🌜Plus Interpretation Insights For Decoding Your Moon Sign🌛
by @tabootarotreader
Dearly Beloved💗Three Powerhouse Civilizations - Ancient India, China, & Mexico - all featured Lunar Calendars within their Astrological & Cosmological Systems. Therefore what is the hidden significance of your Moon Sign?
There is an inherent Mystery in the Moon, for we only can perceive one side of it from Earth's vantage point #thehidden The Moon is a fast moving Celestial Body orbiting around our Planet, covering the entire 360 degrees of the Zodiac in roughly 28 days. The Lunar rhythm is approximately 13 times faster than that of the Sun i.e. the Moon covers the same distance in one day through the Zodiac which the Sun requires 13 days to complete. Interestingly enough, the Ancient Mayans noticed that the Moon also cycles with the Sun 13 times in one year #staytuned Thus the Moon represents an even faster energy than Mercury! All of us - regardless of physical sex - are affected by the Lunar rhythm in a very immediate yet invisible way.
The Elevated Ancient Ancestors were very concerned with the Lunar Rhythms.
Dr. Carmen Boulter PHD - a researcher and linguist of Ancient Matriarchal cultures - shows that pre-Diluvian societies were most concerned with the two principles of Biology & Cosmology within their Sacred Sciences. Ergo the Lunar rhythm - which synchronizes many human biological cycles - was very important to keep track of. This is why Vedic Astrology features the Lunar Nakshatras Zodiac, Mayan Astrology features the 13-day Lunar Trecenas cycle, & Chinese Astrology features the Lunar Zodiac Shēngxiào 生肖 Why did the Elevated Ancient Ancestors give the Moon such clear importance in their Astrological Wisdom Systems? Perhaps because its effects on the human populace are the most easy to observe: everybody - even those with zero Astrological awareness - knows that impulsive people can get a little cray cray during a Full Moon.
Modern Astrology has come to associate the Moon sign placement with many concepts related to your Inner emotional life.
The Mystery of the Moon is again related to the fact that one side of this Celestial body always remains hidden from our view here on Earth. Symbolically this means that there are always things us humans hide from others, phenomena we cannot perceive with the physical eyes, and greater Mysteries which we largely remain unconscious of. Thus your Moon sign placement corresponds to the invisible parts of yourself that are not necessarily obvious to others (i.e. your Rising sign) or the identity you consciously present to the World (i.e. your Sun Sign). No matter how you identify there are always differences between the internal, invisible emoting you & the physical, external acting you. Especially when it comes to Gender Roles and what society dictates is appropriate social behavior for "Men & Women".
We all put on and take off different masks depending on the social context.
Are you at work? Are you with family? Are you with friends? Are you with a Lover? Are you alone? Depending on whom is around you, humans naturally adopt different identities to create social harmony. We naturally present a different personality at work during the day versus when we are at home with family or friends during the night. Our identities are constantly shifting depending on the social context, and thus, masks are constantly shifting as well. A person's Sun sign identity may be more obvious during the day, while their Moon sign identity may be more obvious at night. The Rising Sign comes into play as it is often the most obvious first impression that others have of you: your core Ego mask which we unconsciously exhibit or embody to others. This is not implying that social masks are inherently negative or positive - they just exist.
The Moon sign can correspond to the un-masked you when you are all by your lonesome, your inner Night Owl 🦉
In many of my Tarot Readings when the Moon card pops out regarding a person, I like to propose the following questions to the client, "Who is this person really when they are all alone, at night under the moonlight, and they believe no one else is watching them? Who are they really when they are not around you? What is the idea or fantasy that you have of who this person is versus the reality of who they are?" The essence of the Moon card is this: when we are alone, in our own energy field and in a safe space, that is when the Soul's true essence most often can be expressed more freely without any interfering energies. Especially in Romantic Entanglements, we all initially hide parts of our personality out of fear of rejection. The mask of the Lover is perhaps the most common ...
