Astrology

In Our Astrology Series

ASTROLOGY, THE MOON AND YOU

The Moon - one of astrology’s Big Three, A Three-Part Series

HOW SHE INFLUENCES YOUR NEED FOR SECURITY

FLY ME TO THE MOON

In this astrological series, we'll be talking about the sun, the moon and the stars and how they influence our everyday lives. We open with a discussion of the Moon, one of the primary and most direct of the planetary influences.

The symbology of the Moon has entranced and enticed us for eons. The Moon is one of the central figures in our astrology, our tarot and our mythology,

In all our myths and spiritual traditions, the moon is feminine while the sun is masculine. She has almost always been a consort of the Sun - a mate, a daughter, a sister. She is the Great Mother in all disciplines. She rules that which is subconscious, emotional, healing and finite. She is agriculture, fertility and water.

The Moon has been known by many names. In Egypt, we find her as Hathor, Hecate and Isis. (Goddess of moon and magic). In India, she is Chandra-Devi (the moon goddess). She is known as the Chaldean Nana, the Roman Ceres, the Druidic Ceridwen and the Greek Diana, Demeter and Proserpina as well as Rhea, mother of Zeus. She is the sacred virgin in all faiths.

She is the 18th major arcana in the tarot. True to her fluidity, when she is drawn in tarot, her meanings vary depending on the placement of other cards. She can mean the flow of a beautiful romance or she can speak to the heartache of deception. She speaks always to forces that are hidden, but forces that do not originate from within her. She is the ultimate conduit and reflects the unlimited light of the Sun force, which in astrology equates to the spirit and life force.

The moon rules the sign of Cancer, the fourth house and, in one's own personal astrology, the house with the sign of cancer on its cusp.

In her astrological manifestation, she is one the Big Three: Sun, Moon and Ascendant, which comprise the basic framework of the life force manifest through man in space and time. The Sun is the basic life force itself - unbounded spirit and unlimited potential. The Ascendant (or rising sign) is the filter that all energies pass through in our presentation of ourselves to our world. The Moon has been called the personality. The personality is a multi-faceted vehicle through which we express our essential selves and all the components of our basic “energy matrix”.

In astrology, if the sun and the moon are not in aspect (relationship) with one another, we often assess that much energy in the life is wasted before one finally finds that which one seeks in the world. If the moon is weak, we may find one who is a great achiever, but not very good at dealing with others or coping with changes in life circumstances. When the moon is strong, by sign, house or aspect, we assess that one has inner balance between the masculine and feminine within.

As with all interpretation of astrological data, the moon operates on many levels. In the mundane, she is said to rule our domestic lives, our homes, our mothers (or mothering) and our immediate and unconscious responses to our environment and everyday stimulus. The moon is also the past. Your particular moon sign placement will be indicative (along with other factors) of your soul’s previous incarnations, as well as being a decent descriptor in adult life of your childhood.

She speaks to inherited tendencies, habits, mannerisms, moods and general behavior patterns. Although an influence throughout our lives, her greatest influence is felt in early childhood, when many of our patterns are “set”.

What the sun impregnates by fire, the moon fertilizes by water. Of all the planets in the zodiac (to simplify, in astrology the sun and moon are called planets, she is most connected with the earth and has visible influence over nature and our natures. We all know about the moon’s effects on the tide and on the biological rhythms of plant and animal life. To this day, our farmers almanac uses the cycles of the moon to determine good seed and crop planting days. In the 90’s it’s become as fashionable to “check your bio-rhythms” as it is to check your astrological forecast.

Next, we examine the moon’s placement in all twelve of the astrological signs.

HOW SHE INFLUENCES YOUR NEED FOR SECURITY.

The moon travels through all the signs of the zodiac every month, therefore, every 2-3 days the moon changes sign. To find out what sign the moon was in at the time of your birth, you will need to consult an astrologer or one of the quick astrological programs available on the web and to provide the date and time (exact or approximate) of your birth.

There is much to write about the moon (in fact, many have). In western astrological practice, the moon (regardless of sign) represents our security needs, our instinctive reactions to our environment, our receptive nature and our emotional realities. Following are some fun bits of information placing the moon in each of the twelve astrological signs.

