Working Through the Moon in the Natal Chart

The Moon is responsible for mental and physical health, emotional balance, and peace of mind. It also influences a woman’s experience of her role as wife and mother, and a man’s relationships with family and his mother. Ranking second only to the Sun in its impact on the native, the Moon opens the door to the inner world and soul. Knowing which House and sign the Moon occupies allows one to understand the native’s behavior and motivation.

When the Moon is weak or afflicted, perception of the world becomes distorted; the native swings from emotional highs to deep depressions, feels surrounded by enemies, and any minor issue can spark conflict. Insecurity, sensitivity, and health problems can be worked through with astrological methods by strengthening the Moon.

The Moon’s Significance in a Person’s Life

As the second most important planet, the Moon governs the tides of water, and thus our psyche, blood circulation, lymphatic system, and digestion are directly linked to it. An inharmonious Moon triggers metabolic disorders, accumulation of fat, and emotional outbursts, and it has a much stronger effect on women than on men.

In a woman’s natal chart, the Moon shows:

• the fate of the women in her lineage, their main challenges, relationships with men, and karmic lessons;
• women’s health, fertility, and the ability to bear children;
• the nature of her relationship with her child, and what kind of mother she will be;
• type of appearance and figure, sensuality, empathy, and intuition.

In a man’s natal chart:

• the portrait of his mother and wife, the dynamics and scenarios of those relationships; the sign and ruler of the House will indicate the kind of spouse he desires;
• his attitude toward marriage, children, mental and physical health;
• his ability to keep secrets, loyalty, domestic skills, and level of emotionality and romanticism.

A weak Moon hinders happy marriage and self-expression in society, but it is easier to strengthen than a Moon afflicted by squares and oppositions.

The Strength and Weakness of the Moon in the Natal Chart

The Moon is most harmonious in Cancer and Taurus, especially when supported by trines and sextiles from benefic planets such as Venus, Jupiter, or Mercury. Its fall and detriment occur in Capricorn and Scorpio. The Moon also faces challenges in Aries and Virgo, but all these positions can be worked through by engaging the principles of the signs and the House rulers. It is much more difficult when the Moon:

• is placed in the Sixth, Eighth, or Twelfth House;
• is combust or afflicted by a malefic aspect from a difficult planet;
• is conjunct a karmic node, Saturn, or a hostile fixed star;
• has no aspects with any benefic planet.

The Moon’s placement easily reveals the native’s temperament, food preferences, rest and relaxation methods, the strength of parental instinct, and, most importantly, which area of life provides the most energy for renewal. For the Moon in Aries, this is sports or business competition; in Pisces—music, theater, painting; in Taurus—home, financial stability, family; in Capricorn—stability in career and household management.

Signs of a Weak Moon in a Person’s Life

Almost all renowned artists, actors, and psychotherapists had a weak or afflicted Moon in their charts. The intensity of emotions, psychological issues, sensitivity, and resentment often led them to seek healing by working through lunar principles.

It is time to address this urgently if you are experiencing:

• sharp, inexplicable mood swings from joy to anger, hyperactivity to apathy and indifference;
• neurotic reactions to anticipated negative scenarios, when nothing has happened yet, but the body shakes with fear;
• touchiness, tearfulness, a desire to provoke or hurt loved ones to draw energy from them;
• inadequate irritation at childish behavior: noise, activity, loud laughter;
• relationship problems: either the partner or the native is emotionally cold, arrogant, inclined to devalue, humiliate, or assert themselves at another’s expense;
• difficulties with conception or pregnancy, gynecological issues (uterus, ovaries, breasts), unwillingness to manage the household, cook, or care for family (for women);
• problems with the mother, dissatisfaction with the wife even if she is wonderful, hormonal imbalance, infertility, or an inability to understand relationships with the opposite sex (for men);
• lack of intuition or connection to the subtle world;
• violating others’ personal boundaries, expecting to be cared for, or being overly intrusive;
• poor sleep, emotional eating (especially fatty and sweet foods), tantrums.

All obsessive states—mania, jealousy, fears, addictions, inability to express feelings, chronic fatigue, and obesity—are triggered by a weak or afflicted Moon. Therefore, after working through the Sun, it is essential to work through the Moon as well.

Working Through the Moon Without Aspects

The key is to consciously express the qualities of the Moon in the spheres of the House where it is placed and which it rules. This means developing emotionality, sensitivity, and intuition in decision-making, and allowing oneself to experience and express feelings in the matters of that House and sign. For example, if the Moon is in the Eighth House, strong emotional reactions in sex and business partnership are needed, as well as following intuition in business matters, consulting an astrologer when choosing a spouse or financial strategy.

An unaspected Moon in isolation often points to cold relations with the mother in childhood or her absence from the child’s life. The native may not have learned social adaptation, making it difficult to form or maintain friendships and professional connections. Compensation is sought through interaction with elderly women, professions related to children, women’s health, beauty, or psychology. It is important to understand and forgive the mother. The native should take the first step in making acquaintances but not impose themselves. Ongoing emotional self-control, working through shyness, guilt, resentment, and family patterns with a psychologist is necessary.

Working Through the Moon with Practical Actions

Since the Moon rules fluids, any water-based practices help relieve nervous tension. If there are negative aspects with Neptune, it is vital to learn to swim—to harmonize both planets by immersion in the sea or river element, without risk to life. Prayers, the study of psychology, herbal medicine, energy practices, dance, acting, and avoiding low-vibration foods (meat, fish) are also beneficial.

Other actions for supporting a harmonious Moon:

• drinking pure water and walking near bodies of water;
• singing every day, either professionally or just for oneself, children, or parents;
• caring for one’s mother and elderly women: shopping for them, cooking, comforting, listening, giving advice, accompanying them to doctors;
• nurturing children: feeding, healing, playing, teaching;
• cleaning the home and garden with pleasure, decluttering, energizing the space through special practices, decorating, and growing plants;
• following a lunar calendar routine, getting at least 8 hours of quality sleep by going to bed before 11 PM, waking up early;
• visiting massage parlors and enjoying spa treatments;
• meditating in solitude;
• watching family comedies and romantic movies;
• communicating with the opposite sex, light flirting for mutual enjoyment;
• freeing the mind from mental noise through forgiveness and spiritual growth.

The main goal in working through an afflicted Moon is to move from a victim mindset to that of a creator of one’s own destiny, to let go of destructive negative emotions, loneliness, and resentment. If there are negative aspects with other planets, both participants in the aspect must be worked through, finding their points of contact.

For example, with a Moon–Neptune aspect, ideal choices include separating from the mother’s influence, engaging in religious practice, acting in theater, blogging, editing and sharing videos featuring oneself, teaching children acting, or participating in charity concerts.  ✓