Again I am not implying that people are constantly or Consciously deceiving you. Although deception & secrets certainly are an aspect of the Moon Major Arcana energy, it's natural for people to compartmentalize their true Selves in sexual situations in order to avoid rejection. In social situations as well who has the time to show up as their true authentic selves? Sometimes it's just not necessary in superficial interactions to overshare the deepest, most intimate parts of you. All of us carry secret layers to our being. This compartmentalization is a natural and often unconscious behavior. Moon energy - similar to Pluto & its Twin Eris - relates to the unconscious Underworld or hidden realms of the Night, Fears, Addictions, & Psyche complexes. Ultimately I intuit that Pluto & Eris represent the deepest layers of the Collective Unconscious, while the Moon & Lilith Black Moon represent the more accessible Personal Subconscious.
Your Moon sign placement can color how you tap into the Inner Realms, how you process emotions, & how you work with the Intuition.
The hidden, invisible realms of the Moon belong to the High Priestess Major Arcana in the Tarot. There is a lot of Lunar symbolism in the Rider-Waite card for the High Priestess. The three main phases of the Moon - Waxing, Waning, and Full - are depicted above the Lunar Crown of the Priestess. The "Secret of the High Priestess" spread from the Crowley-Thoth Tarot Handbook is a nice alternative to the Celtic Cross, which can help you gain more information about what is Hidden from your Conscious awareness currently. It is useful for more complex Divination looking into a current trend or pattern in your Life as dictated by Invisible, Spiritual forces. The Book of Wisdom in the High Priestess' lap may present a mysterious secret to be revealed as the 9th and final card if it is a Major Arcana. Check out one of my past "Secret of the High Priestess" Tarot spread Readings to get a better idea.
How do you begin to interpret your Moon Sign placement in the Birth Chart?
Vedic Astrology stresses that there are really no "bad" placements for the Moon, for in the Sidereal Planetary System, the Moon is a neutralizing or reflecting force towards all other Planets, and vibes particularly well with the Sun & Mercury. The Moon's mirroring effect makes sense since moonlight is technically just reflected solar light. With that being prefaced: the Moon is the ruling body of Cancer, exalted in Taurus, and debilitated in Scorpio. In Vedic Astrology the Moon is also considered Sattvic or "Purifying" in Guna AKA Pattern. Furthermore the Moon is associated with the Dosha AKA Constitution of Kapha (Earth/Water, the Feminine elements) in Ayurveda, Pearls, Autumn, & the metal Silver.
Your Moon sign may bring to your conscious awareness how you connect with the following themes:
Nurturance, Parenting, Kindness, Active Listening, Empathy, Intuition, Emotion, Thinking versus Feeling, Flexibility versus Rigidity, Receptivity versus Resistance, Fluidity versus Stagnation, Memory, Introspection, Love, the 4th House in the Birth Chart (symbolized as the "Dining Room & Kitchen"), Home Life, Character, Vehicles, Forgiveness, Pleasures, Medicinal Foods, Real Estate, Relatives, Joy, & Contentment (via "The Vedic Astrology Guidebook", 2012 by Jeffrey Armstrong)
If you are still reading - thank you so much! - I'm sure you are thinking, "Cool, just tell me what the Moon in each Zodiac Sign means already".
I could easily cast some personal Horoscopes and tell you everything I feel the Moon in each sign could represent; but that's not going to help you understand the deeper meanings of Lunar energy and its Sphere of Influence. There's certainly no lack of subjective Horoscopes on the internet telling you what your Moon placement means; if you seek that content, it's out there! What I have consciously chosen to do in all of my Work instead is offer Interpretation Insights to help Students of Astrology decode their Birth Chart. A the end of the day: Self-study is so, so important and I will not encourage idleness or laziness by casting Subjective Horoscopes with zero basis in any Objective, applicable information. Interpreting your Moon identity - and your entire Birth Chart - is your own responsibility to reach greater Self-understanding. This understanding unfolds and evolves throughout your entire life via experience; not via five minutes of reading.
With that being said, your presence is truly appreciated here! Here are some further Interpretation Insights for decoding your Moon sign placement.