* Moon in Aries *

Security is felt through your own actions. If there is something to do, especially something great, then all is usually well. If there is action required around any of life's circumstances, it is much easier for you to handle changes or surprises. It is when you simply cannot do anything that your security is threatened. There can be a tendency to impulsive relationships and actions, sudden surges of emotions, grand emotional explosions, high activity levels and restlessness. You can be very enthusiastic, with emotions and passions easily aroused. You feel simply and directly and can inspire others to do for themselves. You retain a childlike quality all through your life. However, you are challenged to learn the difference between childlike and childish. You can be like the infant screaming, absolutely aware of only your own distress and not at all aware that someone else may have some too! Truly, you may be unaware that your emotional demands are bigger than most can handle. But, you WILL be heard!

* Moon in Taurus *

Security is felt in material reserves and emotional attachments. Yes, money, assets and ownership of land or home make you a very happy camper and very pleasant to be around. However, even without the "things", as long as you know that you can work and earn, you are generally fine. There is a deep appreciation of the values of life. You are very determined, practical, reserved in your emotional expressions, slow to anger, highly resourceful and have a tremendous capacity for contentment. Incredible emotional endurance is available to you and there is true ability to enjoy. You make an excellent and supportive mate and a very loyal friend. There is natural musical appreciation and deep sensuous and intuitive faculties available. However, old habits for you are very hard to break. If you are over stimulated with too much change demanded, you can be stopped in your tracks, feeling quite unable to move in any direction. You can hold onto emotions much longer than is healthy for you, so Taurus Moon, when angry, possessive or jealous, you must find a mechanism to release, otherwise, you’ll stuff food (or sex) over the anger and have to spend some of that hard-earned cash to buy a new wardrobe. Negatively manifest, you can be obstinate, materialistic, lazy and slow-moving - but hey - you’re comfortable!

* Moon in Gemini *

Security is felt in one’s ability to adapt to any set of circumstances and comprehend practical principles. You are a perpetual student and love to learn new stuff - as long as you can use it somehow. Whether that use is practical or just gives you more to talk about does not matter. You tend to be very quick, versatile, quite alert, shrewd, talkative and unobtrusive. You have a good sense of observation and imitation, however feelings are not too deep, tend toward superficiality and can be diffuse. Ever changing environments and lots of social interaction work very well for you. Things like moving are not as stressful for you as for some others and generally you will look to be a part of some kind of community or neighbourhood. You are the original "multi-tasker" - very capable of responding to and doing a zillion different things at once. Actually, you like it like that and find those that do one thing at a time a little narrow to your way of being. However, if you look closely, you'll see that those others also tend to finish what they’ve started. Not always one of your strongest points. You can get bored much quicker than most. In the less positive manifestations, you can be an opportunist and more than just a little crafty. The mental motives can be hidden, but generally you are not prone to secrets. You may talk about your feelings but forget to actually feel them. Now, what was that you were rationalizing…er…saying?

* Moon in Cancer *

Security is felt in your own environment, be it home or country. Every where you go, you like to make it "feel like home". You love to nurture not only those that you love, but those that show up in your space. You love to love, but, must be loved in return in order to be happy. I mean, you really need to be shown, in some way, that you are loved. You are quite sympathetic by nature, however you are also very shrewd. This is a strong placement for the moon. A planet is in dignity when it is in the sign that it is said to rule. That is the case here. There is a very strong maternal pull, no matter how it's expressed. You are sensitive and one of the differences between Moon in Cancer and Sun in Cancer is that you cherish this quality. There is cherishing of valued emotional experiences, but also romantic idealization. Sometimes a little passive and emotional, you need a safe haven - for relaxation and privacy. Generally, you have an incredible memory and at times, can relive your own past experiences. A little moody maybe? If you are manifesting negatively, you can turn compliance into timidity and become apprehensive about imagined threats. Your emotions are strong and subject to day to day influences. The mother is of crucial importance. It does not matter if the relationship was good or bad. You may expect others to know how you feel, even though you won’t tell them. You are funny and you are cranky, tenacious and moody, traditional and obliging. You probably have a lot of stuff in your house.

