If you’ve ever researched your astrological sign or looked up your horoscope and thought, Hmmm, that doesn’t really sound like me, then you need to dig a little deeper into your birth chart. After all, your chart isn’t just made up of your Sun sign (your main zodiac sign) — the Moon signs in the zodiac play a big role in determining your personality, your emotional traits, and how you show up in the world, too.
“Moon sign” refers to the constellation through which the moon was moving at the time of your birth: it takes a month for the Moon to circle the zodiac, thus it spends barely two days in each sign. This placement has an effect on how you process your emotions — so you may be a spotlight-loving Leo, but if your moon is in Capricorn, you’re actually more practical and reserved than your daily Leo horoscopes would have you believe. When you look at it that way, the things you didn't know about your moon sign could change your whole outlook on astrology!
Read on to learn the basic Moon sign facts, how to determine your moon sign, and how understanding Moon signs versus Sun signs can actually help you understand yourself on a deeper level.
The Moon is the ruler of your inner, emotional self. While your Sun sign (the main astrological sign under which you were born — AKA the one you look at when you check your horoscope) can define your behavior and personality, your Moon sign goes a little deeper to explain why you do the things you do. When you consider that the Moon is said to be a "feminine" presence, it makes sense that your Moon sign would help you understand your traditionally feminine, fluid traits, like emotion and creativity.
The Moon Moves Through A Different Sign Every Few Days
While the Sun takes roughly a month to cycle through the 12 different constellations that make up the zodiac (hence, the 12 astrological signs), the Moon moves through a new constellation every few days. Therefore, it's not as easy to determine your Moon sign as it is to find your Sun sign. To find your Moon sign, it's necessary to have a proper birth chart reading, which you can do online. You need to know the exact date, time, and place of your birth in order to calculate which zodiac sign is ruling your emotions.
Moon Signs Explain How People Born Under The Same Zodiac Sign Can Be Completely Different
Those skeptical of astrology will often cite the differences between people born under the same zodiac sign as proof that astrology isn't real: after all, if the zodiac determines your Sun sign, how come these two Leos are completely different?Moon signs (along with rising signs and the positions of the different planets at the time of your birth) explain all of that. Since the Moon moves quickly through the signs, someone born on July 26 will be a Leo with a Taurus moon, while someone born a few days later will be a Leo with a Gemini moon — which results in a totally different set of personality and emotional processing traits.
Having an Aries Moon indicates someone who is fiery, passionate, and at times, impulsive. When you're hurt or upset, you have the tendency to lash out and say things you may not mean in the heat of the moment. But there are positive aspects to having an Aries Moon, too! You thrive on excitement and you're quick to forgive and forget.
Taurus is ruled by the goddess of love, Venus. When Taurus is your Moon sign, it indicates that you love hard. There are positive things in that — for instance, you are caring and sensitive to your partner's emotions — but that can also make you possessive and annoyed when you don't get the same level of affection in return. When a Taurus Moon feels secure, you are open, loving, and warm; but your feelings are easily hurt, which can make you turn inward and sulk.
Since Gemini is ruled by the planet of communication, Mercury, those with a Gemini Moon sign are always talking, thinking, and doing. Sometimes the excitement of the chatter doesn't follow through on the actions, so be careful to not be flakey and just turn into an annoying talker. The challenge for you is slowing down and feeling. Gemini Moons love to be social and entertain a crowd full of people, but you will do well emotionally if you find a few close confidants — or even a therapist — to work out your deep emotions with (even if it's uncomfortable).