The Moon is related to the most basic human duality of Sun & Moon, Day & Night, Conscious & Subconscious, etc. Therefore a very basic framework to establish when interpreting your Moon sign placement is to understand that:
The Fire & Air signs correspond to the Masculine elements, while the Water & Earth signs correspond to the Feminine elements.
Therefore Gender has nothing to do with physical Sex and is of no consequence to energy being embodied in any person. E.g. an Aries Rising cis woman can be grounded in the Masculine (Active), while a Cancer Rising cis man can be grounded in the Feminine (Passive). I feel a good rule of thumb when decoding your Moon placement is to ask the question: "What is the complementary element of my Moon sign placement?"
Regardless of what you find physically attractive (Rising sign), we all also experience Conscious attraction to a person's outer Personality (Sun sign) in addition to Subconscious attraction to a person's inner emotional energy (Moon sign). Ergo the Moon placement may reveal unconscious emotional reactivity, what type of energy you are emotionally attracted to in others, &/or the energy you Subconsciously - not Consciously - reflect to the Other in your meaningful relationships. Obviously many people Consciously lust after certain physical traits which Heteronormative society deems "sexy". It is a safe bet - not always - that what you are Consciously attracted to is social programming. Despite this programming, we still Subconsciously attract perceived polarity energies which reflect to us the hidden parts of Self and/or our Soul's true Desires.
This elemental framework can help you begin to interpret the interplay of your Sun-Moon-Rising trine and more optimally read energy in others.
E.g. let's say an individual has Pisces Sun, Virgo Moon, & Leo Rising placements. This individual's personality is more grounded in the Feminine, for Pisces and Virgo (a polarity pair in the Zodiac) are both Mutable Water and Earth signs. The Masculine fire of the Leo Rising placement comes into play maybe to balance this person out when they need equilibrium. Thus this individual may be attracted to strong Masculine energy - especially the Air element opposing the Earth of Virgo, and furthermore because Air sign Aquarius is the polarity energy to Fire sign Leo. Meanwhile they may be repelled by strong Feminine energy. Moon in Virgo is an auspicious placement, for the Moon is very friendly with Virgo's ruling planet Mercury. This individual may be highly creative, intuitive, and dreamy yet practical. They may value refined expression and go about the creative process in a methodical and analytical matter. On the flip side: they may be highly emotional and driven to live in their feelings (Pisces), yet overanalyze or dissect their emotions internally which can inhibit responsiveness (Virgo). Others may perceive them as overtly Masculine (Fire), while internally this individual feels covertly Feminine (Water/Earth). This may present them some tough tests in Romantic Entanglements: Feminine types could be strongly attracted to their Leo Rising qualities, while the individual may be repulsed by strong Femininity since it energetically feels out of balance to them. Ultimately the Moon sign of this individual complements their Sun sign.
With all that being offered, some Walkaway Messages regarding the Moon sign placement could be:
1) Water & Earth signs in Moon are most likely emotionally attracted to strong Masculine energy, and react strongly towards Passive people via the Mirror principle
2) Fire & Air signs in Moon are most likely emotionally attracted to strong Feminine energy, and react strongly towards Active people via the Mirror principle
3) Water in Moon reflects Fire and vice versa, while Earth in moon reflects Air and vice versa
If you are interested in learning more about Astrology & Soul Mate compatibility, check out this blog about the Ascendant / Descendant placements.
For the Deep Divers: what can the Lunar Astrology of the Elevated Ancient Ancestors reveal to you about your Moon Sign placement?
I highly recommend to tune into the accompanying vlog post regarding the Vedic Nakshatras & 10 Golden Rules beginning this post for the deep dive. The 27 Nakshatras AKA Lunar Mansions represent a highly intricate and accurate Lunar Zodiac which complement the Solar Zodiac (aka the 12 Zodiac signs as we understand them). There are complex interplays between the ruling planets of the various 12 signs and the 27 Nakshatras. Each Nakshatra also governs a different Planet, is dualistic in nature, has its own Guna or Pattern just like a Planet or Sign (Tamas, Rajas, & Sattva), plus is categorized according to 4 basic Human Motivations (Artha, Kama, Dharma, & Moksha). In a nutshell: the Nakshatras reflect the interplay of Solar & Lunar energies in the human impulses of the Psyche.