* Moon in Leo *

Security comes when in the centre or the limelight of activity and your own sphere. You can dramatize all of your emotional experiences, but also can be so very passionate whenever your heart is aroused. You are generous by nature, have a natural dignity about you and are incredibly loyal. You are optimistic. You tend to face your feelings with courage. It may not be pleasant to anyone else, but your emotional dramatics do conclude. You're pretty good at standing your ground, especially if your loved ones are threatened in any way. You do like to be pampered and enjoy luxury. Your confidence can be legendary and your vitality immense. You are not afraid of hard work, although you'll probably need to go to bed right after dinner! You will not accept a subordinate role in your home base, probably lively. All the world is your stage and you are a social performer. Your legendary honesty can be part of your performance. You do have a great capacity for leadership, receiving admiration and radiating warmth. In a negative state, you can be vain and conceited, self-indulgent and far too opinionated. You can refuse to recognize limitations, even when they are necessary. But, everybody loves you and why shouldn’t they!

* Moon in Virgo *

Security comes through being industrious and providing personal intervention in some sort of advisory capacity in the service of other people. You are naturally reserved and unassuming, studious, practical, efficient and fastidious. Your ability to deal with detail would fell a lesser soul. Your feelings are analyzed in their most minute expressions and you can become quite critical of your own personal relationships. This is not an easy placement for the moon as it tends to take the ebb and flow of emotional reality and try to compartmentalize it into logical analysis. You can, at times, edit or limit your own imagination, but your ability to heal others and serve in this way is second to none. If you put your emotions and reactions through too fine a microscope, you can become fault-finding, aloof and calculating. Like Cancer, you must watch that an unassuming nature does not become timidity. Very little escapes you - you see emotional reality in others that most of us miss. You never put on embarrassing emotional displays or cause huge scenes. You leave that to the less controlled and "sloppier" members of society. Your home is likely ordered and efficient. Try not to pick on your kids too much!

* Moon in Libra *

Security here comes through other people and their reactions and acknowledgments of your own decisions and actions. You have a driving need to bring harmony and beauty into your personal environment and relationships, as well as in others relationships. You are peace-loving, charming, eager to please, quite friendly and hospitable as well as tolerant. You have a great capacity for comparison and cooperation. Your feelings are quite refined - and - you must have emotional calm. All this peace makes you so tired sometimes though. It can be quite a struggle to find compromise in situations that have reached an impasse. Careful that your aversion to unpleasantness doesn’t leave you ignoring your own feelings. When manifesting less than your most positive self, you can become quite lazy and too dependent. Then you can start arguments for the sake of arguing alone - just because if there is too much agreement, you may feel that the other point of view needs air. You are social and love interactions of all kinds. However, while you listen well to another's point of view, they rarely can change your mind, once made up. You are, after all, just being nice.

* Moon in Scorpio *

Security comes here as a feeling of possessing in personal relationships and an intense drive to control your own environment. No one should ever try to tell you what to do. If they push too hard, you will do the opposite just to show that your power will never belong to anyone but yourself. There are no false threats with you, when something is over it is over forever. You sever your past with great finality and have no desire to ever go there again. You are magnetic and determined, sensitive and sometimes brooding. A very proud and self-reliant nature, you cannot stand dependence. You have tremendous capacity for self-defence, regeneration and investigation. Your feelings are long-lasting, very loyal, intense and immensely passionate. There is nothing half baked about you. When you are less than your best, you can self-torture, be fanatical, controlling and hard. Let no one push your retaliation buttons because you will hit with a force that can take down anyone or anything. If people think they know you, it is only because you have allowed it. However, your secrets are safe here, because, in truth, there is more in you than anyone will ever know. This is not a peaceful placement. Thank heavens you are private - no one should be exposed to that intensity! Relationship with you is not for the weak. Dear Scorpio Moon, we have warned them, haven’t we?

* Moon in Sagittarius *

Security for you comes when you feel free and without responsibilities and obligations. You need to think you are free to respond to an ever-changing environment and interests. You wish to be like the wind, can go whenever and wherever you want. As long as you feel you can go, you will be fine staying. It is when you feel you can’t go that you also feel you must. You are blunt and outspoken, honourable, roving and restless, highly independent. You simply cannot tolerate restrictions of any kind, especially emotional restrictions. You have tremendous capacity for exploration, inquiry, movement and the dissemination of knowledge. You tend to be warm and spontaneous and highly intuitive. Great wisdom is available if you can slow down enough to listen. In your negative states, you can be argumentative, superficial and uninterested. Your imagination is easily stimulated. One word or thought can produce a whole "opera" in your mind. And you like it there - it is freedom after all. You actually are one who likes to be happy and is naturally optimistic. You do not cultivate misery and can bouyantly jump to the next thing whenever it is time for a change. You may not have the neatest house, but you can pack a bag and be out the door in three seconds flat!

