You Are Not Your “Star Sign”!
An important thing to understand is that you shouldn’t really totally associate yourself with your “star sign” (it’s actually your Sun Sign, okay?), like saying: I am an Aries, or I am a Libra. The Sun Sign is just one of your astrological features, albeit one of the most important ones. So the correct way to say it is: my Sun is in Libra, or my Sun is in Aries - leaving space for something else. You will soon see why this is important.
As Above So Below
According to this ancient adage, whatever was prominent in the sky at the moment of one’s birth will be also prominent in the newborn’s life. Two objects are always very prominent in the sky: the luminaries, the Sun and the Moon. The presence of the Sun is always obvious during the day while the Moon dominates the night, and as there is no day without night, we are all well aware of both the Sun and the Moon.
In Western Astrology, the Sun is considered to be the most important factor in a person’s natal chart, but in Indian Astrology (Jyotish) with its rich uninterrupted tradition it is the Moon which is the most important factor.
So if you really want to know a little bit of astrology about yourself, you have to understand that plus to your Sun Sign (do you still call it “star sign”?), you also have your Moon Sign, and these two are equally important.
In Western Astrology, the Sun is considered to be the most important factor in a person’s natal chart, but in Indian Astrology (Jyotish) with its rich uninterrupted tradition it is the Moon which is the most important factor.
So if you really want to know a little bit of astrology about yourself, you have to understand that plus to your Sun Sign (do you still call it “star sign”?), you also have your Moon Sign, and these two are equally important.
What is the Moon Sign
The Moon moves across the starry sky in the same way as the Sun does but much faster, making the whole circle in approximately 27 days. In the same way as with the Sun, the Moon’s position among the stars at any particular moment can be measured in the signs of the zodiac, and at the moment when you were born the Moon was somewhere in one of the twelve signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces
The sign of the zodiac where the Moon was at the moment of your birth is your Moon Sign. It is important to understand that in most cases the Sun Sign and the Moon Sign are different. If you have Aries, for example, for your Sun Sign, your Moon Sign can be Libra, or Sagittarius, or Gemini, or indeed any of the 12 signs, including of course Aries as well.
How to Find Out Your Moon Sign
What’s the Difference Between the Sun Sign and the Moon Sign
Everyone’s personality has two sides: the Yang side and the Yin side, the conscious side and the unconscious side, the active side and the passive side, the day side and the night side.
The Sun is associated in astrology with consciousness, and this is why it is given such an importance, especially in the West. We believe that we control our life consciously; that whatever we have in our mind is the most important thing in the world. The Sun Sign therefore describes quite well the conscious, day side of the person, how one positions him or herself in the world, what he or she wants to achieve, and in which particular way he or she prefers to conquer the world.
On the other hand, the Moon is associated in astrology with the subconscious, intuitive side of personality. The Moon is responsible for our emotions, instincts, memory, and pretty much everything else which goes on automatically, without conscious control. All these aspects of the person’s life are described by the Moon Sign.
The Sun is associated in astrology with consciousness, and this is why it is given such an importance, especially in the West. We believe that we control our life consciously; that whatever we have in our mind is the most important thing in the world. The Sun Sign therefore describes quite well the conscious, day side of the person, how one positions him or herself in the world, what he or she wants to achieve, and in which particular way he or she prefers to conquer the world.
On the other hand, the Moon is associated in astrology with the subconscious, intuitive side of personality. The Moon is responsible for our emotions, instincts, memory, and pretty much everything else which goes on automatically, without conscious control. All these aspects of the person’s life are described by the Moon Sign.
Consciousness vs Subconsciousness
Now, let’s think which part of our daily life is controlled by our consciousness. Say, you woke up in the morning and you are walking to the kitchen, to have your coffee. You probably don’t have much in your consciousness, perhaps some vague thoughts about the day ahead, or maybe an inner dispute on whether to have a full breakfast or just cereals will be enough.
At the same time, your body is very busy. Complex groups of muscles contract and relax in a precise rhythm so that you could walk. Your stomach, in anticipation of breakfast, is already busy preparing a complex mixture of chemicals, which will digest any food you might have. And there is a lot of other extremely complex processes throughout the body: checking numerous important levels and taking measures if something is out of norm, guarding against infection, curing any problems you might have, filling your lungs with fresh air, and so on.
All these numerous complex activities are happening automatically, your consciousness has no idea about them. Indeed, if you tried to control your body consciously, you would immediately collapse: human consciousness is so weak and helpless against the complex machinery of the human body. Only subconsciousness, associated with the Moon, is powerful enough to take care of such a complexity.
Therefore, your Moon Sign can help you to understand how your body works, what it needs, how to properly take care of it, what are its potential weak spots and which natural healing agents will be most appropriate for your body type. Some parts of the body are especially strongly associated with the Moon, such as stomach, or women’s breasts and womb.