The Asterisms or Lunar Mansions
The Nakshatras are the central axes around which the Hindu astrology revolves. Their origin is unknown. Even the Vedas give exhaustive references to them. Planetary influences are significantly altered under the impact of the asterisms. These lunar mansions, as they are called, should be studied carefully. The Moon has a special relationship with the Nakshatras. The association of the Moon with different asterisms fundamentally alters the character of a horoscope. The very nature of the Moon becomes different in certain Nakshatras.
When a planet is placed under the direct radiation of a lunar mansion, it is not necessarily the planet's basic nature which flows to the recipient; instead, a Nakshatra influence reaches the individual. The planetary periods in the life cycle of an individual, which are a peculiar contribution of Hindu astrology, flow from the position of the Nakshatras. These characteristics of the Nakshatras make them very special, requiring careful examination of their nature and mode of operation. At one time there were twenty-eight Nakshatras forming the circle of 360°; but at some historical epoch of which we know little, one of them was omitted.
via "Fundamentals of Vedic Astrology", 2003, pg. 59, Bepin Behari
E.g. the final 27th Nakshatra "Revati"
Revati extends from 346°40' to 360°'00' (16°40' to 30° Pisces), in a sign which is ruled by Jupiter and symbolized by a pair of fish. The asterism itself is governed by Mercury, the son of Jupiter, and is also symbolized by a fish. It is presided over by Pushan, a deity with the primary function of nourishing the Universe ... The name of the deity also means "the measurer of the sky". All three levels of this Nakshatra's operation are pervaded by sattwa, suggesting complete integration between its basic urges and outward expression. Revati stands for the great womb in which the Sun lies dormant until the next Manvantaric impulse (i.e. a cosmic cycle encompassing aeons of time) begins again and a fresh cycle of manifestation sweeps through infinity. It links the end with the beginning. The symbol of the fish is auspicious because it aids procreation and rapid growth. It helps one to become many, easily and rapidly. While doing so, it also makes an individual outward-tuned and considerate of the feelings of others.
Under Revati, creativity produces extroverted tendencies. A new life begins for individuals under its influence. Arising from the desire for spiritual unity caused by Jupiter and the penance and suffering caused by Saturn, under which material craving is completely annihilated, the individual is reborn in wisdom - again signified by Jupiter, ruler of the last quarter of this asterism as well as planetary lord of Pisces. Under the impact of Mercury, the planetary lord of the asterism as a whole, the individual attains pure awareness born out of intense spiritual dissatisfaction with external forms of religion. The exaltation of Venus in the last quarter of Revati, the quarter owned by Jupiter, produces an overpowering sense of quietude, especially if it reposes there with the Moon, lord of Rohini, representing the foster mother of Krishna's brother and protector Belarama. Venus, being related to sex, encourages procreative activities which enhances the impact of Revati.
Whether we consider the impact of Revati on the individual or in relation to the cosmos, it leads to an infinite expansion of awareness to boundless duration, the dwelling of the seed of future growth in the infinite sea of quietude. Revati refers to the involvement of the soul in self-preserving activities which extend from eternity to eternity. The basic impulse of Revati is that of dissolution, in which there is a desire to merge with the infinite, with death, the Greet Deep. In everyday life, it expresses itself in quietude and equanimity, but nothing in it can be expected to be maintained in its concrete form. In Revati, there is always a turn towards the core, toward the center of everything. Everyday experiences are turned into spiritual attitudes.
via "Fundamentals of Vedic Astrology", 2003, pg. 82-83, Bepin Behari
It is very Mysterious that the Vedas discuss a long-lost 28th Nakshatra!
