Ascending and descending Moon periods

Because the Earth's equator is at a 23 degree angle to the Ecliptic all the bodies of the solar system appear to rise and fall relative to our horizon. We are familar with this, particularly away from the equator, because it is synonymous with our seasons and the extra time the sun spends in the sky in summer. During this cycle the moon is sometimes higher in the sky and other times lower. This cycle of ascending (currently through the constellations of Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries and Taurus) and descending (Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra and Scorpio) mimics the sun's own low winter position and higher summer passage from horizon to horizon.

The projection of the Earth's equator on to the heavens (the 'Celestial Equator') crosses the ecliptic in two places. Most famous is the one found when the sun rises on the morning of the spring equinox. Currently this point is against the constellation of the fishes so, given that the 'precession of the equinox' is about 72 Earth years for each degree of the ecliptic, we are due for the age of Aquarius in about 4 - 500 years. (Assuming no big changes, we can then calculate that the precession of the equinox will complete a tour of the zodiac in about 26000 Earth years. this is a 'platonic year', or what an Earth year feels like without a synod when you are in your prime.)

John Knight's theory is that fish feed when the Moon reaches its Zenith (culminates) and Nadir - points he calls the Solunar points. (Knight. J. 'Moon Up - Moon Down: the story of the Solunar Theory', Biodynamics (US). 1972. ) Animals and humans have more energy at these times.

Maria Thun always suggests that sowing and planting is done in the descending phase of this cycle. She calls it planting time.