First quarter
The first quarter is the waxing half-moon, seen about a week after the new moon. The Sun and Moon then form a right angle as viewed from Earth, and exactly half of the visible disc appears lit. The bright part keeps growing toward the full moon. Tradition links this point in the cycle to tension, decision, and stepping into action.
How to recognize it
At the first quarter, you see a cleanly split half disc, with the light on the right in the northern hemisphere. It already sits high in the sky in early evening and sets around the middle of the night. It is an easy moon to watch, ideal for picking out relief along the shadow line.
What the tradition invites you to do
A week after your new moon intention, this is often where the first obstacles show up. Tradition reads this moment as a call to choose and to act, rather than wait. You might take one small, concrete step toward what you started. See it as a nudge, not a strict instruction.