As always there is an element of hidden Mystery to the Moon and the greater Cosmos. Another sacred Hindu text - the Ramayana AKA Ramayan - encodes a secret Astropalmistry guidebook as written by Master Palmist & Sage Valmiki. The Ramayana is full of Astrological & Cosmological symbolism. It is certainly not just a simple, literal battle between the forces of "Good & Evil". Valmiki's personal account of the clash between Rama & Ravana was really a coded attempt to bridge or synthesize two different schools of Astrological thought. Rama represents the tradition of Solar Astrology within Vashista's School, while Ravana represents the tradition of Lunar Astrology within Pulatsy's School. Valmiki truly was very vise for realizing there is no separation in the Universe, only reflection of polarity energies at different points in cycles #asabovesobelow This theme of synthesis between Solar & Lunar rhythms is so important to understand the Vedic Nakshatras - and ultimately - how your Moon sign interplays with your Sun sign.
Just like the Lunar Mansions of Vedic Astrology, the ancient Chinese also developed a Lunar Zodiac.
It is interesting that the Chinese Zodiac is a 12 year cycle and has no association with constellations, but Spirit Animals and the Yin (Moon)/Yang (Sun) polarity. There have been countless Western books written about the Chinese Zodiac, ranging from serious to silly. I find - like most post-Colonial perspectives - there is so much wisdom from the Elevated Ancient Ancestors which has been lost. We must always remember the element of Mystery when discussing Ancient Wisdom like Astrology. With that being said, I resonate with this breakdown of the importance of the Lunar Chinese Zodiac:
In East Asia, the passage of time was traditionally measured by the lunar calendar, based on the cycle of the moon. Many East Asian cultures still use the lunar calendar for festive occasions, one of the most important being Lunar New Year, which falls somewhere between late January and early February. Because the lunar calendar is different from the solar Gregorian calendar, the exact date is different every year.
Each year in the lunar calendar is named after an animal, derived from Chinese folklore. The zodiac animals follow one another in an established order and are repeated every 12 years: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. In a folklore story that explains the origins of the cycle, the animals hold a race to determine their order. The rat uses trickery and comes first by hopping on the ox's back, then jumping ahead at the last moment. The custom of pairing an animal with a year in a 12-year cycle can be traced back to at least the Han dynasty (201 BC – 220 AD), and there are many legends and folktales surrounding the 12 zodiac animals, which are often depicted in East Asian art and design. A group of Chinese figures in our collection shows the zodiac animals with human bodies but animal heads. This way of portraying them became popular in the Tang dynasty (8th century).
In Chinese folklore, each animal has particular characteristics, but using the animal of someone's birth year to say something about their character is a more recent development. There is no mention of such a belief in ancient Chinese texts. The use of animals to mark the years originated in China and spread throughout East and Central Asia. Some animals were adapted in line with local species – for example, the central Asian Turkic peoples replaced tiger with leopard, pig with elephant, and rat with camel. Vietnam uses a water buffalo instead of an ox, and a cat instead of a rabbit – while the cat is famously absent from the Chinese cycle. In some versions of the origins story, the rat cheats the cat out of the race, which explains the animosity between cats and rats. A historical reason for the exclusion of the cat is that it may not yet have been introduced to China at the time the zodiac first came into use.
2023 is the year of the Rabbit invoking longevity, peace & prosperity
Now switching lanes to another past powerhouse - the Ancient Maya - whom certainly also incorporated the Lunar Rhythm into their highly accurate Calendars.
Contained within the 260-day astrological calendar used by the Maya are twenty blocks of thirteen days called trecenas. They indicate general qualities of the personality similar to those described by the moon in Western astrology. These qualities are receptivity, reaction, instinctive response, and emotional connections with family, community, and society at large. The moon played an important role in mythology and folklore in ancient Mexico. In the West, the moon has long been associated with the feminine aspects of life, and this relationship was also true for the Maya. For example, the Mayan moon was linked with the goddess Ix Chel, "Lady Rainbow", who is the wife of Itzam, the supreme god. She was a goddess of the woman's world of weaving, childbirth, and healing.
