The Moon in Astrology: Meaning Explained

The Astrology Podcast・2 minutes read

The Moon is a significant planet in astrology, often overlooked in favor of Sun-sign astrology, but holding deep symbolism beyond emotions and motherhood. As the closest planetary body to Earth, the Moon influences various aspects of life, from physical conditions to emotional bonds, and is crucial in predicting fortunes and outcomes in astrology.

Insights

  • The Moon, often overshadowed by Sun-sign astrology, holds significant importance traditionally, representing more than just emotions and motherhood.
  • Traditional astrology emphasizes the Sun, Moon, and rising sign, with a shift towards younger astrologers recognizing the importance of the "big three."
  • The Moon's symbolism, operating on a hidden level, is explored in contrast to the Sun's more visible and attention-grabbing nature.
  • The Moon's placement in the birth chart reflects conditions experienced in the womb, setting the tone for our first earthly experience.
  • The Moon is described as gentle, soft, and nurturing, embodying qualities expected of a mother, and is closely tied to emotional bonds and family relationships.
  • The Moon's influence on days, months, and physiological cycles like menstruation is rooted in ancient observations, symbolizing cosmic guidance and pivotal triggers in life events.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • What is the significance of the Moon in astrology?

    The Moon holds immense importance in astrology beyond just emotions and motherhood. Traditionally overshadowed by Sun-sign astrology, the Moon symbolizes more than meets the eye. It operates on a hidden level, contrasting with the Sun's visible nature. In traditional astrology, the Sun, Moon, and rising sign are emphasized, with a shift towards recognizing the importance of the "big three." The Moon's symbolism is deeply personal due to its frequent changes, reflecting conditions experienced in the womb and setting the tone for our first earthly experience. It is considered equally important as the Sun in astrology, influencing various aspects of life from emotions to physical manifestations.

  • How does the Moon's placement in the birth chart impact astrology?

    The Moon's placement in the birth chart plays a crucial role in astrological interpretation. It reflects conditions experienced in the womb and sets the tone for an individual's first earthly experience. The Moon symbolizes emotional bonds, family relationships, and nurturing qualities. Its connection to the left eye, stomach, breasts, and other body parts signifies its influence on physical and emotional well-being. Traditional astrologers emphasize the Moon's significance in various branches of astrology, highlighting its role in shaping personality traits, emotional responses, and life events. Understanding the Moon's placement in the birth chart provides insights into an individual's emotional landscape, family dynamics, and overall life story.

  • How does the Moon's symbolism differ from the Sun in astrology?

    The Moon's symbolism in astrology differs from the Sun in various ways. While the Sun represents intellect, spirit, and conscious awareness, the Moon embodies emotions, instincts, and unconscious patterns. The Moon operates on a hidden level, influencing personal experiences, family dynamics, and emotional responses. In contrast, the Sun's energy is more visible and attention-grabbing, symbolizing vitality, creativity, and self-expression. Traditional astrology emphasizes the importance of both luminaries, recognizing the Sun's significance in shaping identity and the Moon's role in nurturing and emotional bonding. Understanding the differences between the Moon and the Sun in astrology provides a holistic view of an individual's psyche and life path.

  • What are the traditional associations of the Moon in astrology?

    The Moon in astrology is associated with various traditional significations that reflect its influence on different aspects of life. It rules over body parts like the left eye, stomach, breasts, and breath, highlighting its connection to physical well-being. The Moon's symbolism extends to substances like silver and glass, colors like light green, and tastes like saltiness. In ancient astrology, the Moon's rulership over the nighttime chart signifies its importance for individuals born at night. The Moon's association with nurturing, feeding, and sustenance emphasizes its role in emotional bonding and family relationships. Understanding the traditional associations of the Moon in astrology provides insights into its multifaceted influence on human experiences.

  • How does the Moon's movement impact astrology and life events?

    The Moon's movement plays a significant role in astrology and life events. As the fastest-moving celestial body, the Moon completes a 28-day orbital cycle, influencing personality traits, emotional responses, and physiological cycles like menstruation. Different lunar phases, such as New Moons and Full Moons, are associated with specific personality traits and occupations. The Moon's aspects with other planets, especially during New Moons and Full Moons, mark key points in life manifestations. Understanding the Moon's movement and lunar phases provides insights into the cyclical nature of life events, emotional experiences, and personal growth. By paying attention to the Moon's influence, individuals can navigate life's changes and transitions with greater awareness and understanding.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"The Astrology Podcast: Moon's Hidden Symbolism"

