Healing, personal growth, and emotional well-being are big topics. If you’re reading this, you likely want more of them. To get more of them, you’ve got to face the most intimate parts of yourself. When it comes to astrology, the Moon is arguably the most personal symbol in the birth chart. Because it’s so personal, working with it has immediate effects on your body, mind, and soul.
As an astrologer, I know how complicated astrology can be, but you don’t have to understand everything (or even a fraction) to get something from it. I love the Moon so much I wrote a book on it, Astrology by Moonlight! In this article, I guide you through the Moon Signs.
What’s the Moon in Astrology?
First of all, all the planets and bodies in your birth chart represent different aspects of you. The Moon represents your emotional nature and emotional coping skills, your habits, how you comfort and self-soothe, your natural rhythms and cycles, how you nurture (yourself and others), what feeds you and how you feed, your mystery, and your heart and soul. The Moon in you is instinctual and reactive. It remembers how past experiences and people “made” you feel and wants to protect you from that discomfort now. Some say we go back to the Moon between lives and that it holds our memory of all times. The tricky thing about Moon memory is that it’s emotional memory – it’s not rational and factual. The Moon doesn’t need things to make sense, it just wants what it wants. It’s intimately connected with our inner child and our inner world or lunar landscape. Remember that the Moon is the light in the dark. I also like to think of it as our “ok meter,” because in each moment, it lets us know if we feel ok about the environment, the company, what we’re doing, and the energy or vibe.
To quote from Astrology by Moonlight:
“The Moon influences all of us, whether or not we pay any attention to astrology. The Moon is the closest astronomical body to Earth, and its gravity causes ocean tides and stabilizes our planet’s axial tilt. Without the Moon, Earth would spin on its side, significantly changing our climate and seasons. In many ways, the Moon holds us in our current state of reality – not to mention it lights our nights and is our literal stepping stone to the rest of this universe.”
About Moon Signs
The sign the Moon was in when you were born (your Moon Sign), shows the nature of your Moon energy. Think about the “ok meter” I mentioned earlier. A Moon in Leo will have a very different measure of “I’m ok” than a Moon in Pisces. Each sign has its own qualities and motivations. When you honor and work with yours, you can learn how to be “ok” in almost any situation. You can also consciously choose to love and feed your Moon by doing things associated with your Moon Sign. We all have emotions, but how we process, express, and respond to emotion varies. Your Moon Sign reveals more about your style, needs, and tendencies when it comes to emotions. If inner child work is calling to you, the Moon is a doorway to that healing. Your Moon Sign shows, in part, how you experienced your earliest caretaker(s) – what we’d traditionally call “mothering.” It’s also the key to what you need to give yourself to feel full, understood, and loved. There’s so much more to explore with the Moon, but this will get you started.
Ways to Love Your Moon Sign
If you don’t know your Moon Sign, you can run a free birth chart online and find it. Check out www.astro.com.
Aries Moon ♈️
Give yourself freedom and time to do what you want, on your own agenda. You need to show your courage, so be willing to go for it and make the first move. And move your body – physical exercise is important for all fire signs, but especially for Aries. Healthy competition is a win-win. Some of the best ways you nurture yourself and others are by motivating action and being a champion for independence.
Taurus Moon ♉️
Take time to get grounded, chill out, and find peace. You need to restore your equilibrium, especially if things get too intense or dramatic. Stability and security are important to you, so take the steps to create them for yourself. And be loyal to your true values. Some of the best ways you nurture yourself and others are by creating physical and aesthetic beauty, ease, and comfort.
Gemini Moon ♊️
Never stop learning! You need to keep your mind alive and active. When you feel off, reading or looking into something interesting can help. Communication is also key, especially when it comes to processing your feelings. Let yourself talk it out, with or without someone to listen, or write it down. Some of the best ways you nurture yourself and others are with open-mindedness and new perspectives.
Cancer Moon ♋️
Take care of yourself first – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. You need rest, time alone to explore your inner world, and to feel safe at home. Staying in is healing for you, including time in bed, along with sentimental connections to the past. And trust your hunches. Some of the best ways you nurture yourself and others are with empathy and a deep understanding of human vulnerability (and maybe some good food).
Leo Moon ♌️
Be passionate about something. You need to express yourself creatively, from the heart. You’ll feel best when you make time to do your thing – even if it’s just 5 minutes at the end of the day. Leo is the Queen, so treat yourself that way. And play, because when you’re having fun, it’s medicine for everything you touch. Some of the best ways you nurture yourself and others are by giving attention and encouragement to shine.
Virgo Moon ♍️
Devote yourself to something with clear intention. You need to improve yourself and the life around you. It’s easy to get busy with all kinds of work, but you’ll feel best dropping most of that stuff to focus on what’s worth the effort. And you may have a special bond with herbs, plants, or animals. Some of the best ways you nurture yourself and others are with acts of service, fixing things and making them better, and being patient with the process.
Libra Moon ♎️
Spend time with a friend or loved one. You need connection and to feel yourself as a “we.” When you’re down and out, even a phone call can lift you up. Beauty is healing for you, so seek it out. Too much conflict isn’t good for your constitution, just don’t over compromise to keep the (false) peace. Some of the best ways you nurture yourself and others are by seeing both sides and offering sincere compliments.
Scorpio Moon ♏️
Feel all your feelings, up and down and all around. You need to dig deep and get to the truth. Your emotions are intense and so are your desires. It’s OK. You are not too much. Share your secrets with someone you can trust and receive theirs in return. Some of the best ways you nurture yourself and others are with a natural understanding of psychology and the ability to confront almost anything.
Sagittarius Moon ♐️
Get excited about something and go for it! You need the freedom to explore and to find meaning in what you do. Whether it’s metaphysics, travel, or the outdoors – journey into unknown territory. Boredom and predictability can make you miserable, so make it your mission to change the game. Some of the best ways you nurture yourself and others are with confidence, optimism, and natural excitement for life.
Capricorn Moon ♑️
Take responsibility for your destiny and get in the driver’s seat. You need to earn your own respect, so step up when it’s your time. If you drop the ball and procrastinate, you’ll suffer. Either take it off your list or make it happen. Knowing your limits is also important. Take a break before you break down. Some of the best ways you nurture yourself and others are with practical wisdom and by keeping things stable and safe.
Aquarius Moon ♒️
Let yourself be authentic. You need to make your own rules and think beyond the status quo. Emotionally, some space is healthy, so ask for it when you need it. Just because you’re not super sensitive doesn’t mean you don’t have feelings. Show you care the way that’s natural to you. Some of the best ways you nurture yourself and others are by celebrating differences and standing up for change.
Pisces Moon ♓️
Find your sanctuary. You need time alone to escape the energy around you. Art, music, nature, or spirituality can all take you away and also connect you with something greater. Inspiration, imagination, and dreams call your name. You’re compelled to help others, just don’t lose yourself in the process. Some of the best ways you nurture yourself and others are with compassion, acceptance, and forgiveness.
In Closing
I leave it to Rumi, who so often, in my opinion, says it best.
“If you want the moon,
do not hide from the night.
If you want a rose,
do not run from the thorns.
If you want love,
do not hide from yourself.”