The moon also played an important role in ancient Mayan astrology. Mayan astrologers no doubt noticed how quickly the moon moves through the stars across the night sky. In one day the moon's position relative to the background stars moves as far as the sun's in thirteen days. It takes the moon moon about twenty-seven to twenty-eight days to pass through the 360 degrees of the zodiac. At that rate, it covers about thirteen degrees of the zodiac in one day. The sun moves at the rate of about one degree of the zodiac per day, so it takes about thirteen days to cover the same distance as the moon does in a single day. The moon also cycles with the sun thirteen times in one year. From new moon to new moon is about twenty-nine days, and roughly thirteen of these cycles match the yearly cycle of the sun through the zodiac. These are two major reasons why the number thirteen came to be the most powerful number in ancient Mexican astrology.
The Mayan tzolkin had twenty "weeks" of thirteen days, a total of 260 days. The twenty thirteen-day weeks, known in Spanish as the trecenas (meaning thirteenths), appear to be lunar in nature. They represent the time taken for the sun to match the moon's daily travel. Ancient codices and inscriptions indicated that each of the twenty thirteen-day periods had a specific meaning that was generated by the named solar day (the day-sign) that began the period. These "first days" are numbered 1, followed by the name of the day. Like the day-signs, each of these periods was ruled by a specific deity.
The trecenas appear to correlate with the public trends of the world. News events, both local and global, tend to reflect the nature of whatever thirteen-day period is currently active. For example, when the period called 1-Ben occurs, people with strong and rigid opinions make news. During 1-Cib, a sign of politics, we often hear stories of complex political maneuvering in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. Close observers will notice that persons described by a specific thirteen-day period will often make news during its thirteen-day span of influence. Also, certain kinds of activities tend to proliferate, or at least become public knowledge, in some trecena periods but not in others. Ancient Mesoamerican astrologers used this astrological calendar when choosing the best times to do things, a process called electional astrology in the West.
The trecena not only offers a description of current trends, but also serves as an index of personality. A birth occurring during a thirteen-day period is strongly influenced by that trecena. In fact, this effect was one of the main interpretations of the trecenas in ancient Mexico. These thirteen-day periods were indicators of character and destiny that also said something about a person's connection to family, community, or even nation ... A birth will always occur within one of these thirteen-day trecenas. This placement means that each birth is designated not only by a day-sign, but also by its position with a thirteen-day period ... The cycles of thirteen trecenas and twenty days can be seen as gears that mesh to produce the 260-day year.
via "How to Practice Mayan Astrology", 2007, pg. 38-41, by Bruce Scofield and Barry C. Orr
How is this Lunar information applicable for the average person in a society geared towards the Solar rhythm?
Despite the compelling correlations between the Vedic & Mayan Astrological Wisdom systems' interpretations of the Moon, many students of Western Astrology may be resistant to this information. Remember that the Moon governs Intuition. Perhaps a Walkaway Message regarding the Mayan trecenas and their important implications could be: Intuitive impulses, first impressions, & spiritual insights - as governed by the Moon - are felt instantly, and then processed Subconsciously for roughly two weeks, before they can potentially become Conscious. This gives a whole new meaning to the term "download". As they say: trust your first impressions. Just give it two weeks to sink in ...
The Ancient Maya also discussed very Mysterious 9 "Lords of the Night", which obviously connects with Lunar energy & the Moon Major Arcana.
A constantly repeating cycle of nine deities was recorded on many Mayan inscriptions and in nearly all the astrological codices. They are commonly called the Lords of the Night, or in Mayan, Bolon ti ku, which translates as "nine of them". These ruling divinities were gods of the underworld, gods that humanity had to contend with in order to find everlasting life. Some researchers believe, however, that the nine-day sequence refers only to nighttime, when the gods of the underworld were dominant. On inscriptions, these deities are often listed next to the tzolkin dates, and they are also found on inscriptions that list the phases of the moon. It has been suggested that the Lords of the Night were connected with the lunar month, which is close to three cycles of nine.
Compared to the twenty day-signs or the trecenas, not much is known about the Lords of the Night. It is not even known whether these nine deities ruled only partial hours of the days or nights, or perhaps full days or nights. The Mayan scholar Eduard Seler thought they ruled a series of nocturnal hours. in which the length of the night was divided into ninths, and in which each of those segments was ruled by one of the special deities. Other researchers have postulated that the deities designated a sequence of nine days and nights in the same way that the seven planets give their names to the Western week, which is the approach taken here.