  • Chris Brennan hosts The Astrology Podcast, with the 294th episode featuring Israel Ajose discussing the astrology of the Moon.
  • Israel Ajose is the current president of the Astrological Lodge of London, succeeding Kim Farnell after her 12-year tenure.
  • The Astrological Lodge has moved its operations online due to the pandemic, offering weekly lectures virtually.
  • Past presidents of the Astrological Lodge include Nick Campion, Charles Carter, and Geoffrey Cornelius.
  • The Moon, often overshadowed by Sun-sign astrology, holds significant importance traditionally, representing more than just emotions and motherhood.
  • The Moon's symbolism, operating on a hidden level, is explored in contrast to the Sun's more visible and attention-grabbing nature.
  • Traditional astrology emphasizes the Sun, Moon, and rising sign, with a shift towards younger astrologers recognizing the importance of the "big three."
  • Alan Leo's influence popularized Sun-sign astrology, a relatively recent development compared to the historical emphasis on the rising sign and Moon.
  • In Vedic astrology, the rising sign is prioritized, followed by the Moon sign, showcasing a different approach to astrological interpretation.
  • The Moon sign and rising sign are considered more personal due to their frequent changes compared to the Sun sign, which remains in a sign for a month.

12:54

Moon: Earthly, Exalted, Essential in Astrology

  • Traditional astrologers emphasize the Moon in various branches of astrology.
  • The Moon is the closest planetary body to Earth, making it very 'Earthy'.
  • The Moon is exalted in Taurus, known for its Earthly qualities.
  • In the Chaldean order, the Moon is the final planet, symbolizing the first planetary archetype we encounter.
  • The Moon's placement in the birth chart reflects conditions experienced in the womb.
  • The Moon sets the tone for our first earthly experience.
  • The Moon and the Sun are considered equally important in astrology.
  • The Moon and the Sun appear the same size from Earth, symbolizing their equal significance.
  • The Moon's gravitational forces affect tides, animals, and potentially the human body.
  • Astrology combines rational and non-rational elements, similar to divination practices like tarot.

27:38

Moon's Influence on Body and Emotions

  • The Moon rules various parts of the body, including the left eye, stomach, breasts, breath, spleen, membranes, and marrow.
  • It also governs substances like silver and glass, is of the nocturnal sect, light green in color, and salty in taste.
  • Valens' descriptions of the Moon encompass all aspects of physical life, from daily routines to possessions and money.
  • The Moon's association with the 3rd house in astrology relates to travel, wandering, and boats.
  • Valens emphasizes the Moon's connection to physical incarnation and the body, contrasting it with the Sun's association with intellect and spirit.
  • The Moon's prominence in the Thema Mundi, with Cancer rising and the Moon in the 1st house, signifies the birth of the physical cosmos.
  • The Moon is considered the most personal planet, closely tied to emotional bonds and family relationships.
  • In ancient astrology, the Moon's joy in the 3rd house is linked to travel, wandering, and messages, influencing significations related to siblings and nurturing.
  • Valens connects the Moon with older siblings, the mother, and the concept of being nursed, highlighting the nurturing quality associated with the Moon.
  • The Moon's rulership over the breasts and stomach signifies its connection to nurturing, feeding, and sustenance, linking it to the zodiac's traditional associations with body parts.

42:17

Moon's Influence: Nighttime Advantage in Astrology

  • The Moon rules the nighttime chart, providing a distinct advantage for individuals born at night.
  • Ancient astrology distinguishes between day and night charts through the doctrine of sect.
  • During the day, the Sun is the luminary, while at night, the Moon takes over as the sect light.
  • Traditional astrologers recognized the equal importance of the Sun and Moon based on sect.
  • For individuals born at night, the Moon's energies are more accessible and significant than the Sun's.
  • The Moon symbolizes gathering and receiving, influencing emotional, physiological, and environmental connections.
  • The Moon collects and dispenses planetary influences, setting the tone for life manifestations.
  • Sensitive planetary configurations, New Moons, and Full Moons are key points influenced by the Moon.
  • The Moon is likened to an Oracle, symbolizing cosmic guidance and pivotal triggers in life events.
  • Valens' significations include possessions, material gains, and expenditures, reflecting financial aspects in astrology.

