The Sun and the Moon - Growth versus Security

This month, the Sun moves into the sign of Leo, the sign which it rules. To put it another way, the Sun and the sign of Leo have a lot of things in common, for example the Sun and Leo both represent individuality, self-identity, how we define ourselves as unique individuals, and a strong sense of strength and vitality. The Sun is at its strongest when moving through the sign of the lion. This is certainly true in a very literal sense in the UK right now, where we're not quite used to the heatwave conditions we've been experiencing over the last few weeks!

In this issue I'd like to look at the relationship between the Sun and the Moon. First, I'll explain what these two key players represent in our birth charts and in our life journey. This is followed by a very informative piece written by my astro-colleague Kat, about the Moon's cycles viewed from a much wider perspective: we can observe the Lunar Standstills if we cast our eyes towards the sky right now!

The Sun and the Moon in the chart - growth versus security

First, though, the Sun and Moon in our birth charts. I was prompted to choose this theme when I realised that July 20th was the anniversary of the first Moon landings, which happened at the time when the Sun, symbolising our collective pioneering spirit, was moving through the sign ruled by the Moon, which was of course the focus of everyone's attention at that momentous time in 1969. The relationship between these two heavenly bodies, commonly referred to as "the lights" in the birth chart, is key. The Sun and the Moon are probably the two most important factors an astrologer looks at when considering a person's life journey and potentials. But whilst they are considered of equal importance, they represent very different things, and thus a Sun and Moon in conflict within a chart can produce a parallel sense of conflict in the life and personality of the person whose chart it is.

The Solar growth process

The Sun essentially symbolises what we are growing into. It's a common assumption that we "are" the characteristics of our Sun sign. Whilst this is true to an extent, a more accurate description would be to say that we are learning to be what our Sun represents. This is determined by its placement in zodiac sign, house (or life area), and in its interaction with the other planets in the chart. Some of us have quite complex journeys and a lot of growth to achieve, whilst others may walk an easier path. Each Sun sign has a unique drive and an important lesson to learn. For example, for Leo, the sign the Sun is moving through this month, the drive is to find out what makes us different from others, what defines us as a unique, creative individual and what our special place in the world is. The lesson for Leo to learn is that her or she is not alone in creative expression, and that others need to receive acknowledgement of their unique talents too!

The development of the Sun principle as we move through life is a gradual process. In many cases, individuals don't start to get to grips with the true nature of what the Sun in their chart symbolises for their personal development until well into their thirties. Not so with the Moon!

Your Basic Instincts

The Moon represents our first instincts from the moment we are born. Its placement in the chart, via house, sign and connection to the other planets, represents how we experience our most basic needs. The Moon is about what makes us feel safe, our attitudes towards food and mother/mothering, where we retreat to for shelter when the Solar world of growth and endeavour has bruised and battered us. The Moon represents an automatic set of responses that we might be almost unaware of making, but these responses indicate what we seek in order to feel cared for and nurtured. The relationship between the Moon and the planets Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto in particular are crucial, as a difficult contact between these can mean that no matter how much potential our Sun promises, we may never achieve it unless we deal with the issues the Moon is asking us to work through first.

Fiery Sun, Watery Moon

Take, for instance, people who have the Sun in a fire sign, but the Moon in a water sign. Fire signs are "yang" or outgoing, and are generally enthusiastic, dynamic and concerned with personal achievement in some way. All well and good if that's the direction your life is set to go, but what do you do if all of that firey energy keeps getting put out with a liberal dose of Water Moon?! Water Moons are Yin and will tend to be less outgoing, more introspective and need to be in the right mood to take action. They'll tend to avoid pushing themselves forward and will need to feel emotionally secure in order to feel confident. This, then, could be quite a difficult combination.

Take for instance Betty Ford, wife of Gerald, former US president. Betty has the Sun in Aries and the Moon in Pisces. These two energies are very different. Aries pushes forward, is self-oriented and likes to come out on top. Pisces blends into whatever backdrop it finds itself set against, wants to be part of a bigger whole rather than stand out as a unique individual, and is prone to self-sacrifice. Betty struggled during her life with drugs, drink and health problems, all things to which her Pisces Moon is prone if faced with difficult circumstances. However, the strong life force and bounce back energy of her Aries Sun meant that she was able to cope with these circumstances and combine her pioneering life path with her emotional draw to helping others, which she did by founding the Betty Ford clinic for drug dependents.

Another example of this fire Sun/water Moon combination is the late martial arts guru Bruce Lee. Lee had the Sun in outgoing Sagittarius. He paved the way for future generations of actors from the Far East (Jet Li, Jackie Chan to mention a couple) to be cast in leading Hollywood roles, through pioneering films such as "Enter the Dragon". At the same time, his adventurous and broad minded Sagittarian nature drove him to develop a life philosophy centred on his own unique brand of martial arts called Jeet Kune Do. However, his Moon in Scorpio is very different. It would have given him an innate understanding of the darker side of life and humanity, as well as making him feel that security is a dangerous place to be - there is no room for comfort or complacency were Scorpio Moon is concerned. This Moon gives a great intensity and drive to achieve no matter what, and undoubtedly contributed to Lee's rise to fame. It's ruled by the planet Mars, the planet of combat, which neatly explains his obsession with martial arts and his determination to break through the racial stereotypes of Hollywood at the time. Moon in Scorpio can tend to experience life's ups and downs more intensely than other Moons, though, and every setback must have cost Lee dearly in terms of his self esteem and heightened his feelings of alienation as a Chinese national living in the West. He died tragically young but left a legacy of fiery inspiration for generations of martial artists to come.