The authors suspect that, like the tzolkin, the nine Lords of the Night were a basic component of Mesoamerican astrology and that the known Aztec deities are a key to understanding the role of the Mayan lords. The Aztec lords appear to be in a sequence that is parallel to that of the Maya, even though we don't know all the Mayan names. Mayan Lord of the Night 4 is thought to have been an agricultural deity - and interestingly, the Aztec list Cinteotl, the corn goddess, at the fourth position. Scholars do know that the Maya had these lords tagged to the Long Count and that on August 11, 3114 BC, the first day of the Long Count, the ninth lord was ruler. By starting from that date, the nine-day cycle can simply be run parallel to the day-signs to determine the Lord of the Night for any given day in the Western calendar ...
The Lords of the Night are equivalent to the Lords of Death of the Popol Vuh, one of the most important Mayan texts to have survived the destruction perpetuated by Christian friars. This account of Mayan creation mythology was found in Guatemala long after the Spanish Conquest, and it has been an exceptional window into the thoughts and beliefs of the Pre-Conquest Maya. It is a tale of hero twins who some believe represent the sun and moon, others the sun and Venus. These twins were ball players, athletes of a game that was played by every major Mesoamerican culture. In the game, a large rubber ball was passed between players, who used their hips to direct the ball. Ball game stadiums are found throughout the lands of the Maya; the one at Chichen Itza is as big as a football field.
The Popul Vuh tells the story of how the twins avenged their father's death, which took place at the hands of the underworld-dwelling Lords of Death. As the story goes, the twins ventured underground and, after enduring a number of ordeals, beat the Lords of Death at their own sacred ball game. In the process, the twins become immortal. The Lords of the Night rule the underworld, which might itself be equated with the world of the unconscious. These gods are the ones who must be defeated in order for humanity to rise above the primitive animal/human condition and attain immortality. It might be said that the message of the Popul Vuh is that mastery of the primordial impulses of the reptilian brain are the key to transformation, immortality, and peace in the world as we know it.
via "How to Practice Mayan Astrology", 2007, pg. 49-50, by Bruce Scofield and Barry C. Orr
The story of the Popul Vuh & the 9 Lords of the Night is relevant for any student of Astrology attempting to decode their Moon sign placement. Why?
Remember that the Moon Major Arcana in the Tarot is related to addictions, vices, private night time behaviors hidden from the social contexts of day time, & secrets. Thus your Moon sign placement can often reflect your relationships with these types of unconscious behaviors: the addict Archetype certainly exists in all of our Psyches as modern humans whether you are aware of it or not! The number 9 (a very important number in Precessional Astrology) also resonates with the 9 Spheres of the 9 Muses in other Occult traditions describing the hidden realms.
I very much resonate with Scofield & Orr's interpretation that the Underworld of the 9 Lords of the Night represents the Collective Unconscious: a psychic, meta-physical space. Not an actual fiery hell that one can physically travel to. I'm sure if we asked Modern Maya Daykeepers in the Yucatan or Guatemala, they would surely know more about the 9 Lords if willing to divulge their Sacred information to outsiders. Ultimately I intuit that the Moon Major Arcana implies to us that our physical realm is a reflection of the Underworld, just as the Heavens reflect the Earth, just as the water reflects the light, just as the moon reflects the light of the sun. Everything is interconnected, and what happens in one realm mirrors what happens in another.
In the Moon Card we also have a domesticated dog and a feral fox, representing the duality of the animalistic instincts. Instinctual impulses can either be worked with Consciously to become a tool, or they can unconsciously control a person. Archetypal energies of the Collective Unconscious are actually something that may be meant to be experienced, understood, and finally purged from the Psyche as a Spiritual act of cleansing Karma. The Archetype represents a Universal pattern which has been affecting your ancestral line for aeons. In order to transcend the reptilian brain and become immortal like the Mayan twins (most likely again symbols of the Sun & Moon), the story in the Popul Vuh suggests that there are potentially 9 core Archetypes related to the Underworld realm (the realm of the Moon) that are animalistic in nature.