57:06

Moon's Influence on Fate and Fortune

  • Checking the Moon's condition is crucial for determining gains, expenditures, and fortune in astrology.
  • The Moon symbolizes chance and changeability in ancient Greco-Roman mythology.
  • The Part of Fortune and Part of Spirit are significant Arabic parts associated with the Moon and Sun, respectively.
  • The Moon's placement in a natal chart indicates inherent fortune and qualities we are born with.
  • Ancient astrology focuses on fate, fortune, and chance, using birth charts to predict future events.
  • The 3rd house in astrology signifies siblings, travel, relatives, and authority, influenced by the Moon's joy.
  • The 3rd house is associated with short-distance travel and the liminal space between destinations.
  • The Moon's fast movement links it to short-distance travel, contrasting with the Sun's association with long-distance travel.
  • The 3rd house represents local travel, neighbors, and immediate surroundings in astrology.
  • The Moon symbolizes various levels of motherhood, including biological, Earth, and governmental nurturing.

01:11:12

Moon's Influence in Astrology: Lilly's Insights

  • William Lilly, author of Christian Astrology, wrote about the Moon's significations in the 17th century.
  • Lilly described the Moon as a feminine, nocturnal planet, cold, moist, and phlegmatic.
  • When the Moon is well dignified in the chart, it signifies composed manners, a lover of sciences, and a searcher.
  • If the Moon is badly placed, it can indicate characteristics like being a vagabond, idle, or a drunkard.
  • Lilly emphasized the importance of essential dignity and aspects from other planets in determining the Moon's influence.
  • Negative placements don't guarantee negative outcomes but suggest predispositions that can be managed.
  • Saturn square the Moon, for example, may predispose one to depressive states but doesn't dictate a fixed outcome.
  • The Moon's changeability, associated with its swift movement through the zodiac, is a key aspect of its nature.
  • The Moon's influence on days, months, and physiological cycles like menstruation is rooted in ancient observations.
  • The Moon's softness and tenderness contrast with the Sun's harshness, making it a gentle and receptive planet.

01:25:27

Moon's Influence in Astrology and Life

  • Standing outside in moonlight can be soothing, unlike the Sun which can cause heat stroke.
  • The Moon is described as gentle, soft, and nurturing, embodying qualities expected of a mother.
  • Ancient astrologers focused on the Moon's applications and separations, linking them to different life events.
  • The Moon acts as an anchor, drawing energies from planets she contacts, manifesting them physically.
  • The void-of-course Moon, when not making aspects, is seen as problematic for manifestation.
  • In electional astrology, the Moon's contacts with planets are crucial for auspicious timing.
  • A void-of-course Moon in a natal chart can lead to feelings of emptiness and lack of connection.
  • A void-of-course Moon signifies a lack of completion or fulfillment, impacting outcomes in astrology.
  • In horary astrology, a void-of-course Moon indicates that nothing will come of the matter.
  • Traditional definitions of void-of-course Moon emphasize the importance of the Moon's aspects for successful outcomes.

01:39:49

Moon's Separation and Application in Astrology

  • Moon is separating from a conjunction with Jupiter and applying to a conjunction with Venus in an electional chart.
  • Separation from Jupiter represents the past leading up to the chart, while applying to Venus indicates the future.
  • Positive enclosure or besiegement between two benefics is traditionally seen in this scenario.
  • In a natal chart, the planet the Moon is separating from represents energy already gathered.
  • The planet the Moon is moving towards in the natal chart signifies a strong theme in the native's life.
  • Separating aspect of the Moon in a natal chart reflects what one is born with, while applying aspects indicate future developments.
  • Paulus Alexandrinus discusses the separation and application of the Moon to planets within 30 degrees.
  • The Moon's aspects within specific degree ranges are crucial for outcomes in different life stages.
  • Void-of-course Moon is problematic if not applying to anything within 30 degrees, indicating a lack of notable events.
  • Different definitions of void-of-course Moon exist, with emphasis on the Moon not applying to any planets within a specific orb.

01:53:29

Lunar phases influence personality traits and events.

  • Moon moving towards Jupiter in an electional situation may indicate a delay in manifestation.
  • The Moon is the fastest-moving celestial body, completing a 28-day orbital cycle.
  • The Moon moves about 12 degrees in a 24-hour period.
  • There are 12 lunations per year, corresponding to the 12 zodiac signs.
  • The waxing phase of the Moon starts from the New Moon to the opposition with the Sun, taking about two weeks.
  • The Full Moon occurs when the Moon is opposite the Sun, at peak brightness.
  • Different lunar phases are associated with personality traits and occupations.
  • The lunation cycle is crucial in understanding personality traits and life events.
  • New Moons and Full Moons occur approximately 14 days apart each month.
  • Solar eclipses happen during New Moons near the nodes, while lunar eclipses occur during Full Moons near the nodes.

