The Moon Sign in Your Astrology Chart

The birth chart, or astrology chart helps guide you in understanding the path of your life. The moon is a huge influence, but one not readily understood by most people.

The moon has two parts, just like in real life -- the side everyone sees and the "dark" moon called Black Moon Lilith. It can be explained as the moon's shadow. The historical Lilith (if she can be called such) was Adam's first wife. This dark moon in the birth chart invokes some of the mythology that surrounds Lilith.

Most people, when they think about astrology, they think of the sun sign. Your moon sign is just as important and helps illuminate some of the reasons why you do the things you do. You can think of it as the moon is about your emotions -- likes and dislikes -- and the sun is about you as an individual.Or maybe better said: the moon is about your unconscious reaction to life instead of the sun which is about your conscious reaction.

For some people their sun sign and moon sign are the same. It's more likely that it is different. You can think of it this way -- when you were born, the sun was at a certain spot in the sky; it is quite likely that the moon was in a very different part of the sky at that moment.

The people in our lives can be confounding and confusing. You think "She's the only homebody Sagittarius I've ever met!" The moon can help explain that seeming contradiction. It's who we are on the inside that matters. We show the world a face (and usually that's actually the mask of the Ascendant, but that's for another post!) that goes with the sun sign. But alone in our own heads, we are all moon.

This really plays out in relationships. No where else do we allow ourselves to be as vulnerable as with a loved one. For a relationship to last your moon signs need to complement. A good example of a not-good pairing is Aries and Taurus. When Aries moon and Taurus moon try to get together fur can fly. The Aries wants action, excitement and change. Taurus wants to put down deep, deep roots. To put it one way, Aries could have commitment issues! On the other hand, Cancer and Taurus could be great. It's all about security, home and family for both of you.

The astrological moon signs are different than the Sun signs because they deal with emotion.

The Air signs are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. For instance, Gemini moon means you tend to talk to get your feelings out there. Libras have deep need to be accepted. This has benefits and drawbacks, of course. Aquarius moon person wants to think first then verbalize to understand new concepts.

The Fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. Aries moon believes in himself and in others. There's a deep trust in community. For Leo, it's all emotion and drama -- usually in the best possible way. For Sagittarian moon, exploration, inward and outward is key. Moving outward, into the world with travel or going inward with religious contemplation, either is an option for a Sagittarian moon.

The Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.Taurus moon is the diplomat. Seeking calm at every turn. Virgo moon brings out the cruise director. Everyone and everything are in their place if Virgo moon gets her way! Capricorn moon is closed and distant. The need for control is very strong and the person with Capricorn moon will keep emotions close to the chest.

The Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Cancer moon is the ultimate caretaker and the ultimate baby when his own needs aren't met. Scorpio moon is fiercely loyal to friends and bellicose to real or perceived enemies. Pisces moon is a passionate caretaker, finding joy in helping the helpless.

Some astrology is based on theoretical points in the sky. The Black Moon Lilith is one such. It's defined as the lunar apogee. In other words, that point at the far side of the moon's rotation, that point is the Lilith point. A complete revolution around the 12 signs of the zodiac takes just under 9 years for Black Moon Lilith.

Lilith can represent the best of us: courage, passion, loyalty, but it can manifest in the worst possible ways -- recklessness, debauchery or blind obedience. It is often defined as the "wild feminine" which applies to men and women both, since we both possess aspects of the other sex.

Where she is in your chart can say a lot about who you are in your worst moments. People can shy away from that sort of knowledge, but it's useful to see the whole picture and understand the roots of those emotions.