Lunation Planning - Nature's Own Time Management Tool

by Michael R. Meyer

Time management is key to success and accomplishment, and a plan outlining a series of achievable steps is crucial to the completion of any endeavor. Nature provides us with the most apparent and usable time management system in the monthly rhythm of the Lunation Cycle (the monthly cycle of relationship between the Sun and the Moon, as we experience it on earth). If you give attention to this natural cycle, and plan and execute your important activities according to its rhythm, you will soon realize greater success, satisfaction and fulfillment.

Such a statement might have seemed obvious to someone living in pre-industrial times, to someone who daily experienced a deep connection with nature and her cycles. But today we are a culture of city dwellers and office workers. Most of us have lost touch with the most fundamental cycles of nature. Few of us know the phase of the moon from day-to-day — even if we make a habit of always knowing the "moon sign." We enjoy artificial lighting and central heating, and we may live and work in an urban area where the sky is obscured by an artificial, architectural skyline. As a result, our lives, activities and relationships have become increasingly discordant and out-of-synch with natural cycles.

Getting back in tune with natural cycles is increasingly important as modern living becomes evermore stressful and chaotic. That's one reason why daily moon phases are prominently displayed on the Khaldea Calendar, to help us attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of the Lunation Cycle, to help us get back in touch with "real-time" and to live more fruitful, successful and meaningful lives.

Lunation Planning is for Everyone!

This article is taken from Michael R. Meyer's book "Lunation Planning" which can be ordered at amazon.com

Everybody has had difficulty finishing a project because they simply couldn't follow through to conclusion. Some pick-up and drop projects because they have trouble focusing on a single line of activity and developing it in a persistent, consistent manner. Others may be full of ideas, but somehow never get anything done. Constructive and resourceful individuals know how important time management is to success.

Regardless of which type you are, Lunation Planning can help you get and stay on the right track! If you just can't finish things, you will certainly improve your productivity by merely attempting to tune into natural cycles and patterning your activities according to Lunation Planning. If you are already managing your time pretty well, with Lunation Planning you'll discover how to organized your projects and enterprises more effectively, and you'll find yourself working in a more relaxed and natural manner.

Lunation Planning is a natural, organic time management system based on the 29.5-day Lunation Cycle and its 8 Phases. Everyone, in their own way, naturally feels and performs better when they tune-in to its rhythm. When guided by this natural cycle, our projects and endeavors — be they long-term or short-term, acted out by an individual or by a group — are more successful and rewarding. Lunation Planning is the oldest time management tool. Lunation Planning is universal, it is deeply rooted in all cultures and religions. It is the foundation of virtually all ancient calendars, including the Hebrew and the Chinese calendars.

Lunation Planning isn't going to save the world, but Lunation Planning can help us attune ourselves to a more relaxed, natural and harmonious pulse of living, which in turn may lead to a gradual change of attitude toward ourselves and toward the world.

You Don't Need to Know Astrology to Use Lunation Planning

If I could give only a single piece of advice to astrology enthusiasts, it would be, "Don't micro-manage your life with astrology."

That may seem like an ironic statement, coming as it does from the producer of astrological ephemerides, aspectarians and calendars. But over the past forty-five years I've seen astrology, and astrological data, abused and misused far more often than applied in a wholesome and constructive manner. In my books and articles, and on my web site CyberWorld Khaldea, I have attempted to promote the best of astrology. Now, with Lunation Planning and the Khaldea Calendar, I hope to show how easy and rewarding it can be to put astrology to good use for the constructive management of our activities and enterprises.

The first step toward a more wholesome and constructive use of astrology is to "unlearn" the unhealthy attitudes, reactions and preconceptions engendered by popular astrology. This means breaking the habit of constantly looking to see if the Moon is "void-of-course" or if Mercury is retrograde, and of giving attention to only these two factors, before making a decision or taking action. Over the past few decades astrologers have managed to scare almost everyone, including themselves, about "void-of-course" and Mercury retrograde. Astrology should be used to help give meaning and continuity to our unfolding life-experience. Astrology shouldn't be used to artificially break time up into myriad unrelated fragments, good moments and bad moments. But a fragmentation of time and experience is exactly what occurs when one is constantly looking at an astrological calendar to see if the Moon is "void-of-course" without considering the whole picture.