02:08:38

"The Moon's Influence on American Soul"

  • The Moon is considered an extraction of the Sun, representing the soul that draws energy into the physical world.
  • America is seen as a Cancerian nation, linked to the Moon, with a focus on soul food and nourishing the soul.
  • The Moon is associated with the soul, while the spirit is connected to the Sun and is more fiery and solar.
  • The birth chart of the US shows a stellium in Cancer, emphasizing the Moon's influence.
  • Ebertin's focus on mobility, changeability, and adaptation is highlighted, linking adaptability to lunar qualities.
  • The Moon presides over instincts and adaptation, essential for survival and interacting with nature.
  • Memory is attributed to the Moon, storing experiences and shaping mindset and memory.
  • The Moon is connected to ancestral memories, history, and roots, influencing past experiences and family ties.
  • The Moon signifies hereditary qualities, the female principle, and is a general significator for women in astrology.
  • Men also have Moons, expressing lunar qualities differently based on societal norms and cultural influences.

02:23:09

Moon's Emotional Significance in Astrology

  • Valens’ significations include ‘housekeeping’, ‘the queen’, ‘the mistress of the house’
  • Ebertin is discussed, leading to the introduction of Rob Hand and his book, Horoscope Symbols from 1981
  • Rob Hand's views on the Moon are detailed, emphasizing its connection to the past, childhood, and unconscious assumptions
  • The Moon is considered the primary indicator of emotions in modern astrology
  • Freud and Jung's charts are compared, noting their Sun-Moon synastry
  • The significance of sharing the same Sun or Moon sign in relationship astrology is highlighted
  • Richard Tarnas' book, Cosmos and Psyche, describes the Moon as the matrix of being and the psychosomatic foundation of the self
  • The Moon is associated with the physical life and sense perception, including the ‘left eye’
  • The Moon and Sun are linked to the ability to see in light and darkness, with the Moon having her ‘house of joy’ in the 3rd house
  • Ancient optical theories regarding vision and the eyes emitting or receiving rays are discussed, connecting to the aspect doctrine and traditional rulership scheme

02:36:59

Astrological Moon: Symbolism, Transits, and Progressions

  • The rays emitted from planets like Leo to Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn were conceptualized in ancient optical theory.
  • Major aspects or transits to the Sun or Moon can manifest in events related to eyes, sometimes positive, sometimes challenging.
  • Difficult transits to the Moon can lead to literal problems with the left eye.
  • Richard Tarnas used keywords like "anima" and "psychosomatic foundation of the self" in his work.
  • The Moon symbolizes dependence, interdependence, and the need for sustenance and security.
  • The Moon represents being part of something larger, like family, home, nation, and country.
  • The Moon in a chart signifies receptivity, adaptability, and making room for others.
  • Demetra George views the Moon as tied to early childhood conditioning, nurturing, and emotional responses.
  • The Moon's role in life purpose involves grounding conceptual visions into daily actions.
  • Secondary progressions, especially the progressed Moon, are powerful predictive tools based on the Moon's movement after birth.

02:51:11

"Exploring Moon's Role in Astrology"

  • The secondary progressed lunation cycle completes around every 28 years or so, marking the end of one cycle and the beginning of a new one.
  • Indian astrology emphasizes the Moon, with the Chandra lagna being significant due to the focus on the Moon in the Indian tradition.
  • Indian astrologers use a separate chart with houses derived from the Moon sign, in addition to whole sign houses from the Ascendant.
  • The 'Seven Ages of Man' technique involves assigning specific years to planets, such as 4 years to the Moon, 10 years to Mercury, and 8 years to Venus.
  • In Vedic astrology, the Chandra lagna is crucial, emphasizing the importance of looking at the Moon's placement in the chart.
  • Hellenistic astrology uses the Lot of Fortune for house placements, while Indian astrology focuses on the Moon as an alternative Ascendant.
  • The Moon's placement in the chart is essential for understanding how it can manifest experiences in one's life.
  • The Moon in the 11th house signifies a tendency to bring people together, as seen in the example of the speaker's involvement in various groups.
  • The Astrological Lodge of London hosts weekly online meetings with lectures and beginner astrology classes.
  • Private consultations, classes, and tutoring in astrology and tarot are available through the speaker's website, SacredPlanets.com.

03:04:11

"Unlocking Life's Story: Moon in Astrology"

  • The COVID situation has accelerated the worldwide accessibility of astrology, making it more readily available.
  • It is advised to pay close attention to one's Moon placement in astrology, reflecting on aspects, conditions, upbringing, and family dynamics to understand the story it tells about one's life.
  • The Moon is considered the storyteller in astrology, reflecting who we were, who we are, and who we will become, with ancient traditions emphasizing storytelling under the Moon.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.