* Moon in Capricorn *

Security for you comes through the structure and control of the immediate environment. You have a tendency to use your instinctual understanding of people for your own self purpose. (Be it ever so reserved an expression). You are steadfast and reliable, fatherly and serious. You demand much from yourself and are quite ambitious. You have great capacity for diligent application. You may not think so, but your feelings centre around yourself. However, you can take anything and build on it. Your standards are high and you may attempt to over control your feelings, but a family cared for by you will always advance. Tradition is important and there is likely a great respect for where you came from (regardless of whether it was good or bad). Try not to be gloomy. It does happen sometimes, when the weight of the world is on your shoulders. It can be difficult to access your imagination sometimes, since there is very little use for "fluff" in your sphere. However, your understandings are very deep, powerful and mostly correct. You can give good counsel, only it can be factual instead of sympathetic. You don’t feel sorry for yourself, so why should you feel sorry for anyone else?

* Moon in Aquarius *

Security comes through social connections and the feeling that you can relate to all types of people intuitively. You like involvement in social movements and group activities. You are humane, sincere, logical and independent. By nature, you are also unconventional, even a bit eccentric, but in true eccentric fashion, you would never call yourself that. Progressive, friendly and ingenious, you are never dull to be around. No matter how angry or unconfident you can sometimes feel, you are altruistic, can read character very well and love to spread ideas. You are a bit emotionally detached and this placement of such a subjective planet as the moon in such an objective sign as aquarius can produce greater compassion for humanity as a whole while the person in front of you crying on your shoulder elicits very little response. But, you really are good folk and there is rarely a mean bone in your body. You do not care about tradition or structure. You are a true socialist at heart, only of the highest order not the manifestations we’ve seen on this planet. You object strongly to socialism as a front for dictatorship. There is no hidden agenda with you. Equality among all and individuality among all. Your feelings should flow freely, unrestrained and your ideas should do the same (according to you). Mostly everybody wants to be your friend, and you want to be everybody's friend too - just that it will be a bit distant - all those folks will never really know all about you. It is not a mystery thing, it is just not relevant to you. For you, "Humanity is my friend, it’s the individuals I can live without!"

* Moon in Pisces *

Security here is elusive and is felt through your own ability to adjust personal feelings to the constant bombardment of vibrations and impressions in the environment. You need periodic seclusion, otherwise you will be a walking mirror of everyone else’s feelings, moods, desires and so on. This is a very inspirational and compassionate placement for the moon and can create the ultimate healer or the ultimate self-delusion and self-destruction. You must choose. You can’t escape yet you desperately need to sometimes. You are the sentimental, imaginative gentle dreamer of all these moon placements. The poet is alive in you. Very sociable, you tend to truly care and can (in your best form) produce miracles. Great sense of humour too! Careful of susceptibility. You like to be cared for, so may give away your decision-making power to seemingly stronger personalities. You believe, yet do not always believe in yourself, so as a result can be easily discouraged and lean toward self-indulgence. In your less than most positive manifestations, you can be quite deceptive because of your tremendous understanding of how one fact/thing/reality can fold into another. This placement produces such immense compassion and ability to heal, that it becomes really important to focus yourself on strong action. You are the ultimate sacrificer and can suffer through your own emotional choices sometimes. But you ebb and flow with the tide and most folks like having you around. You truly are one who may occasionally "feel too much". You wish so much that people would just understand the things that you cannot find words for and you can cry for humanity in its lacks. I think the world is born of Pisces imagination. Imagine everyone understanding - eventually it will be.

I remind you all that I have just provided the moon in the sign interpretation and just "a taste" at that. Placement within astrological Houses and aspect relationships have not been factored into this analysis. Although the basics of the planet in the sign are always the same, the rest of the chart will modify and channel the expression in specific ways. For a more thorough analysis of how the moon is affecting your life, you will probably want to consult with a seasoned astrologer.

That's what I love about astrology, wheels within wheels and cycles within cycles. Fascinating. Only 12 signs and twelve planets, but the permutations and combinations are virtually endless - no wonder we are each so very different. Look up the Sun Moon relationship article for more on how the moon influences our lives.

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