Eight Phases of the Moon
The trigram of Shock, Thunder starts the cycle, It is the first movement of light after the greatest darkness, in this case the conjunction. Or it could be said that after reaching the closest point of relationship between the sun and moon, they start to separate. It signifies the first forty-five degrees after the conjunction, or the first three and one half days after the new moon.
The colour for this phase is indigo or dark blue.
The trigram of the Clinging, Fire represents the phase from forty-five to ninety degrees, from the waxing semi-square to the waxing square. The light is increasing but it is still predominantly dark. This actually leads from the first light of the crescent moon to the waxing half moon.
It covers the period of three and one half days after the new moon to seven days after the new moon.
The colour for this phase is burgundy or crimson.
The trigram of the Joyous, Lake represents the phase from ninety degrees to one hundred and thirty-five degrees waxing. This is the phase from the waxing half moon up to the waxing gibbous moon. It covers the period of seven days after the new moon to ten and one half days after the new moon, or seven days before the full moon to three and one half days before the full moon.
The colour for this phase is red.
The trigram called the Creative, Heaven covers the final arrival of the moon (or planets and sun) to its highest and brightest position in the cycle (at the opposition). This is the three and one half days leading up to the full moon. It represents the phase from one hundred and thirty-five degrees to one hundred and eighty degrees waxing where it can wax no more.
The colour of this phase is orange.
The trigram of the Gentle, Penetrating Wind, Wood covers the waning phase from the full moon to the waning gibbous moon or from one hundred and eighty degrees to two hundred and twenty-five degrees (180 to 135 waning). This corresponds to the first three and one-half days after the full moon. The brightness has started to decrease but there is still a predominance of light.
The colour of this phase is amber.
The trigram of the Abysmal, Water runs from two hundred and twenty-five degrees to two hundred and seventy degrees (135 to 90 waning). This runs from the three quarters full gibbous moon to the waning half moon This corresponds to the period from three and one-half days after the full moon to seven days after.
The colour for this phase is yellow-green.
The trigram Keeping Still, Mountain covers the period from two hundred and seventy degrees to three hundred and fifteen degrees (90 to 445 waning), or from the waning half moon until the waning crescent moon. Less than half of the moon is light and it is decreasing in brightness.
The colour for this phase is green.
The trigram of the Receptive Earth represents the time leading up to the greatest darkness or the new moon or conjunction. It is the three and one-half days before the new moon, or the forty-five degrees leading back to the conjunction. Darkness is increasing and leading up to its greatest extreme.
This phase is given the colour blue.