The Moon Sign can be clearly visible in the way the person recovers from a significant stress. We used to involve ourselves in stressful situations by acting consciously, and the body has to activate all the vital functions to cope with the problem. But as soon as the crisis is over, and we are probably sitting somewhere in an armchair pretty much absent-minded, the Moon gets the chance to return back to normal, to restore the proper functioning, and this is where you can often clearly see what the person’s Moon Sign is.
Those with their Moon in Gemini feel the need to chat, as if to speak out their recent stress; for a Taurus Moon Sign, eating something tasty will help to calm down, while Moon in Scorpio will prefer some good sex, or a strong drink, or a very hot shower - or maybe all of this together. We’ll discuss the peculiarities of different Moon Signs in the coming chapters.
At the same time, your body is very busy. Complex groups of muscles contract and relax in a precise rhythm so that you could walk. Your stomach, in anticipation of breakfast, is already busy preparing a complex mixture of chemicals, which will digest any food you might have. And there is a lot of other extremely complex processes throughout the body: checking numerous important levels and taking measures if something is out of norm, guarding against infection, curing any problems you might have, filling your lungs with fresh air, and so on.
All these numerous complex activities are happening automatically, your consciousness has no idea about them. Indeed, if you tried to control your body consciously, you would immediately collapse: human consciousness is so weak and helpless against the complex machinery of the human body. Only subconsciousness, associated with the Moon, is powerful enough to take care of such a complexity.
Therefore, your Moon Sign can help you to understand how your body works, what it needs, how to properly take care of it, what are its potential weak spots and which natural healing agents will be most appropriate for your body type. Some parts of the body are especially strongly associated with the Moon, such as stomach, or women’s breasts and womb.
The Moon Sign can be clearly visible in the way the person recovers from a significant stress. We used to involve ourselves in stressful situations by acting consciously, and the body has to activate all the vital functions to cope with the problem. But as soon as the crisis is over, and we are probably sitting somewhere in an armchair pretty much absent-minded, the Moon gets the chance to return back to normal, to restore the proper functioning, and this is where you can often clearly see what the person’s Moon Sign is.
Those with their Moon in Gemini feel the need to chat, as if to speak out their recent stress; for a Taurus Moon Sign, eating something tasty will help to calm down, while Moon in Scorpio will prefer some good sex, or a strong drink, or a very hot shower - or maybe all of this together. We’ll discuss the peculiarities of different Moon Signs in the coming chapters.
Women, Children, Mothers, and Emotions
In astrology, the Moon is also associated with women in general, and with little children, from toddlers and to the age when they become less dependent on their mother.
Because of this, I would say that for women and children it might be more important to know their Moon Sign than their Sun Sign, in order to fully understand their character, potential talents, as well as vulnerabilities.
It doesn’t mean however that the Moon Sign isn’t important for men. The Moon rules our emotions, and if you think of how many of our actions are ultimately driven by emotions, you will understand that the Moon is important for everyone. A man’s Moon Sign shows his attitude to women and children in general, and to his mother in particular. Very often men with the Moon in Cancer, for example, worship their mother, compare to her all the other women in their lives, and and chances are they will choose a partner similar to their mother.
In fact, the Moon is strongly associated with the image of the mother both in case of men and women. For a woman, her Moon Sign can tell what kind of mother she is: maybe she is like a friend to her children, or maybe she is a powerful matriarch type. It will also say a lot about how she sees her own mother; and the Moon Sign of a child will help to understand how he or she sees his or her mother.
Because of this, I would say that for women and children it might be more important to know their Moon Sign than their Sun Sign, in order to fully understand their character, potential talents, as well as vulnerabilities.
It doesn’t mean however that the Moon Sign isn’t important for men. The Moon rules our emotions, and if you think of how many of our actions are ultimately driven by emotions, you will understand that the Moon is important for everyone. A man’s Moon Sign shows his attitude to women and children in general, and to his mother in particular. Very often men with the Moon in Cancer, for example, worship their mother, compare to her all the other women in their lives, and and chances are they will choose a partner similar to their mother.
In fact, the Moon is strongly associated with the image of the mother both in case of men and women. For a woman, her Moon Sign can tell what kind of mother she is: maybe she is like a friend to her children, or maybe she is a powerful matriarch type. It will also say a lot about how she sees her own mother; and the Moon Sign of a child will help to understand how he or she sees his or her mother.
The Spiritual Viewpoint
No matter whether you believe in reincarnation or not, some of the world’s greatest religions teach us that human soul is travelling from one life to another, learning lessons in each life, developing and fine-tuning its abilities, with the ultimate goal to perfect itself and join again with the Absolute.
From this point of view, the Sun is the sparkle of the eternal light, which travels through numerous incarnations. Therefore Sun Sign can help us to understand the person’s ultimate goal, what kind of important lesson he or she is going to learn in this life, and other very important things.
The Moon then is the material shell, which is given to the divine sparkle of the Sun in this specific life. This “shell” can mean many things: the body, the parents who gave birth to the child, the general circumstances of the person’s life, and the whole life in general. So the Moon’s message is more specific, it tells us something we need to know in our daily life, while the Sun’s role is more esoteric.
