.

Aries

Let’s start with the fiery powerhouse of the zodiac. Aries love to start things, but finishing them isn’t always their strong suit. So, how does this Mars-ruled sign feel the impact of the first quarter moon?

“First quarter moons challenge your impulsive streak and remind you that not every obstacle is a reason to burn everything down and start again, particularly when you’ve already got the talent, confidence and determination to create something magnificent if you’d just stick with it,” Andrews says.

Your cosmic assignment: “Pick one outrageously ambitious goal and go all in, because you’re not here to collect unfinished dreams or spend your entire life announcing your next reinvention,” urges Andrews.

Just one thing: make it happen. The easiest way? Tell a friend so they can hold you accountable. Don’t give up when things get difficult.

Taurus

Taurus is ruled by Venus, which is why it gravitates towards the luxurious life. However, this isn’t necessarily about materialistic desires but rather a search for security: financial comfort, a reliable partner and more. The problem is that a £100 Diptyque candle can be mistaken for that secure life when, sadly, it isn’t.

Andrews also explains that Taurus has a tendency to hold on to things that aren’t working and stay loyal to people who don’t deserve it. That’s why she sees the first quarter moon as an opportunity to “distinguish genuine stability from beautifully decorated stagnation”.

Your cosmic assignment: “Raise your standards and make one deliciously bold decision towards the life you actually want, because you’re not here to make mediocrity look expensive,” Andrews says.

Gemini

Now for our Mercury-ruled folk, aka the Gemini twins among us. It can almost feel like two brains working together, as Geminis are known for coming up with countless great ideas. “The first quarter moon is practically begging you to give one of those extraordinary ideas the attention it deserves,” says Andrews.

Instead of simply choosing one idea and acting on it, work to let go of the Gemini tendency to keep every option open. Your challenge is accepting that choosing one path means letting others go, at least for now.

Your cosmic assignment: Make one decision you’ve been putting off and stop reopening the debate. You can’t explore every possibility and experience them all at once.

Cancer

Andrews describes Cancer as the “moon-ruled emotional powerhouse of the zodiac”. They’re known for their intuition, compassion and nurturing energy. But this can lead them to become unpaid therapists to those around them. They’re always playing the villager, but rarely receiving the support of their own village.

“First quarter moons can expose where your need to feel needed has been costing you the very love, security and reciprocity you’ve been trying so desperately to create,” Andrews says.

Your cosmic assignment: It’s a simple but important one. “Establish one non-negotiable boundary,” Andrews suggests.

Choose something that needs to change and make it happen. You’ve got this.

Leo

Ruled by the sun, Leo has the charisma of a Hollywood icon, the confidence of someone who owns the entire building and the kind of magnetic energy that makes people turn their heads when you walk into a room.

However, Andrews highlights the irony that, despite all this, Leos spend a ridiculous amount of time worrying about who’s watching. They’re likely to refresh their Instagram story views every few minutes or worry about how others perceive them. The first quarter moon should be a reminder that your success isn’t dependent on those around you.

Your cosmic assignment: “Make one gloriously audacious move without announcing it to the world or seeking anybody’s approval,” says Andrews.

Perhaps that means not posting while on holiday, getting dressed up just for yourself or doing something offline to improve yourself. Practise seeking no one’s validation but your own.

Virgo

Never get in the way of a Virgo, that’s for sure. They know what they want, and they’re not afraid to dream big. They’re spinning several plates at once, whether that’s PTA meetings, extra responsibilities at work or organising the group trip.

“Unfortunately, your extraordinary attention to detail can become a sophisticated form of self-sabotage,” says Andrews.

The first quarter moon is your catalyst to just start, stop waiting for everything to be perfect and take the risk.

Your cosmic assignment: “Launch the project, send the pitch or share the masterpiece you’ve been obsessively perfecting, because your next level requires less overthinking and considerably more audacity,” explains Andrews.

