"The moon lives in the lining of your skin."
~ Pablo Neruda
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"Crescent Moon at Matsue, Izumo" by Kawase Hasui[/caption]The moon, Earth’s silent partner that night after night illumines the darkness and accompanies us from childhood to old age.The moon as it cycles through phases reminds us of the transitory nature of life; that we are all subject to the cycle that represents life—the continuous, repetitive cycle that allows us the opportunity to try and try again.To get ‘better’ we learn from the past and continue. From Balsamic phase to full moon we contemplate, grow and flourish.The Moon has been written about, referred to and honoured in volumes of literature and poetry. What is it about the Moon that so enchants us? Each individual has their own answer to this question but enchanted we are. And yet what is the moon? A hunk of rock that reflects the light of the Sun.
"The moon is essentially gray, no color. It looks like plaster of Paris, like dirty beach sand with lots of footprints in it."
~ James Lovell (astronaut)
The Sun is independent while the moon is dependent. Just as the new born baby is absolutely dependent on their mother. As we know the initial contact with our mothers, even in utero, has a profound influence on how we develop and move out into the world.
The Moon's Role in Your Personal Astrology
The Moon in the astrology chart represents a very personal journey. The moon is the past. The well from which we draw early impressions, feelings and emotional expression. From inception, connection to mother and emotional development we are guided by the Moon.[caption id="attachment_21255" align="alignright" width="206"]
"Bamboo and the Crescent Moon" by Kotozuka Eiichi[/caption]It harbours our fears and insecurities and also our deepest longings. These insecurities and fears that are generated from the past become the veil through which we experience everything here. Our eye glasses are tinted. We do not see clearly.Without clarity we can become overwhelmed and/or repressed. The way to peace is through understanding and integration of all the emotional content that lies at various levels of acceptance within the human being.The complexity of the Moon in the natal chart is its capacity to remind us of the past while at the same time reflecting to us the pure light of our being in a way that is observable. We cannot look at the Sun directly as it hurts the eyes.We can stare at the moon in its silence and stillness and be grateful for the experience over and over...the love that emerges during nights of being open and observing is the eternal love that fills the universe. All when we look at the moon.
The Moon, Our Deepest Longings
The moon, we can stare at; guides us into our deepest fears, through them, to the purity of Being...to that which remains when the lenses are clear. In other words when the emotional content has been visited, attended to and integrated.When we are shown a clear reflection of our Truth, we cannot help but be enchanted with that; that is the moon.The moon moves us to ask for what we want and need. From day one, the moon, that represents the mother specializes in directing our first experiences of nourish and nurture. The task of the mother. Our earliest relationship with receiving what we need creates years of experiencing the world, other relationships according to this initial connection or lack of.
"Moon represents a deep imprinting, physical and emotional, harboring mysteries a team of psychologists could not itemize or explain. Its reactions are instinctive and spontaneous.
Its boundaries are porous, its core so sensitive, even in our elder years it can receive a cruel remark with the unprotected vulnerability of a child."
