Lilith in Astrology: The Black Moon, Three Objects and the Myth

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Lilith in astrology: what are we talking about?

When people say "Lilith" in astrology, you first have to ask which one. The word covers at least three different astronomical objects, which should not be confused, plus a figure from mythology. A natal chart may therefore display three different positions for "Lilith" depending on the software or the astrologer. This ambiguity is the first thing to know.

Object	What it is	Real existence
Mean Black Moon (the most common)	Average direction of the Moon's apogee, that is, of the point farthest from the Earth on its orbit	A calculated point, not a celestial body
True (or osculating) Black Moon	The same idea, but calculated at each instant, with differences of several degrees from the mean	A calculated point, not a celestial body
Asteroid 1181 Lilith	A small body of the solar system, discovered in 1927	Exists; its name may not come from the myth (see below)
Hypothetical moon of 1898	A second dark moon of the Earth, announced by Georg Waltemath	Has never been confirmed

In practice, most French astrologers mean the mean Black Moon when they say Lilith.

The astronomical reference: the Moon's apogee

The Moon's orbit is an ellipse: the Earth-Moon distance varies from about 357,000 to 407,000 kilometres. The farthest point is the apogee. This ellipse has two foci: the Earth occupies one, and the other is an empty point. Seen from Earth, this empty focus and the apogee lie in the same direction, which led to calling it the Black Moon, like a second invisible body.

This direction moves around the zodiac in about 8 years and 10 months (precession of the apsides), in the direction of the signs: the mean Black Moon therefore stays about nine months in each sign. The true Black Moon oscillates on either side of the mean, under the attraction of the Sun, and the values given by software vary.

Waltemath, Sepharial and the moon that did not exist

In 1898, the Hamburg amateur astronomer Georg Waltemath announced he had discovered one or more moons of the Earth. No one could observe them, and the scientific community rejected the claim. In 1918, the British astrologer Sepharial (Walter Gorn Old) took up the idea, named it "Lilith" after the Jewish legend and published tables of positions. In the 1930s, other authors proposed replacing this elusive body with the Moon's apogee. In France, the book by Joëlle de Gravelaine, Lilith, la lune noire (1985), contributed greatly to spreading the term.

Asteroid 1181 Lilith: a namesake

Asteroid 1181 Lilith was discovered in Algiers on 11 February 1927 by the astronomer Benjamin Jekhowsky. According to the sources consulted, it was named after the composer Lili Boulanger, not after the mythical figure. Some astrologers nonetheless use it with the symbolic meaning of Lilith. It is an example of how astrology reuses names.

The figure of Lilith: what the texts say

The Lilith of myth is an ancient and varied figure, not to be confused with the astrological point.

• Mesopotamia: female spirits called lilītu appear in incantations; they are linked to wind, night and the dangers of childbirth.
• Hebrew Bible: the word lilit appears only once, in Isaiah 34:14, among the creatures of a desolate place. Its translation varies.
• Late Jewish tradition: the Talmud mentions a demoness with long hair. A medieval text, the Alphabet of Ben Sira (dated roughly between the 8th and 10th centuries; the dating is debated), tells how Lilith, said to be Adam's first wife, refused to obey him and fled. This story is a popular tale, not a central teaching of Judaism.
• 20th century: feminist movements made Lilith a symbol of independence and of refusing submission.

Each community has its own relationship to these stories. It is best to present them with respect.

What astrologers read into it

Lilith is read as the untamed side of the chart: what resists convention, suppressed anger, desires set aside, the part one hides in order to be accepted. It is also described as a point of strength and independence. Readings depend on the school. Astrologers look at the sign (the manner in which this refusal is expressed) and the house (the area concerned).

• Taboos and repressed parts: what we do not easily say.
• Independence: not wanting to bend to everything.
• Anger and wounding: sometimes associated with a feeling of exclusion.
• Sensuality and personal power: frequent keywords in recent books.

These images serve to reflect on oneself. They do not speak of a "bad" influence: the notion of a "malefic Black Moon" belongs to superstition and can stigmatise people, especially women.

Why positions differ from one program to another

If your chart gives several positions for Lilith, first check which object is being used (mean, true, asteroid). The gaps between the mean and the true position can reach several degrees, enough to change sign. There is no universal convention, which is one more reason to read Lilith with caution.

Nuanced wording

Avoid	More nuanced
"Lilith in Scorpio makes you a dangerous person."	"Some astrologers see in it an emotional intensity that is worth learning to tame."
"The Black Moon brings misfortune."	"It is a calculated point, which has no physical effect."
"Your Lilith is in house 7: relationships will fail you."	"The house indicates an area where one can reflect on one's need for independence."

Questions for reflection

1. What do I not dare to say, and to whom?
2. In which situations have I felt excluded or pressed to conform?
3. Which part of me would I like to accept rather than hide?
4. How can I express my independence without hurting others?

To go further

Astrology is a symbolic tradition with no scientific validation: these readings are aids to reflection, never predictions, and they do not replace a full chart. If anger or suffering overwhelms you, speak to a professional; in case of distress, in France the 3114 helpline can be reached at any time (112 is the emergency number across the European Union). See also the lunar nodes, the Moon in astrology and the black moon and the blue moon (in the astronomical sense).

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The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to In-depth astrology.