Libra

As a Venus-ruled sign, Libras are swayed by beauty, love and diplomacy. They’re the smooth talkers, the focus of the dinner party and the friends you’ll find in a museum on a Sunday morning. But don’t underestimate a Libra’s emotional intelligence, as they work hard to understand everyone’s perspectives.

“Your talent for keeping everybody happy can become an exhausting exercise in self-abandonment,” Andrews says. “First quarter moons expose where compromise has become a way of avoiding your own needs, because being loved by everybody isn’t the same as being respected.”

Your cosmic assignment: Libras have a very easy task that they’re going to find very hard. Andrews simply wants you to “say no”. Without excuses, without explanation, without guilt.

Scorpio

Scorpios can get a bad reputation for holding grudges and never holding back. They’re quite the opposite of the preceding Virgos. Traditionally ruled by Mars and associated with Pluto, reinvention is a key aspect of their identity. That could mean getting a fringe on a whim or deciding to change jobs once a year.

Andrews warns that Scorpios can use reinvention as a way to avoid pain and fear, running away from underlying issues. “First quarter moons have a fabulous way of dragging those buried emotional patterns into the light.”

Your cosmic assignment: “Get intimately acquainted with the part of yourself you’ve been avoiding, because integrating your shadow will take you further than another dramatic reinvention ever could,” says Andrews.

Sagittarius

Known for their champagne ambitions, Jupiter-ruled Sagittarians want to live life to the fullest. Think post-work drinks that turn into a laissez-faire evening of hedonism, but you’ll still make it to 7am pilates before the office. They work hard and play hard. But especially the play part. However, Andrews notes that this life of “abundance” can be a way of minimising what you feel.

“Your optimism is extraordinary, but the kind of freedom you’re dreaming about becomes much more achievable when you’ve got the financial foundations, commitment and practical strategy to support it,” she explains.

Your cosmic assignment: “Take one serious step towards that outrageous dream you’ve been talking about for years,” Andrews says.

That could be as small as making a to-do list or journaling – or as big as looking into classes and putting down a payment. The key is to make it realistic, something you have to admit you’re not doing now.

Capricorn

If you want something done well, ask a Capricorn. Ruled by Saturn, Capricorns are known for having the ambition of a billionaire and the discipline of an Olympic athlete. But this comes with the risk of working so hard to create a good life that you forget to actually live it.

The first quarter moon challenges your relationship with achievement, particularly when your self-worth has become so entangled with productivity that even a holiday turns into an opportunity to answer emails, optimise your routine or plan another business venture.

Your cosmic assignment: “Take a proper day off without monetising, optimising or feeling guilty about it,” Andrews says.

Plan an entire Sunday just for you. Don’t meal prep, don’t fit in three different social outings and don’t try to be productive. Just enjoy yourself.

Aquarius

The rebellious rule-breakers of the zodiac, Aquarians are often misunderstood geniuses. They think outside the box, which won’t always make them friends, especially in the workplace. However, this alternative way of thinking can also lead them to intellectualise their emotions.

“The first quarter moon exposes where your fierce independence has become emotional armour, because allowing yourself to be vulnerable doesn’t compromise your freedom,” Andrews says.

Your cosmic assignment: “Have one emotionally honest conversation without disappearing, intellectualising everything or pretending you’re above human feelings, because even the most independent visionary deserves extraordinary love,” Andrews says.

Pisces

Put down the manifestation journal, Pisces. Traditionally ruled by Jupiter and associated with Neptune, Pisces are the dreamers of the zodiac. They have an incredible imagination, but this can lead them to run away from their experiences through daydreaming. It’s important to remember that there’s a difference between spiritual alignment and using spirituality to avoid reality.

Your cosmic assignment: “First quarter moons encourage you to bring that beautiful imagination down to Earth,” Andrews explains.

Stop romanticising the past. Be honest about one person or situation you’ve been seeing through rose-tinted glasses. Are you in love with the reality or the potential? Maybe that’s finally going no-contact with an ex, accepting a friendship has run its course, or looking for a new job despite the years spent there.