~ Liz Greene, cafe astrology
A Deep Well of Knowledge: Lunar Influences in Astrology
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Fading Lamplight of a Pagoda by Uehara Konen (1928)[/caption]The complexity of what the moon experience is, becomes apparent as we take into consideration its sign, house, aspects from other planets and its phase. Were you born during a new moon? Full moon? First quarter moon? Each phase has distinctive qualities.Therefore if we take two people born with moon in Aquarius they will express that Aquarius moon differently depending upon the phase that moon is in when born. If this Moon is in the 3rd house of both people they will have a desire to deliver their message and express their knowledge in a way that occurs in daily life.If one of these people is born during the Balsamic Moon phase (0-45 degrees behind the moon and the other at the 1st quarter Moon phase (90-135 degrees ahead of the Sun) the way they deliver their message will vary.Balsamic Moon people are completing a cycle of experience, finishing up, while 1st quarter moon people are venturing out with a naive confidence. One might choose to deliver their message with anonymity while the other might like to stand on a soap box for all to hear and see. That will be intrinsic to their nature; to some deeply rooted aspect of being.When an astrologer asks for your moon sign they are anticipating the door to your inner world being opened. The moon holds the key to our most intimate longings.When we know the moon sign reams of information is released.Whether it is in a water sign, a fire sign, an earth sign or an air sign...Each element has its own characteristics. In relationship the moon sheds light on a couple’s relative ease and feelings of comfort in each others presence.A moon in Cancer, (water-sensitive, empathic, caring and nurturing, shy and taking time to open up) may not feel comfortable with a partner whose moon is in Sagittarius (fire-adventurous, independent, spontaneous, freedom loving).Of course the moon will figure prominently in synastry. We project our needs and wants onto our partners. We see that the moon is a personal planet that has tremendous power in relationships of a romantic nature and all relationships.It is interesting to observe where the moon is for our lovers and friends and family. Often a pattern will repeat it self. That which you lack may show up in the moon sign of those close to you or may reflect an aspect in your chart that needs to come into balance or may support that area in your chart where you find comfort and ease.This article coincides with the new moon on the 27th of October. This phase is the moon 0-45 degrees ahead of the Sun. The moon is between the Sun and the Earth so that the side we see is in darkness.If one is born at the new moon symbolically speaking you are emerging from the dark. These people, beginning a new cycle, have intention to develop a new aspect of growth whether that be physical, emotional, intellectual or spiritual.
“New moon people are not necessarily new souls. They may be old souls; initiating another round of evolutionary development.”
~ Demetra George, Finding our Way through the Dark
The new moon in Scorpio is an opportunity to set your self on a New Path to realizing a deeper Truth relating to whichever house you find the New Moon in. In general Moon in Scorpio is goal oriented, penetrating and highly intuitive.Example, in the 1st house it aids to increase awareness of where we are in terms of self development; in the 2nd house it would highlight our relationship to self, giving one a deeper sense of personal values and insights into how we experience personal security.In the 12th house new moon in Scorpio might ignite a desire to reach beyond the known and embrace what at other times might be frightening. Exploration of the interior world that propels us into the cosmos and an expanded vision of self.
The Moon XVIII in the Tarot
In the Tarot the Moon XVIII tells us of the inner journey to discover what lies hidden in the dark. Any thing in the shadows presents us with a limitation. Human beings often fear the dark. What is there!?In order to navigate the path to enlightenment we must be willing to travel into the darkness, retrieve what has been hiding there and bring it up and out into the light for integration.The Moon card is indicative of people who have the courage to dive into these depths to bring balance to their own lives and give others the courage to look behind their own closed doors.The territory of the Moon includes our dreams. There is an ease in how what limits us becomes revealed in our dreams. With little effort we become more aware of little truths that guide us toward Truth.Here we listen deeply, learn and grow. We attend to the calling of the eternal voice that woos us, pacifies us and gives us the determination to proceed into uncharted territory no matter what the ‘cost’.
"The moon does not fight. It attacks no one. It does not worry. It does not try to crush others. It keeps to its course, but by its very nature, it gently influences.
What other body could pull an entire ocean from shore to shore? The moon is faithful to its nature and its power is never diminished."
~ Deng Ming-Dao
We stare up at the Moon in darkness or in light. Many thoughts may cross our minds as we sigh at what from here appears so breathtakingly beautiful. Whether silver light, golden, pink or lilac we adore this illumined presence and long time companion; its silent constancy even in its ever changing nature, we come to rely on.Its presence has been a constant throughout human history. Its reach is deep and ever deeper into the human heart. Our attachment to the Moon goes beyond our ability to see. We feel that connection in our lives far beyond any one night. We feel the moon in the roots of our being.
"The moon had been observing the earth close-up longer than anyone. It must have witnessed all of the phenomena occurring--and all of the acts carried out--on this earth.
But the moon remained silent; it told no stories. All it did was embrace the heavy past with a cool, measured detachment.
On the moon there was neither air nor wind. Its vacuum was perfect for preserving memories unscathed…"
~ Haruki Murakami