You can use Lunation Planning without knowing astrology because it is based on Lunar Phases. You don't even need to know the Moon Sign to use and benefit from Lunation Planning, but if you want to integrate astrology with your Lunation Planning, the Khaldea Calendar provides the data and the Appendices of this book provides accessible core knowledge. You'll also find the exact GMT time and zodiacal position of each lunation at the khaldea.com Calendar Center for successive years.

The Pattern of the Lunation Cycle

The cyclic relationship between the Sun and Moon — and between any two astrological planets — is constantly changing, never static. All cycles of planetary relationship begin and end with the conjunction aspect, an angular relationship of zero degrees. A cycle is not a circuit of empty and meaningless "eternal return," but a spiralic process of evolutionary growth, so two successive conjunctions never occur at the same place in the sky.

The Lunation Cycle has two fundamental half-cycles or hemicycles. The character of the first or waxing hemicycle, from New Moon (conjunction) to Full Moon (opposition), is of decidedly different character than the waning hemicycle extending from the Full Moon to the next New Moon.

In brief, the waxing hemicycle and waxing phases are related to involutionary, subjective and organic form-building activities with the goal of realizing a certain set of potentialities released at the New Moon. Here plans are best formulated. Materials should be gathered and organization developed. Subjective, instinctual and creative activities are featured. The waning hemicycle and waning phases signify life-processes directed toward some kind of objective realization and purpose. Outside factors come into play and the meaning and ultimate social worth of ones activity receives attention. The keynotes are inclusiveness, social integration, and expansion of understanding and participation.

Each hemicycle is further divided into two halves, producing four quadrants (see the accompanying illustration). The turning point of the waxing hemicycle occurs at the First Quarter Moon, when the Moon is half-illuminated and half-dark. It symbolizes a crisis in action performed against a background of struggle between the inert pull of the past and a futureward, creative directive to actualize the potential of the current cycle. In terms of Lunation Planning, what occurs between the New Moon and the First Quarter Moon is of paramount importance and failure to move forward at the First Quarter greatly limits the scope of success for the particular cycle.

The Full Moon shows both fulfillment of the cycle's potential on an organic or practical level and evidence of failure to actualize the potential released at the New Moon. Since both success and failure are inevitable in any cycle of activity, it is always a question of more or less rather than absolute either/or. As the cycle unfolds beyond the Full Moon, success and failure both become increasingly evident.

The Third Quarter Moon marks the midpoint of the waning hemicycle, and, like the First Quarter Moon, it features a half-illuminated, half-dark lunar face, except in its case the opposite sides are illuminated and dark. While the First Quarter Moon featured a crisis of action, the Third Quarter Moon symbolizes a crisis in significance. It becomes increasingly important to integrate the diverse experiences encountered during the course of the cycle in a meaningful and significant manner and to envision the new cycle which lies ahead.

Each of the four quadrants are further divided in halves, producing the eight lunar phases presented on the following pages.

STEP ONE - The New Moon Phase

DAY: 0 - 3.5*

PHASE ARC: 0° - 45°

Keynote: Formulating your Lunation Plan.

The New Moon marks the start of a 29.5-day cycle, but it is just the start! The entire waxing half of the Lunation Cycle — from New Moon to Full Moon — is a time of predominately subjective, instinctual and creative activity, and the first few days following the New Moon are eminently subjective, which is affirmed by the fact that the New Moon is entirely dark. The New Moon, and first few days following it, is a time to carefully and quietly formulate plans to be actualized during the course of the opening cycle. It is a time to map-out your Lunation Plan, to internally examine the many steps ahead and to place them appropriately within the 29.5 day lunation scheme. Now is the time to determine the materials, resources and people you need to complete your plan. If the endeavor requires teamwork, determine the talent and skills needed. If you are planning a long-term project which will span several months, break the project down into achievable monthly steps or milestones.

Because the waxing half of the Lunation Cycle has a predominately creative and spontaneous quality, you'll soon discover that the more you use Lunation Planning, the easier and more natural it becomes. But the New Moon phase, which spans the first three and one-half days of the Lunation Cycle, is a very subjective period, during which we may become unrealistic in our expectations, believing we can accomplish more in a designated cycle than possible. Try not to set your mark too high. If you have allotted yourself too much activity for a particular cycle, you can make necessary adjustments to your plans before the Full Moon.