When doing research for this book, I was often amazed by how aptly different stages of a person’s life were described by the symbolism of his or her Moon Sign. You will see many examples in the next chapters of this book.
From this point of view, the Sun is the sparkle of the eternal light, which travels through numerous incarnations. Therefore Sun Sign can help us to understand the person’s ultimate goal, what kind of important lesson he or she is going to learn in this life, and other very important things.
The Moon then is the material shell, which is given to the divine sparkle of the Sun in this specific life. This “shell” can mean many things: the body, the parents who gave birth to the child, the general circumstances of the person’s life, and the whole life in general. So the Moon’s message is more specific, it tells us something we need to know in our daily life, while the Sun’s role is more esoteric.
When doing research for this book, I was often amazed by how aptly different stages of a person’s life were described by the symbolism of his or her Moon Sign. You will see many examples in the next chapters of this book.
Moon in Signs
Aries Moon
You feel well-being when expressing emotions in a fiery, direct (often impulsive) way. You show love through actions, and needs to stay challenged to be happy.
Taurus Moon
You thrive in situations that feel stable, while being nourished by the rhythm of the day. You have the patience to build things up slowly, and is grounded in the pleasures of the senses.
Gemini Moon
You get a warm feeling from the colorful exchange of ideas, stories, jokes and interesting tidbits. You like to keep moving, and engage with others lightly.
Cancer Moon
You find it natural to share emotions and nurture others at an intimate level. You are sensitive, changeable, imaginative, with an instinctual need to return to home base for nourishment.
Leo Moon
Has a strong need for self-expression and the enthusiastic approval of others. Can be generous, a natural at friendship, playfully childlike, and supportive of the dreams of others.
Virgo Moon
A creature of habits who loves to sort, edit, analyze and keep refining the routine. Has an instinct for purifying the self, and can be a healing force for others.
Libra Moon
You're a lover of all things beautiful and harmonious, with an instinct for creating balance in relationships. You need the mirror of the other, in order to see all the dimensions of who you are.
Scorpio Moon
You're intense emotionality can bring turbulence, but also plunge deep into relationships. You sense the hidden reality of life, and has a sixth sense that goes beyond intuition.
Sagittarius Moon
You're a true adventurer at heart, with the world as home, exploring and learning throughout life. You're nourished by inspiring ideas, curious people, and actively pursuing new experiences.
Capricorn Moon
You find it comforting to work, as part of an innate need to achieve and experience worldly success. You can be deeply private and reluctant to share feelings, but with a reservoir of emotional depth to draw from.
Aquarius Moon
You have an emotional detachment that lends a broad, abstract vision, making them able to see how things are interconnected. You can be self-contained, and solitary, but comes alive in the larger sphere of groups.
Pisces Moon
You often feel a profound lack of boundaries, which makes them vulnerable to all the energies in the environment. You're imaginative, and aware of the subtle ways we're all connected. You're nourished through creativity and the search for a mystical connection to spirit.
You feel well-being when expressing emotions in a fiery, direct (often impulsive) way. You show love through actions, and needs to stay challenged to be happy.
Taurus Moon
You thrive in situations that feel stable, while being nourished by the rhythm of the day. You have the patience to build things up slowly, and is grounded in the pleasures of the senses.
Gemini Moon
You get a warm feeling from the colorful exchange of ideas, stories, jokes and interesting tidbits. You like to keep moving, and engage with others lightly.
Cancer Moon
You find it natural to share emotions and nurture others at an intimate level. You are sensitive, changeable, imaginative, with an instinctual need to return to home base for nourishment.
Leo Moon
Has a strong need for self-expression and the enthusiastic approval of others. Can be generous, a natural at friendship, playfully childlike, and supportive of the dreams of others.
Virgo Moon
A creature of habits who loves to sort, edit, analyze and keep refining the routine. Has an instinct for purifying the self, and can be a healing force for others.
Libra Moon
You're a lover of all things beautiful and harmonious, with an instinct for creating balance in relationships. You need the mirror of the other, in order to see all the dimensions of who you are.
Scorpio Moon
You're intense emotionality can bring turbulence, but also plunge deep into relationships. You sense the hidden reality of life, and has a sixth sense that goes beyond intuition.
Sagittarius Moon
You're a true adventurer at heart, with the world as home, exploring and learning throughout life. You're nourished by inspiring ideas, curious people, and actively pursuing new experiences.
Capricorn Moon
You find it comforting to work, as part of an innate need to achieve and experience worldly success. You can be deeply private and reluctant to share feelings, but with a reservoir of emotional depth to draw from.
Aquarius Moon
You have an emotional detachment that lends a broad, abstract vision, making them able to see how things are interconnected. You can be self-contained, and solitary, but comes alive in the larger sphere of groups.
Pisces Moon
You often feel a profound lack of boundaries, which makes them vulnerable to all the energies in the environment. You're imaginative, and aware of the subtle ways we're all connected. You're nourished through creativity and the search for a mystical connection to spirit.
Are You more Solar or Lunar? Quiz
