Moon in Astrology

Luminary

Water (Cold and Wet)4th House
EmotionInstinctSubconsciousNurturingMemoryMotherFluctuationSecurity

Understanding Moon

If the Sun is the Hero, the Moon is the landscape through which the hero journeys - the memory of where they've been and the emotional vessel that sustains them. It represents the subconscious, the somatic body, and instinctual reactions formed before the dawn of reason.

What Moon Governs

The Moon governs the emotional body and gut instincts. It rules the past, ancestry, and automatic behavioral patterns imprinted during childhood. It is the principle of fluctuation and rhythm, governing the tides of feeling and the cyclical nature of bodily needs.

About Luminarys

The luminaries represent the core polarities of consciousness - the conscious self and the subconscious.

Moon Expression

Positive Expression

A well-integrated Moon manifests as high emotional intelligence, empathy, adaptability, and powerful intuition. The individual is nurturing, protective, and possesses retentive memory. They are in touch with their needs and can care for others without losing themselves - the Great Mother or Caregiver archetype.

Shadow Expression

The lunar shadow is lunacy - irrationality and emotional volatility. It manifests as moodiness, hypersensitivity, clannishness, and smothering behavior. The shadow Moon can be manipulative, using guilt or dependency to control others, trapping the individual in eternal childhood ruled by childish needs.

Moon & Tarot

Primary Correspondence

The High Priestess

The High Priestess (II) sits between the pillars of Solomon's temple, guarding the mysteries of the subconscious. She represents intuition, silence, and inner knowledge that doesn't rely on rational thought - the Moon's domain of the unconscious.

Secondary Correspondence

The Chariot

The Chariot (VII) corresponds to Cancer, ruled by the Moon. It represents the protective shell and the willpower to harness fluctuating emotional forces to create forward momentum.

Body Rulership

In medical astrology, Moon rules the Stomach, breasts, bodily fluids (lymph and mucus), sympathetic nervous system.

Mythology of Moon

The lunar archetype is tripartite, reflecting the Moon's phases: Selene (the celestial moon), Artemis (the crescent/waxing moon, protector of the wild), and Hecate (the dark/waning moon, goddess of magic and crossroads). In Mesopotamia, Sin (Nanna) was supreme, considered the father of the Sun and Venus - time was measured by the Moon before the solar year.

Other Luminarys

Explore Moon in Your Chart

Discover how Moon's energy influences your tarot readings

Moon FAQs

Common questions answered

What does the Moon represent in astrology?

The Moon represents your emotional nature, instincts, and subconscious patterns. It reveals how you process feelings, what makes you feel secure, and the automatic responses developed in childhood.

What tarot card is associated with the Moon?

The High Priestess (II) is the Moon's primary tarot correspondence, representing intuition and the subconscious. The Chariot (VII) is also associated through Cancer, the sign ruled by the Moon.

What zodiac sign does the Moon rule?

The Moon rules Cancer, the Cardinal Water sign. Cancer represents emotional initiation, protection, and the nurturing womb. The Moon is dignified here, expressing its nature of emotional bonding and family devotion.

Can the Moon go retrograde?

No, the Moon never goes retrograde. However, the Void-of-Course Moon (when the Moon makes its last aspect before changing signs) functions similarly - a period when action is often futile and focus should turn to rest.

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