Mapping the Moon: Translate the Skies to the Birth Chart
In this more “technical” astrology topic, I’ll be diving into how the “Astronomy” of the Moon translates into the “Astrology” of it all in your birth chart!
How New and Full Moons work in Astronomy
From a planetary sense of what we see and can observe from Earth, we see our Moon go through the 8 phases of the moon:
New Moon
Waxing Crescent
First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
Third/Last Quarter
Waning Crescent —> back to New Moon
Focusing on just the New Moon and Full Moon phases:
The New Moon is when the Moon is in between the Sun and Earth
The Full Moon is when the Earth is in between the Sun and the Moon
How New and Full Moons work in Astrology
Using astrology can help us “place” or map these new and full moons when they happen. So Astronomy and Astrology work more in alignment than you think!
Again looking at just the just the New Moon and Full Moon phases:
The New Moon is always in the same sign as the Sun because from Earth they are in the same relative “position” because the Sun is casting a shadow behind the moon to create this “blackout” effect.
The Full Moon is always in the opposite sign as the Sun because from Earth, the Sun’s light can be fully reflected by the Moon in this opposition. Imagine that flashlight demo from elementary school, unless there is an eclipse where the Earth’s shadow is affecting the light of the moon, the moon is full and bright because of the Sun’s light shining from the opposite side of Earth.
I know it’s a lot of words and I’m a super visual person so here are some graphics mapping the constellations / zodiac sign with the Sun and Moon and the birth chart translation to show this…
The New Moon is when the Moon is in between the Sun and Earth.
An exact New Moon is when the Sun and Moon are in the same sign AND degree. A degree is a more specific granular metric for how “far” a planet is into a sign. This number is between 0 - 29. (12 zodiac signs, 30 degrees * 12 signs = 360 degrees to create the full zodiac wheel)
But for a more basic understanding, the general concept that we are in a new moon period when the Sun and Moon are in the same sign still applies.
The New Moon is always in the same sign as the Sun because from Earth they are in the same relative “position”.
Here in the birth chart you can see the Sun and Moon placements are both in Sagittarius. This person was born exactly on the New Moon because both the Sun and Moon are at 18 degrees.
Someone born just before the new moon may have their Moon at 15 degrees, or anything in the sign of Sagittarius less than 18 degrees.
Someone born just after the new moon may have their moon at 22 degrees, or anything in the sign of Sagittarius between 19 - 29 degrees. (There are only 0-29 degrees in a sign).
The Full Moon is when the Earth is in between the Sun and the Moon.
99% of the time they’re in opposite signs, sometimes if the Sun or moon is on the cusp (aka early/late degrees) of a new sign then it might be “slightly” off.
For example Sun in late degrees Sagittarius may have a Full Moon in early degrees Cancer (instead of Gemini), the time zone you’re in may impact this too.
Below are all the signs and their opposite pairing. You can also see this in the birth chart as well and find what sign is directly across from another.
Aries - Libra
Taurus - Scorpio
Gemini - Sagittarius
Cancer - Capricorn
Leo - Aquarius
Virgo - Pisces
The Full Moon is always in the opposite sign as the Sun because from Earth.
Here in the birth chart the Sun is in Sagittarius and the Moon is in the opposing sign Gemini.
This person was born a little after the Full Moon because their moon is at 29 degrees. An exact Full Moon would be if the Sun and Moon were in the same degrees (both at 22 degrees).
This is just the surface…
There are SO many incredible insights the moon shows us to clarify our emotional safety, wellness strategy and life direction.
If you’re curious to learn about…
Sign of your moon and it’s meaning
House of your moon and it’s meaning
Identifying what phase of the moon you were born in and what that phase means for your life themes
North and South Nodes: points on Moon’s orbit that reveal gifts you were born with and gifts you are here to grow into. Understand how these nodes determine eclipses.
Solar and Lunar Eclipses: meaning and how to find in birth chart
Tracking Moon transits as a daily tool for cosmic alignment
Fill out the survey for the upcoming 90 minute Mapping the Moon Virtual Workshop