New Moon Dates*: 10 Jan 2016; 8 Feb 2016; 9 Mar 2016; 7 Apr 2016; 6 May 2016; 5 Jun 2016; 4 Jul 2016; 2 Aug 2016; 1 Sep 2016; 1 Oct 2016; 30 Oct 2016; 29 Nov 2016; 29 Dec 2016; 28 Jan 2017.

STEP TWO - The Crescent Moon Phase

DAY: 3.5 - 7

PHASE ARC: 45° - 90°

Keynote: Setting your plan in motion.

The first crucial stage of the Lunation Cycle is reached at the Crescent Moon phase, about three and one-half days after the New Moon. Here we simultaneously experience a push into the future and the pull of old patterns and reactions. One may experience resistance from others, a lack of resources, or a fear to go on; perhaps great enthusiasm, soft-core mania and unrealistic expectations. It is often a mixed bag, but the important thing is to go on to establish a steady, realistic pace and flow of activity. Don't push the river, but don't sit back expecting everything to come to you. Take the first step toward making things happen.

The Moon is gradually waxing and the Lunation Cycle is still very much in its initial stages, so most of your work is still ahead of you. Focus on a clear plan of action and put it in motion. Don't broadcast your big plans yet because it will diffuse your energy, keep things on a need to know basis. When the Sun and Moon form a waxing octile (semi-square), don't sit around doing nothing, even if some astrological calendars may tell you the "Moon is void-of-course." Now is the time to take the initiative, to do something definite, but keep it realistic and well-focused.

Once you have formulated your Lunation Plan for the month (the New Moon phase) and have set it into motion (Crescent Moon phase), things should develop in a smooth fashion, which will become apparent around the time of the waxing Sun-Moon sextile, which occurs about four and one-half days after the New Moon. If you still haven't gotten the ball rolling, don't give up, no matter how lazy or indifferent you may feel. Overcome the inertia of the past and force yourself to get on the right track!

If you overdid it and tried to accomplish too much too soon, or if you tried to make a big splash to impress others, by the end of this phase you may be experiencing a backlash or a touch of disappointment because things aren't working out as well as you had expected. If so, lighten-up and reexamine your plan and timing. If others seem to resist your creative work, listen to and carefully consider their comments, but don't sell-out just to be popular or accepted. At the other end, don't dissipate your time and energy arguing or trying to force others to see things your way.

Crescent Moon Dates*: 13 Jan 2016; 11 Feb 2016; 12 Mar 2016; 10 Apr 2016; 10 May 2016; 8 Jun 2016; 8 Jul 2016; 6 Aug 2016; 5 Sep 2016; 5 Oct 2016; 3 Nov 2016; 3 Dec 2016; 2 Jan 2017; 31 Jan 2017.

* The tabulation of days marking the beginning and end of each phase of this series is approximate and will vary slightly from lunation cycle to lunation cycle. Lunation dates refer to the start of a Lunar Phase or a Lunation Planning Step. Date of lunations are for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Consult the Khaldea Calendar for your Time Zone or for the exact date, time and zodiacal position of a lunation phase.

Learn more about the Lunation Cycle at www.khaldea.com

Start Your Lunation Plan Today with the digital Khaldea Calendar, freely use the online version or download the standalone version of the calendar + ephemeris at khaldea.com. The only astrological calendar in editions for nine time zone worldwide, the Khaldea Calendar offers free calendars for the Eastern Time Zone, Central Time Zone, Mountain Time Zone, Pacific Time Zone, Central Europe Time, Eastern Europe Time, Greenwich Mean Time, and India and Brazil time zones!



Author:



MICHAEL R. MEYER has been a leading figure in the humanistic astrology movement since the 1960's and is today its foremost proponent. His best-selling "A Handbook for the Humanistic Astrologer" is one of the most widely read books on serious astrology published during the 20th century. Michael is the founder of khaldea.com and its Rudhyar Archival Project, as well as the creator and developer the Khaldea Ephemeris7z, the Khaldea Calendar and Khaldea7z.

Image Sources:

lunar phases rectangular: Public Domain CC0, by skeeze via pixabay.com

lunar phases bow: Public Domain CC0, by ddoug via pixabay.com

crescent moon (homepage teaser): Public Domain CC0, by tintenfieber via pixabay.com