Waxing Gibbous
Editing, practicing, preparing to finish
Nearly full and still growing. The work now is refinement rather than addition: improving what already exists instead of starting something beside it.
What this phase is traditionally good for
Editing, practicing, preparing to finish
What Happens in a Waxing Gibbous
"Gibbous" means humped, which is what the Moon looks like when more than half of its face is lit but it is not yet full. Over the week between first quarter and full moon, the lit area grows from half to all, and the Moon rises earlier in the afternoon and stays up well into the night, often visible before sunset.
The Traditional Reading
The waxing gibbous is associated with refinement. The project is now far enough along to see what needs fixing, and the tradition favors editing, practicing and preparing instead of starting something new beside it. If you have been building toward a goal, this is the stage for getting the details right.
It is also a phase of impatience, because the finish is in sight. The advice is to slow down just enough to finish well.
Ways People Use This Phase
Use this stage to polish. If you are writing, edit. If you are learning, practice the hard parts. If you are planning a trip, confirm the bookings. The tradition's cautious note is to avoid starting something entirely new right now, because attention is already committed to what you are finishing.