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The moon has captivated humanity for millennia, not just as a celestial body that lights up our night sky, but as a powerful influence in astrology. Its phases and positions are believed to hold sway over our emotions, behaviors, and even our destinies. Understanding the moon’s impact can offer insights into various aspects of our lives, from personal moods to global events. The Importance of the Moon in Astrology In astrology, the moon is more than just Earth’s satellite; it is a symbol of our inner selves. Unlike the sun, which represents our outward personality and ego, the moon governs our emotional landscape and instincts. Here’s a closer look at its significance: Emotional Influences The moon is often associated with emotions, intuition, and the subconscious mind. Its cycles are said to mirror the ebb and flow of our feelings. During a full moon, people may experience heightened emotions and energy, leading to increased creativity or restlessness. Conversely, a new moon is seen as a time for reflection and setting intentions for the future. Connection to Water Astrology suggests that the moon’s gravitational pull affects not just ocean tides but also the “tides” within us. Given that the human body is predominantly water, the moon’s phases are believed to influence our bodily fluids and rhythms. Some people report changes in sleep patterns or energy levels aligning with the lunar cycle. Influence on Behavior Folklore and studies alike hint at the moon affecting human behavior. The term “lunacy” itself stems from the Latin word for moon, “luna,” reflecting the ancient belief that the full moon could induce erratic behavior or even madness. While scientific evidence remains inconclusive, many still track their moods and actions in relation to lunar phases. Astrological Birth Chart In an astrological birth chart, the moon’s placement provides insight into one’s emotional core and maternal influences. It sheds light on how a person processes feelings, interacts with their environment, and seeks comfort. For instance, someone with their moon in Cancer may be nurturing and sensitive, whereas a moon in Sagittarius might indicate a love for adventure and freedom. How the Moon Affects us Spiritually : We are all aware that the moon has phases, but we may not be aware of how these phases affect many aspects of our lives. The moon has a 29 1/2-day cycle, during which it goes through four major phases: new moon, first quarter moon, full moon, and last quarter moon. In each of these phases, the shape of the moon that is visible to us is affected by the moon’s angle to the sun. The moon grows in light at the new moon until it becomes a full moon. Then the moon decreases in light until it becomes the next new moon. The moon travels about one degree every two hours. As it moves through its phases, it also moves through the signs, spending about two and a half days in each sign. Most of us know that the moon affects the tides. But it also affects all liquids on earth, including our bodily fluids. We tend to retain more water during a full moon and, because our skull is unable to expand when fluid pressure increases, the excess water is sometimes manifested in “full moon madness.” In addition, one of our three primary biorhythmic cycles, our 29-day emotional cycle, is a based on the moon. Lunar observations, occurring over thousands of years, have shown that the phases of the moon have a profound affect on our lives. Your lunar high occurs when the moon is in the same sign as your sun sign. This is when you feel your best, and it is a good time to start new projects. Your lunar low occurs when the moon is in the sign opposite your sun sign. This is when you may feel at your lowest, and it is best not to make decisions. In addition, you may run into obstacles in projects in which you are already involved. We will truly be more in tune with the universe if we understand what the phases of the moon mean for us. The new moon begins in darkness and slowly emerges as a crescent shape. This moon is the beginning of everything, and it is a good time to begin new endeavors or to put your plans in motion. The first quarter moon is also known as the half moon because this is how we see it. During this moon phase, there is a lot going on, and this is when you may encounter obstacles or challenges to what you began in the new moon. However, if these challenges are met, then this phase will see your endeavors through to completion. A full moon occurs when the moon is exactly opposite to the sun. This is a moon of high energy, the highest peak before it begins to wane. During this phase, your activities are brought to fruition and you will see the results of your efforts. Even if things have not gone well, during this phase, you will suddenly see clearly what was wrong. The last quarter moon is the midpoint of the moon’s waning phase. This phase marks a time to retreat. This time should be used to assess, diagnose, learn from your mistakes, make corrections, wind down, and prepare for the next cycle. This is most true during the moon’s dark night, known as a balsamic moon, which occurs right before the moon begins its cycle anew. During a balsamic moon, psychic energy is at its peak. Another very important phase is the void of course moon, one whose energy is spent. This is a moon that has made its last major aspect to the other planets until it moves into the next sign. This is a period when it is best not to begin anything. A void of course moon is a time of gestation, when one should engage in rest and research. If decisions are made at this time,

