Many astrologers, particularly in the West, pay most attention to the sun, but did you know that the majority of astrological traditions considered the Moon to have greater significance in understanding a person? We’ll look at why that is and what the Moon can teach you about your needs in all areas of your life.
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In Western Astrology the Moon is portrayed as a feminine planet and she has a number of unique characteristics. It is the fastest moving from our perspective here on earth moving through a zodiac sign in two and a half days. This along with her waxing and waning patterns, no other celestial object embodies the concept of change and flow quite like the Moon does. Ancient astrological lore states its fast movement puts it into contact with the celestial influences of the different planets and serves as a conduit for grounding them into the earthly realm.
Her movements pull the oceans up and cast them down again during her cyclical process. Many of the life systems we see here on earth ebb and flow just as the oceans do and we see direct examples in humans such as procreative cycles in women. There is even research suggesting that sleep patterns are affected by lunar phases and even some that links it to such factors as Heart Rate Variability. These are powerful indicators for overall health and wellbeing. This power of influence also explains the association with queens and other females in positions of power. Aside from its brightness, size and other unique characteristics, the direct influence the Moon has on the body could be one of the strong motivations to prioritise it so highly.
It is not only strongly associated with physical and material manifestations, but the emotional experiences and changes we undergo as well. It represents the instinctual dimensions of our experience and particularly in modern times has come to represent subconscious needs and behaviours. Those are its widest known function in astrology as well.
What often gets ignored in the process of explaining emotions and their expression is that emotions are one of the primary conscious and subconscious fuel for our actions. That is why it is crucial to understand how our own emotional world functions – our reactions are mostly completely dependent on the experienced emotions and might differ widely from person to person. They can push us towards overcoming obstacles or send us into hiding. Emotions are physical triggers of hormones – which can determine our energy level, our focus, they can give support to or interfere with projects that are important to us.
The Moon can describe our instinctive first responses, also what we intuitively feel drawn to on the deepest level. And if we reverse – understanding our Moon can explain how we receive that sense of perfect satisfaction. Of course its house generally shows an area of life that is particularly important to us but the Moon gives us information for all life areas as well. Even the simplest task with which we identify emotionally can bring us meaning. As such it is healthy to learn to recognise what is our fuel – is it feeling safe and confronting the world in a continuous way (Capricorn), is it the friendly and harmonious, do no harm LIbran way or is it the infinite emotional depth of the water Moons?
Emotions also contribute to creating connection with others – the constant exchange of “life stories” between humans and the genuine empathy most of us are capable of experiencing are a great example for that. And knowing how we tend to experience the world in that way helps us accept that we are the way we are and find coping strategies unique for us. To feel truly satisfied and content you need to fulfil the needs in the most important life areas like relationships and career as well. To learn about the needs of the Moons in the different signs watch the Moon video that relates to you in our series.
The Moon has long been associated with home and family, likely derived from the overt role she plays in cultivating life here on this planet, an earthly caretaker if you will. And just for a second think about what family and home represent in the best of cases – they are symbols of our safe haven and a place of nurture, so we can derive one of the best forms of nurturing through our moon. They are the roots and our strength in times of difficulty. They give us a sense of belonging. The Moon further serves as the universal signifier for women in general but most particularly ‘Mother’. The distant father ‘Sun’ provides the resources of light and the longer annual cycle, while the mother ‘Moon’ deals closely with the day to day needs and shorter cycles of life’s unfolding. This means she also represents our basic needs. It is important to note though that this has been formed by the cultural framework of the tradition’s origin as, contrarily, many cultures including India and Tibet view the Moon as masculine.
This association with smaller cycles also brings her to say a lot about habits and how we go about completing daily errands. This ties in with her association of what makes us comfortable as it is often that which we are familiar with. We have so many phrases in our language about habits: we make a habit of sth, kick or break a habit. Idioms like creatures of habit, old habits die hard. Those all make it clear that our habits do shape our lives quite a bit. And we often form habits based on how we perceive ourselves, and some positive habits are easier to create for certain personalities than for others. So it is crucial to know what is comfortable for us and easy to create but at the same time brings us benefit and not harm. And it is also crucial to accept the deepest emotions and experiences as those can foster self acceptance and help with kicking that bad habit.