Dealing with internal conflict

So what can we do when the ego drives of our Sun conflict with the security needs of our Moon? As the examples above illustrate, the best case scenario is to get the different energies working together whilst respecting their very contrasting natures. In order to do this it's always a good idea to understand where your Moon, as well as your Sun, is coming from: the old dictum "know yourself" is as valid now as it ever was.

To find out more about how the Sun and Moon interact in your chart, book a Personal Astrological consultation for only £45. If you'd like to learn more, please call me on 01572 822226 and quote "New Moon Messenger". For further information about astrology and details of my services visit http://www.star-maps.co.uk/

Lunar Standstills: The Highest Highs and the Lowest Lows

by guest writer and astrologer Kat

Have you been watching the Moon lately? Granted, to see the Moon rise or set is not always possible on cloudier nights. But perhaps the most attention grabbing time to observe the earth's natural satellite is around the time of the full Moon. Did anyone notice how low in the sky the 2005 midsummer full Moon was and how impossibly high the midwinter full Moon rose? The risings and settings of the moon in the sky actually follow a pattern like this every year, but right now there is now an even longer cycle at play.

Before we look at this, let us remind ourselves of the Sun's basic cycle, which can be built upon to illustrate the cycle of the Moon. The Sun rises true east and sets true west twice a year on the days of the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes. For all latitudes on earth, the length of night and day are more or less equal at these times. For the rest of the year the Sun inches towards its most extreme placements, South and North, depending on the earthly latitude you live at. When it reaches these extremes the Sun appears to briefly stand still, then change direction at the celebrated solstice points. The variations between light and dark are most extreme at the poles with midnight Sun in the Northern hemisphere at the summer solstice and perpetual night at the winter solstice.

At Summer solstice if you live in the Northern hemisphere the Sun can be observed rising (early) and setting (late) from the most northerly points of its cycle. The Sun rides at its highest as it moves through the zodiacal sign of Cancer. The summer Full Moon in Capricorn however opposes the Sun, up at its latest and riding low for the shortest nights - it seems the closest to the Earth that is possible, an extreme contrast to the Sun. This situation is reversed at winter solstice. The Sun in Capricorn in January rises late, riding closest to the Earth before its earliest setting. The contrary winter Full Moon in Cancer contrasts the Sun's position; up at its earliest, soaring to its highest point, and out for its longest night.

The Sun's yearly movement is reflected in the micro mirror of the Moon. The Moon completes it's most northerly and southerly risings and settings within each monthly cycle. These monthly extreme risings and settings however also drift and are subject to a larger 18/19 year cycle. This means that although each month the Moon has a lowest and highest point (as seen best at the full Moon in summer and winter) there is also an ultimate high and low point of the Moon every 18/19 years.

That point is where we find ourselves now, with the Moon's incredible monthly dance showing us its most dramatic highs and lows. We've not experienced anything like this since about 1987 and we won't see it again until about 2024. We could say that the Moon in 2006 takes its 'deepest breath' (1) before appearing to change direction and head for the narrowest part of its cycle in a bit more than 9 years, in about 2015. At that time the Moon's drift from the path of the Sun, which reveals its extreme risings and settings through each monthly cycle, can be seen in its shallowest expression.

The current behaviour of the 2006 Moon creates an exceptionally awesome visual spectacle. The further North you go, the lower this summer's full Moon will appear to sit in the sky, to the point of disappearing at Callanish in Scotland. The Moon will rise from the hills, briefly skimming across the Earth, 'kissing' the stones as it rolls and then sets (2). Callanish on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland is one of many ancient sites aligned to witness the various motions of the heavens. There is much evidence mounting in academic circles (1, 3), that the ancients noted and thus participated with 'the breath of the Moon'. The heavens can inform those who observe them when exactly it is possible to 'draw down' the Moon (4).

The Moon is rich with symbolism, changeable as the tides, associated with instinct as imprinted by the mother figure, as well as nutrition, memory, the essential automatics, action (or non-action), moods and the soul. This year's most heavenly moons will appear to be drawn down to Earth, whether we take our cues from the Moon or not. Higher and lower than ever; can we translate this positively into our lives?

I am convinced that awareness of these cycles can improve the quality of our lives, as we experience the 'deepest breath' of the Moon.

Keep Shinning Brightly, Kat. koskat@hotmail.co.uk

References

(1) Robin Heath. Sun Moon, & Earth, Wooden Books, 1999. The "Breath" of the Moon, p22. His website is http://www.skyandlandscape.com/

(2) Web cam at Callanish http://www.iol.ie/~geniet/callanish/

(3) Rich insights and info on the Callanish site from expert ex-islander; dates and other sacred sites. http://home.clara.net/gponting/page42.html .

(4) Bernadette Brady. To Draw Down the Moon: When the moon reaches out... http://www.zyntara.com/ (V.A.N. March 2006).

Bibliography

Geoffrey Cornelius & Paul Devereux, The Language of the Stars and Planets A Visual Key to Celestial Mysteries, Duncan Baird Publishers 2003
interesting insights and information on Callanish from ex-islander. http://www.jill-smith.co.uk/lunar_standstill.html
Portal to many lunar articles, calendars etc http://www.astrocal.co.uk/index.html

Star-Maps Astrology on BBC Radio Leicester!

Please note that my weekly slot on Radio Leicester, previously on Fridays, has now moved to Thursdays at 3.15pm. Anyone living in the Leicester area can tune in to 104.9FM and hear me walking the astro-talk on the John Florance show . You can also hear a live stream of the show via PC, visit www.bbc.co.uk/radioleicester. Listeners who'd like me to give them a taster of the main features of their birth chart live on air are invited to write in to John with their date, time and place of birth and their telephone number. John can be contacted at john.florance@bbc.co.uk

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