In astrology, the term “Ascendant” refers to the sign that was ascending on the eastern horizon at the exact moment of one’s birth. This is also known as the “Rising Sign.” Unlike the Sun sign, which is determined by one’s date of birth, the Ascendant is highly specific to the exact time and location of birth, making it a unique component of an individual’s astrological profile. Sun signs are only the beginning of astrology and provide only general information. To understand your birth chart, you need an in-depth understanding of ascendants, planets, and houses. Your ascendant, or rising sign, is the sign that was rising over the horizon at the moment you were born. During a 24-hour period, each of the 12 signs rises over the horizon. Thus, each sign rises over the horizon for approximately two hours each day. In addition, whichever sign the sun is, when it rises, will be the rising sign for that day. The ascendant is considered both the image that is presented to the outside world and the way you express yourself, which includes your needs, personality traits, and physical characteristics. Your sun sign and ascendant are usually different. This is why your ascendant is experienced as a “mask;” it hides your true self, your sun sign. The ascendant also represents the person you are becoming. It indicates the traits and skills you are learning to develop over the course of your lifetime. Your ascendant may be more obvious to others than to yourself and may be revealed in your clothing or hairstyle. How the Ascendant Fits Into Astrology The Ascendant is considered one of the “Big Three” in astrology—the trio of key components that include the Sun sign, Moon sign, and Ascendant. While the Sun sign represents core identity and ego, and the Moon sign reflects emotional nature, the Ascendant embodies how a person appears to others, their outward demeanor, and their first impressions on the world. Influence on the Horoscope In a natal horoscope or birth chart, the Ascendant serves as the starting point for the chart, setting the framework for the house system used in Western astrology. It can influence personality traits and even physical appearance, offering insights into how individuals present themselves and how they are perceived by others. Connection with Zodiac Every individual’s Ascendant corresponds to one of the twelve zodiac signs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, etc.), each adding its unique flavor to the personality. For instance, someone with Leo rising might come across as confident and charismatic, even if their Sun sign is more introverted. Understanding one’s Ascendant, alongside other astrological elements like the Sun and Moon signs, can provide a deeper, more nuanced understanding of both personal identity and interpersonal dynamics. Planets in Astrology : The planets are celestial bodies that move through the zodiac in predictable ways. In astrology, the sun and the moon are considered planets because, from the earth’s vantage point, they also move across the sky. Thus, in astrology, there are ten planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, as well as the sun and the moon. Each planet has a symbolic “glyph” on the chart those represent the various energies of a person, including intelligence, emotionality, consciousness and unconsciousness, soul, will, vitality, and desires. There are three types of planets: personal, social, and transpersonal. The personal planets include the sun, the moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars; the social planets include Jupiter and Saturn; and the transpersonal planets include Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The moon, as a planet, has the special property of nodes. The nodes represent moving points that relate to the moon’s orbit around the earth. In astrology, the south node represents the legacy of your past, while the north node represents your potential for growth and for what lies in the future. Each planet rules one or more of the signs, meaning that the planet is in charge of that sign. In addition, certain planets and certain signs share certain characteristics. Some people have a number of planets aside from their sun in the same sign, but in a sign other than their sun sign. Such people will show strong characteristics of that different sign. Other people may have a lot of planets in a certain area of their chart. As such, they may expend a great deal of energy in that particular area of their life. In horoscope charts, houses are the places where everything in your life occurs. Each house occupies a place in relation to the horizon at the time you were born. Below the horizon are the areas which are invisible but, nevertheless, important. In the houses below the horizon is your personal development, which includes such areas as your personality, knowledge, creativity, health, resources, and responsibilities. Above the horizon are the areas which are visible. These areas represent your development in the world and include goals, social concerns, relationships, shared resources and, interestingly, your unconscious. Planets, moving about the signs, appear in houses. The planets show how you do what you do in certain areas of your life. In addition, certain planets and signs also are associated with certain houses. Another concept associated with houses is cusps. Cusps are the beginning of each house, and cusps separate the houses from each other. Overall, the most important information about you starts with which house and sign a planet are in. Who you are is defined by your unique combination of planets, signs, and houses.

The planets can be thought of as the actors within a person. As with all actors in real life, these actors develop over time in the use of their energies.

Astrology is an ancient practice that explores the relationship between the positions and movements of celestial bodies—such as stars and planets—and events on Earth, particularly in human life. It’s a symbolic language that uses the cosmos to interpret human experiences, behaviors, and potential future outcomes. Meaning of Astrology is that it is the study of the affect of all known planets and some stars on lives of human being. There’s a belief that the position of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and alternative stars throughout a person’s birth is incredibly crucial. Some individuals believe these cosmic objects outline someone’s temperament, their romantic relations, and predict their economic success. Astrology is a several thousand year old practice which has evolved and branched out in a variety of forms including Vedic, Western, Ancient, and Hellenistic. At its foundation is a consistent observation that there is a correlation between the unique energies present within a person and the location of the “planets” relative to the background constellations as well as to their positions relative to the earth. An often used phrase in astrology is “as above, so below.” Each person is born with a unique set of energies. Throughout a person’s life, they have free will on how to use their energies – sometimes in ways that are not helpful and at other times in ways that are helpful. Each person, throughout their life evolves in the use of their energies leading to maturity and greater effectiveness. When a person understands their unique energies and how to use them more effectively, growth accelerates. Historical Perspective Astrology dates back thousands of years, with roots in ancient civilizations like the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Greeks. It has been used as a tool for understanding the universe and one’s place within it, serving both as a form of divination and a philosophical framework. Core Components Like many other practices such as acupuncture and fengshui, science has so far been unable to definitively measure the mechanism behind astrology. Coming from a deep scientific background (rocket science), I have come to recognize and respect that practices don’t suddenly start working the moment science can explain it. They have been working all along. Science has a long history of explaining why things, previously not understood, work the way they do. I believe that astrology, because it has been successfully practiced for thousands of years, fits into the category that is valid and also unable to be understood by our current scientific capabilities. Given my personal experience with astrology, I have no doubt that it works, and works really well. The discussion below is specifically focused on Western astrology which has its roots in Hellenistic and Ancient astrology. There are numerous uses for astrology including natal (birth), transit, progressions, horary, financial, compatibility, composite, and electoral. In this tutorial, I will only cover two uses which are the most widely applied today. One is the natal (birth) chart and the other is the transit chart. What is a birth chart in Astrology? The natal chart, often referred to as the birth chart, is a depiction of the location of the planets at the exact time and location of a person’s birth. The natal chart shows where the planets are from the perspective of the earth (represented by the houses) and also includes the effect of the background constellations (represented by the signs of the zodiac). There are many types of Birth chart prepared by Astrologers mainly Janam Kundli in vedic astrology and Horoscope in western astrology. Vedic Astrology is based on moon sign and western astrology chart in based on Sun sign,