These Archetypal energies relate to our instincts, impulses, & sex within the larger Life & Death cycle. Many great wisdom systems from the ancient world offer advice in coded stories on how to cleanse your Soul of Karma and escape the constant wheel of Reincarnation. Perhaps the most controversial practice (for Heteronormative Breeders, at least) is that of celibacy or not procreating in Monastic traditions. When asked why Monks practice this, the answer is simple: sex for procreation creates more Karma as it is an animalistic impulse. In order to transcend the Life & Death cycle, it makes logical sense therefore to make a Conscious choice to refrain from procreation. Nobody ever said Spiritual Transcendence would be easy ...
In Conclusion: your Moon Sign placement is perhaps of greater Spiritual significance than the Sun Sign if you are concerned with the Inner Path of the High Priestess & Soul Evolution.
Like the Rising Sign, I feel the Moon sign is not given its due credit in shallow Social Media Astrology which focuses mainly on the Sun Sign. The High Priestess is very much concerned with the hidden realms of dreams, symbols, glyphs, sigils, and the Mysteries of the Collective Unconscious. Your Moon sign placement reflects how you react to these Subconscious stimuli from the invisible realms. The Moon sign placement also reflects how you can tune in with the Intuition and download important insights regarding your Soul's inner knowing. The Soul is certainly governed by impulses, longings, cravings, desires, obsessions, and maybe even addictions. We romanticize Soul when - in the words of Archetypal psychologist James Hillman - "Soul exists in the Underworld".
All Psyche complexes are rooted perhaps in repression of the Soul. Therefore - at the end of the day - I feel understanding the ways in which you connect to the Lunar rhythm, how your sense of Self shifts from day to night, and your instinctual impulses can help liberate your Soul from the chains of Patriarchal, Solar Rhythm-based Societies. Finally to all my fellow Witches, Warlocks, & magical Unicorns in the Collective Coven remember this parting Witch Tip: New Moons are for manifesting, Full Moons are for cleansing. It is highly recommended to not cast your manifestation intentions during a Full Moon! #craycray
🙏
Peace & Blessings,
Treille Bon
AKA Flower Prince
P.S. "Yes: I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” ― Oscar Wilde, The Critic as Artist
P.S.S. Shoutout to Miss Erykah Badu, certainly a High Priestess
P.S.S.S. For the curious to know, not all ancient cultures perceived of the Moon as Feminine and the Sun as Masculine #flipthescript
Ancient cultures, such as the Norse and Egyptians, see the Moon as Masculine, but there are also modern-day examples. Germany, for instance, considers the Sun to be Feminine and the Moon as masculine.
In South-Slavonian poetry, the Sun was seen as the bride to the masculine Moon.
My mother is–the beauteous Sun, And my father–the bright Moon; My brothers are–the many Stars, And my sisters–the white Dawns.
In Ancient Egypt, Thoth was seen to rule over the Moon. He was a god of knowledge and represented the Moon in its waning phases when it is no longer seen as full and round but thinning as if to disappear entirely. The Sumerians viewed the god Su-en as a representation of the Moon. He was one of the most important deities in the broader pantheon of Mesopotamia. The primary symbol of the moon god was a bull, the result of the horizontal crescent of the waxing Moon appearing similar to the horns of that animal.
The Moon is masculine and the Sun feminine in other Indo-European languages, similarly to how it was in very ancient Ancient Sumerians. In contrast, other Indo-European languages have a masculine Moon and feminine Sun. For example, German spells “moon” as “Mond”, while Old Goidelic spells “Moon” as either “Nosu” or “Sin,” both of which are masculine nouns. This trend continues in the Sumerian language, in which their words for “sun” and “moon” have the same gender.
I believe we attribute different traits to the Moon based on how we see masculinity as a culture. It is built from the cultural construct of masculinity. The Moon, like most of us, could also be seen to have both masculine and feminine within it ... We can gain a lot of meaning by connecting to the natural rhythms of celestial bodies. The Moon can be a powerful tool to understand our own masculine and feminine energies. It’s just important to realize our experience is but one of many interpretations.
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