Your Moon Phase at Birth: Your Emotional Compass

The phases of the moon are among the most fascinating astronomical behaviors we can observe with the naked eye and deeply rich sources of thought and interpretation in Astrology. Among the 8 phases – New, Waxing Crescent, 1^st Quarter Half, Waxing Gibbous, Full, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter Half, Waning Crescent, and Balsamic – the New and Full Moons capture most of the attention.

This article will look at all the phases of the moon and explain how your moon phase at birth guides your emotional development like a compass through the wilderness of life.

A Specific Moon Phase at Birth

When you are born and you take your first breath, hopefully, someone recorded your time of birth.  That time when you took your first breath, combined with the date and location of your birth, provides the data to “cast” your birth chart.  Your birth chart is merely the layout of the solar system at the moment you arrived out of the womb and into this life.

The astrology chart is an astronomical chart of the three-dimensional layout of the solar system modified into a circle and flattened into a two-dimensional picture comprised of icons representing the astronomical bodies and calculated points used by astrologers to explain your energetic design.

• Getting to Know the Moon in Astrology

From This:

Source: Wikimedia

To This:

In the first image, the Sun is in the center of the image.  But in the astrology chart, the earth is actually the center and the Sun, the red circle with a dot in the middle, is in the 1^st segment to the left of the center in the chart above.  The Moon is the blue crescent moon icon in the 11^th segment.  The moon phase for this chart is waning crescent.

Three-Dimensional Phases

Two-Dimensional Phases

My Birth Chart: Full Moon Phase

The Meaning of Each Phase

The phases of the Moon go counterclockwise in the astrology chart from the position of the Sun. Phases prior to the Full Moon are “waxing” and moving away from the Sun towards the Full Moon and “waning”, moving away from the Full Moon and towards the Sun.

New Moon Phase

If you were born immediately after the New Moon and before the Crescent Moon, then you would have a New Moon design.  The placement of the Moon is within 40 degrees of the Sun in your natal chart.  The positive expression of this Moon is emotional excitement and a willingness to start new relationships and enter new circumstances.  Negatively, this Moon can act impulsively, childishly, and thoughtlessly.

• Book Review: New Moon Astrology by Jan Spiller

Waxing Crescent Moon Phase

If you were born immediately after the New Moon and before the First Quarter Moon, then you have a Waxing Crescent Moon design. The placement of the Moon is between 40 and 80 degrees of the Sun in your natal chart. The positive expression of this Moon is assertiveness, a willingness to take the lead, and optimism. Negatively, this Moon can be easily frustrated and regularly choose circumstances that will overwhelm it.

First Quarter Moon

If you were born during the period of transition between the New Moon and Gibbous Moon, then you would have a First Quarter Half Moon design.  The placement of the Moon would be between 80 and 120 degrees from the Sun in your natal chart.  The positive expression of this Moon is a strong will and ability to organize, along with an instinct to rebel against limitations imposed by others or unfair situations. Negatively, this Moon can be ruthless or defeatist, depending on other factors in the chart.

Waxing Gibbous Moon

If you were born during the period of transition between the First Quarter Moon and the Full Moon, then you would have a Waxing Gibbous Moon design.  The placement of the Moon would be between 120 and 160 degrees from the Sun in your natal chart.  The positive expression of this Moon is constant self-improvement and support for the success of others.  Negatively, this Moon can be sycophant, unable to self-determine and needing constant guidance from someone more powerful.

• How to Use the Moon’s Energy

Full Moon

If you were born during the period of transition between the Waxing Gibbous Moon and the Waning Gibbous Moon, then you would have a Full Moon design.  The placement of the Moon would be between 160 and 200 degrees from the Sun in your natal chart. The positive expression of this Moon is objectively, fairness, and balance.  Negatively, this Moon is indecisive and struggles to cope with reality.

Waning Gibbous Moon

If you were born during the period of transition between the Full Moon and the Last Quarter Moon, then you would have a Waning Gibbous Moon design.  The placement of the Moon would be between 200 and 240 degrees from the Sun in your natal chart.  The positive expression of this Moon is the ability to disseminate and share ideas, bind groups, and achieve teamwork.  Negatively, this Moon can become fanatical, narrow-minded to a particular groupthink, and socially judgmental.

Last Quarter Moon

If you were born during the period of transition between the Waning Gibbous Moon and the Waning Crescent Moon, then you would have a Last Quarter Half Moon design.  The placement of the Moon would be between 240 and 280 degrees from the Sun in your natal chart.  The positive expression of this Moon is a useful revolution of social ideas that have become stagnant or the introduction of new visions for your community and the wider world. Negatively, this Moon can ignore or have a disregard for the value of other cultures.

Waning Crescent Moon

If you were born during the period of transition between the Last Quarter Moon and the Balsamic Moon, then you would have a Waning Crescent Moon design.  The placement of the Moon would be between 280 and 320 degrees from the Sun in your natal chart.  The positive expression of this Moon is supporting organizations and sustaining the status quo in order to keep healthy traditions alive.  Negatively, this Moon resists and refuses any and all change.

Balsamic Moon

If you were born during the transition period between the Waning Crescent Moon and the New Moon, then you would have a Balsamic Moon design.  The placement of the Moon would be between 320 and 360 degrees from the Sun in your natal chart.  The positive expression of this Moon is noble sacrifice, identification with great visions, and a profound sense of personal destiny.  Negatively, this Moon is unable to hold onto relationships and roles in society due to a need for constant drama.