As mentioned previously, the speed and changeability of the Moon also gives her association with short distance travel. While having a lot of influence on what some may call ‘the mundane’ she is by no means restricted to just that. In Ancient Greek astrology she is associated with the house of the Goddess and was often linked to sacred rites and priestly roles.
The Moon is the regal feminine – a shining light, equal in prominence to the Sun, though ruling a different dimension of creation. The Moon generally deals more with the material concerns of life while the Sun is more associated with the spiritual, though such a dualistic interpretation is somewhat problematic, as there is always some yang in the yin. While the Sun also represents many aspects of religious practice, the Moon was often more associated with dream oracles and systems of divination like reading of signs in nature. As the light of spirit refracts through the prism of the material manifestation, those strongly connected to the Moon were said to be able to act as prisms or interpreters of the material manifestations of the deities’ messages. There is a certain similarity with many systems of indigenous practice, where many relied and still do heavily on lunar phases for religious rites, agriculture and medicinal preparation and application.
The Moon is also connected to memory and represents the accumulation of experience which sets the very groundwork for who we are and how we behave. It isn’t difficult to see why the Moon is prioritised so highly. While the Sun can represent our ambitions and sense of purpose residing in the idealised expressions of ego, the Moon can be a more direct expression of who we are as a result of our past and our conditioning. This is why she can provide such a clear understanding of your needs and as such give insight into the kind of life that will nurture you and bring emotional and material fulfillment. The subconscious forces that move us dictate such a large portion of the lives of many people, so understanding them is a significant step in being able to work with them positively and constructively.
So many branches of Astrology have a strong dependence on the Moon. In Horary, the answering of specific questions with Astrology; the Moon’s movements and aspects show how situations will unfold and what events preceded the question. In Electional Astrology, the choosing of the ideal moments for certain endeavours in life, the Moon’s condition and phase is paramount to bring the successful results you are hoping for. In relationships it can tell us how we react to certain situations and what kinds of needs we have. In profession it can indicate innate skills or weaknesses that we must learn to manage if we want to be successful.
And while talking about relationships – our Moon placements do determine that we truly feel at home with that particular person – be it a family member, a friend or a partner – it is just the feeling they are the “right” way and they do things the right way – they have the right food, have the right words or just a warm embrace for us and always seem to know when to give what. Most of the time this is due to highly compatible Moon signs (oh well, sometimes Venus helps as well, but that is a whole other subject). So remember often the people we enjoy life with most and that just make us glow inside are those who we perceive as souls with similar vibes.
And the Moon is our soul as well, so if we get to know our Moon placement by sign, house and aspects we can slowly construct that perfect recipe for the chicken soup our soul needs to survive in the harshness of reality. For some the soup will include cuddling with the partner, chatting at work and long baths, whereas for others a lot of independence in the relationship, success at work and a marathon. Find yours! Getting to know that deeper part of self, that we sometimes even consciously hide from the world, is what guarantees more contentment and happiness. So enjoy life and prepare food for your Moon on a daily basis.
Finally, its fundamental role in our general behaviour means that understanding the Moon’s placement in our chart has a vast reach, accessing a better understanding about the parts of ourselves which aren’t always immediately obvious. It influences and impacts just about every aspect of our lives. If you haven’t yet, find the Moon video that relates to you in our series. You will find out about how your Moon influences your behaviour, your professional life and relationships.
Some of you might not know your Moon sign so you can get your chart drawn up at websites such as astro.com and astro-seek.com. For those who just want to know their Moon go to the cafe-astrology site https://cafeastrology.com/whats-my-moon-sign.html.
May the Moon’s silvery light nurture you and guide you to a better understanding of who you are and where you can feel ‘at home’ in life.