The Moon in Astrology: Lunar Sign, Emotions and Symbolism

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In astrology, the Moon symbolises emotions, habits and the need for security. Astronomical facts, myths, lunar sign, its rhythm through the zodiac and the limits of this reading.

Key points

Astronomical nature	Natural satellite of the Earth (neither a planet nor a star)
Average distance from Earth	About 384,400 kilometres
Orbit around the Earth	27.3 days (circuit of the zodiac); 29.5 days from one new moon to the next
Time spent in one sign	About two and a quarter days
Sign of rulership	Cancer
Exaltation (tradition)	Taurus
Symbolic keywords	Emotions, habits, memory, need for security, home

The Moon in the sky

The Moon is the natural satellite of the Earth. On average it lies 384,400 kilometres away. It goes once around the zodiac in about 27.3 days (this is the so-called sidereal revolution), but it takes 29.5 days to return to the same phase relative to the Sun (from one new moon to the next): this second cycle is called the lunation, or synodic revolution, and it is the one that sets our months.

It is the fastest body in the chart: it advances about 13 degrees a day and crosses a sign in a little over two days. It always shows the same face to the Earth, because its rotation on its own axis lasts exactly as long as its revolution. To understand the phases, see our pages on the new moon and the full moon.

Myths and lunar symbols

The Moon has given rise to countless stories. The Greeks spoke of Selene (the personified Moon) and linked her with Artemis, goddess of the hunt; in Rome she was called Luna and was also associated with Diana. Other cultures see a male god, a rabbit, or a ruler of time in her: this is one reason why serious astrologers remind us that what is attributed to the Moon is a symbol, not a fact.

The Moon's cycle, which waxes, wanes, disappears and returns, served as the basis of very ancient calendars, hence the idea of a body of rhythm, of the passing of time and of memory. The words "moon" and "month" moreover share a common Indo-European root.

What the Moon symbolises in astrology

In tradition, the Moon represents the inner life: emotions, habits, spontaneous reactions, memory, instinct, the need for security, childhood and home. Astrologers associate it with the figure of the mother or of the person who cares, and with daily rhythms. In modern readings, it is given the questions "what do I need to feel good?" and "how do I react?".

In contrast with the Sun, which is turned towards conscious identity and will, the Moon is presented as the more changeable and more intimate part. This opposition is a convenient scheme, which some astrologers find too simple.

Rulership and exaltation: the signs linked to the Moon

Situation	Sign	Symbolic idea
Rulership (ancient and modern)	Cancer	A cardinal water sign, associated with home and protection.
Exile (or detriment)	Capricorn	Opposite sign: more reserved and more structured.
Exaltation (tradition)	Taurus	Often placed around the 3rd degree of Taurus, a sign of stability.
Fall	Scorpio	The sign opposite the exaltation.

These four notions come from ancient astrology. For the portrait of the sign itself, see Cancer.

The lunar sign: why it needs the time of birth

The lunar sign is the sign in which the Moon was at birth. As it changes sign roughly every two days, the date alone is not always enough: nearly one day in two, the Moon changes sign during the day, and in that case the time of birth is needed to decide. A software program or an ephemeris is required to determine it.

For many astrologers today, the lunar sign is added to the solar sign and the ascendant to form a kind of basic trio: the "who I am", the "what I need" and the "way I present myself". This is a convention of modern astrology, more than an ancient rule.

Lunar nodes, in brief

Astrologers also speak of lunar nodes. These are the two points where the Moon's orbit crosses the plane of the ecliptic, where the Sun appears to pass. They are not bodies: they are calculated points. Eclipses occur only when the Moon is close to a node. The nodes slowly move backwards through the zodiac and complete a full circuit in about 18.6 years. Their interpretation (crossroads of destiny, direction of life) varies greatly from one author to another.

What this reading is worth

The astrological Moon is a tool for reflection on emotions and habits. Two things must be kept apart: the real influence of the Moon on the tides, which is well established, and its supposed effect on character or health, which has not been demonstrated. Studies on sleep or births yield slight and contradictory results: see our guide to the Moon. Consider the lunar sign as an invitation to ask yourself questions, not as a verdict.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Moon a planet?

No, it is a satellite of the Earth. Astrologers call it a "planet" in the ancient sense of wandering body, and group it with the Sun among the luminaries.

How can I find out my lunar sign?

With your date of birth, preferably also the time and place, using birth chart software or an ephemeris. The Moon changes sign about every two days.

Why does the Moon change sign so quickly?

Because it goes round the Earth in 27.3 days, that is about 13 degrees a day, so a little more than two days per 30-degree sign.

Does the Moon really influence our mood?

No serious study has established a solid link between the phases of the Moon and mood, sleep or births. Its effect on the tides, however, is perfectly established.

What is the difference between the lunation and the sidereal revolution?

The sidereal revolution (27.3 days) is the Moon's circuit against the stars. The lunation (29.5 days) is the time between two new moons, slightly longer because the Earth also advances in its orbit.