Stop Running From Feelings: Last Quarter Moon (Feb 9) Guide

Have you been staring at the ceiling at 3:00 AM this week? Or perhaps you find yourself snapping at your partner over dirty dishes, when you know it’s actually about something much deeper? If you feel like your emotions are raw, exposed, and impossible to ignore right now, please listen to me: You are not losing your mind.

You are responding to a massive cosmic shift. We are approaching the Last Quarter Moon February 2026, and it is taking place in the intense, truth-seeking sign of Scorpio. This is not a gentle, fluffy energy. Scorpio does not care about polite conversation or keeping the peace. It cares about the truth, specifically, the truth you have been hiding from yourself.

Instead of lighting candles or performing a complex ritual to “wash it away,” I want to invite you to do something braver. I want to guide you through “Shadow Work.” It is time to sit down with the parts of yourself you usually shove into the basement and finally hear what they have to say.

 

Understanding the Intensity of This Moon

To understand why you feel so shaken, we need to look at the sky. The Last Quarter Moon is always a “crisis of consciousness.” It is the moment in the lunar cycle where the light is fading. It demands that we release what is dead so we can prepare for the New Moon.

But the Scorpio factor changes everything.

Scorpio is a Fixed Water sign. Think of it like a deep, frozen lake or a pressurized geyser. It rules everything beneath the surface: our secrets, our sexuality, our shame, and our survival instincts.

Astrology February 9 2026 brings a specific, sharp aspect. The Moon in Scorpio is squaring Pluto (Scorpio’s modern ruler).

• The Pressure Cooker: This aspect creates immense internal pressure. It pushes suppressed memories to the surface.
• The Detective: You might feel hyper-suspicious or suddenly aware of lies in your environment.
• The Purge: Your body and spirit are trying to expel toxicity. This is why you might feel physically exhausted or achy without a medical reason.

This is not the time to “think positive.” This is the time to be real.

3 Signs Your Shadow is Trying to Speak

Before we do the work, you need to recognize the symptoms. The “Shadow” is a concept from psychology (and astrology) that refers to the parts of our personality we reject or deny. When the Moon in Scorpio 2026 hits, the Shadow tries to break down the door.

1. You are projecting deeply.

Are you unreasonably angry at a friend for being “selfish”? Pause. Scorpio asks: Where are you being selfish, but refusing to admit it? What irritates us in others is often what we deny in ourselves.

2. You are ruminating on the past.

Scorpio rules history and grudges. If you are suddenly replaying a breakup from five years ago, or an argument with your mother from childhood, it means there is still emotional debris there. The wound hasn’t healed; it has just been covered up.

3. You feel a sudden urge to burn it all down.

This is the “Death and Rebirth” aspect of Scorpio. You might feel a sudden desire to quit your job, break up with your partner, or move to a new city. Wait. Do not act yet. This is your soul screaming for change, but we need to understand the why before we take action.

The “Mirror Method”: A Deep Dive Shadow Work Session

We are not going to use salt or sage today. We are going to use the most powerful tool you have: your honesty. This is a mental and emotional detox. You only need a notebook, a pen, and 20 minutes where no one will disturb you.

This process is about releasing emotional baggage by acknowledging it exists. You cannot fix what you will not face.

Part 1: The “Trigger” Audit

Think of the moment you felt most upset this week. Write it down.

Now, ask yourself the hard question: Why did that specific thing hurt me?

Usually, when we are triggered, the event touches a bruise that is already there. The person who annoyed you is just the messenger delivering the mail. The mail is yours.

Part 2: The Three Hard Questions

Scorpio energy respects depth. Answer these three questions in your journal. Do not filter yourself. Do not write what you “should” feel. Write what you actually feel.

Question 1: What am I pretending not to know?
We often gaslight ourselves to stay comfortable. Are you pretending you are happy in your marriage? Are you pretending your job is fulfilling? Are you pretending you are over him? Write down the truth you have been avoiding. Admitting it doesn’t mean you have to act on it today. It just means you stop lying to yourself.

Question 2: Who am I still trying to punish?
This is a tough one. Scorpio can be vengeful. Sometimes we hold onto our pain because it feels like a weapon against the person who hurt us. We think, If I stay sad, it proves they were wrong.

• Are you staying sick/sad/stuck to prove a point?
• Who are you trying to make feel guilty?

Release the need for revenge. It is only poisoning you.

Question 3: What part of my past is dictating my future?
Look at your fears. Are they based on what is happening now, or are they a projection of what happened then? Example: “I am afraid to ask for a raise because my father told me I was greedy.” Identify the old script so you can rewrite it.

Part 3: The “Unsent Letter” Technique

This is one of the most effective psychological tools for closure. Write a letter to the person (or the version of yourself) that hurt you.

• Say everything. Scream on the page. Be petty. Be irrational. List every grievance.
• Get the poison out. Do not try to be “spiritual” or “forgiving” yet. Just be honest about the anger.

The most important rule: Do not send it. When you are finished, shred the paper or delete the file. The release comes from the expression, not the delivery.

The Valentine’s Day Connection

You might be wondering: Why is the universe doing this to me right before the most romantic week of the year?

It is actually a blessing in disguise. You cannot experience true intimacy if you are full of secrets and resentment. The Last Quarter Moon February 2026 is scrubbing your heart clean so that you can actually receive love.

If you are single, this work clears the blockages that keep you from attracting a partner. If you are partnered, this work prevents you from projecting your old trauma onto your current lover. It is the ultimate act of self-love to heal your own heart.

Aftercare: Handling the “Scorpio Hangover”

I want to be very gentle with you about what comes next. Doing this kind of internal digging is exhausting. You might feel a “vulnerability hangover” tomorrow. You might feel raw, teary, or incredibly tired.

This is a good sign. It means you have moved energy.

• Drink water: Emotions are processed through the physical body. Help your system flush out the stress hormones.
• Sleep: Your subconscious will continue to process this release in your dreams. Let yourself rest.
• Be slow: Do not force yourself to be social this weekend if you don’t want to be. You are in recovery.

You are doing the hard work that most people refuse to do. By facing your shadow, you take away its power to control you. You are becoming lighter. You are becoming whole. And I am so, so proud of you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is Shadow Work?

Shadow Work is the psychological practice of exploring the unconscious parts of your personality—the traits, emotions, and desires that you usually deny or hide. It is about integrating these parts so they don’t control your behavior.

Is the Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio bad for relationships?

It is only “bad” for relationships built on superficial foundations. This energy exposes the truth. If a relationship ends during this moon, it is often because it was blocking your growth. However, for healthy couples, this can be a time of profound, deepening intimacy.

Why do I feel physically sick or tired during this moon?

Emotional processing requires significant physical energy. When you are releasing deep-seated trauma or stress (which Scorpio triggers), your body uses glucose and resources to manage that stress response. It is very common to feel “flu-like” symptoms during intense Pluto or Scorpio transits.

Can I do Shadow Work if I don’t know my birth chart?

Absolutely. While knowing your chart helps, the moon phases affect everyone. The collective energy is currently in Scorpio, so we are all feeling this pull toward the depths, regardless of our individual signs.

How do I know if I have successfully “released” something?

You know you have released an emotion when you can think about the situation without a strong physical reaction. If you can remember the event without your stomach tightening or your heart racing, you have processed the energy.