"Astrology is a powerful tool for understanding ourselves more, but too often, we focus only on Sun signs and ignore the important lessons that our Moon sign has to teach us. Painting a picture of who we are with just the Sun is like trying to get around using only a compass—sure, it’ll give you a general direction, but not much else.
So, what exactly does the Moon sign symbolize in astrology? Just like it controls the tides in the ocean, it also controls our emotional tides. If the Sun is the shining part of ourselves that’s out during the day, the Moon is who we are at night when we’re home alone or spending time with our inner circle. In plainer terms, the Sun is our personality, how we show up in the world, and how we see ourselves. It’s who we are destined to be and represents our core beliefs. The Moon, on the other hand, is our inner world. It represents our emotions, how we take care of ourselves and others, and our dreams.
Let’s take the example of someone with a Capricorn Sun and a Pisces Moon (a tough combo!).
On the outside and in their day-to-day life, this person is likely super motivated, hardworking, and has high standards. But that Pisces Moon means they’re more sensitive than the typical Capricorn. For instance, they might struggle with depression or escapism when they can’t live up to their own high expectations, or their understanding that we’re all connected might help them lead in a fair and empathetic way. So, you see, the Moon sign adds another layer to our understanding of ourselves—it shows us what’s behind the curtain.
Ready to dive in? Here’s everything you need to know about your own Moon sign.
Why knowing your Moon sign is important
It can help you channel your emotions in a productive way
Emotions—like it or not, we all have them. Some days we’re on point, and other days, well, not so much. Knowing your moon sign can make getting through the tough times and deep emotions easier by showing you how to best channel them. As a Gemini Moon, I know that journaling or talking things through with a friend is super therapeutic for me. A Cancer Moon, on the other hand, might just need to cry it out, while an Aries Moon could benefit from hitting the boxing gym for an hour or so. Everybody’s emotions are different, and knowing your Moon sign can help you understand the best way to handle your unique emotional energy.
It can help you see where you can grow and find balance
In addition to showing us the unique emotional gifts we bring to the world, the Moon also shows us the shadow side of our emotions. When you learn about your Moon sign, looking to the opposite type of energy can help us find ways to grow and bring more balance into our lives. A Taurus Moon, for example, loves comfort, but pushing themselves to leave that comfort zone every once in a while can actually help them grow. A Pisces Moon is often wandering around with their head in the clouds, but doing grounding activities (like walking barefoot) can balance them out. One way to find out the type of energy you need to bring in is by learning about the Moon sign opposite yours. Here’s a list of the opposite Moon sign pairs:
- Aries Moon & Libra Moon
- Taurus Moon & Scorpio Moon
- Gemini Moon & Sagittarius Moon
- Cancer Moon & Capricorn Moon
- Leo Moon & Aquarius Moon
- Virgo Moon & Pisces Moon
It can show you how to nourish and care for yourself
The Moon not only helps us see our emotional and self-care love languages, but it also gives us some guidance on how to take care of ourselves through both the good and the bad. Let’s face it—we’re constantly busy and doing everything all the time. The Moon reminds us that we also need to take time to just be. It’s not a replacement for therapy (if only), but it’s a pretty darn good starting point. The energy of your Moon sign represents what’s comfortable to you. Life is really hard sometimes, and going back into that comfort zone is a great way to reenergize so we can get back to crushing it.
It can help you understand a current or potential partner better
For all you ladies looking for love or currently in love, the Moon is also important for seeing how compatible you might be with another person and how to love your partner in the way they need to be loved. While a solid Moon match isn’t a requirement for a healthy relationship, it can definitely make things easier. For example, I’m a Scorpio Sun and Gemini Moon and my partner is a Virgo Sun and Scorpio Moon. Because we both have strong Scorpio energy in our charts, it’s fairly easy for us to handle each other’s emotions and intuitively understand what the other needs. Here are some things to look out for when it comes to Moon sign compatibility:
- Matching Moon signs (i.e., two people with Scorpio Moons)
- Moons signs in the same element (i.e., Virgo and Capricorn Moons are both Earth Moons)
- Moon signs that match the partner’s Sun or Rising sign (i.e., one person with a Leo Moon and another with a Leo Rising)
How to find your Moon sign
To figure out your own Moon sign, you’ll just need your date, time, and place of birth. There are a bunch of Moon sign calculators available online, but for a more accurate picture, I recommend using astro.com.
Once you click on the link above, either sign into your account or enter your birth data. While it’s not super relevant for finding out your Moon sign, I generally select “Whole Signs” for the house system. Then, go ahead and generate your chart.
From here, there are two ways to see which sign your Moon is in: look at the birth chart in the center of the page or check out the table in the bottom left. I’ve included my own birth chart as an example to help you out below. You’ll see that the chart shows the Moon symbol in the 8th house in Gemini. In the bottom left table, it also shows the moon symbol with the words “Moon 25 Gem” (in basic terms, Moon in Gemini).
What each Moon sign means
Aries Moon
You love putting your fiery emotions to work by taking on a challenge—whether that’s learning a new instrument or winning your next argument. You’re confident in who you are and not afraid to take up space in the world, but you can get defensive or have some serious mood swings when times are tough. When it comes to self-care, change, and healthy conflict are your friends. Try beating a new video game, going out to a new restaurant, or changing up your style.
Taurus Moon
You’re an earthy woman who would spend all day lounging in the soft grass with fine cheeses and a bottle of your favorite red if you could. Taurus Moons are romantic, sensual, and calm when they feel safe and secure, but they can also be rigid and stubborn when it comes to leaving their comfort zone. Your self-care style is slow and luxurious. Take the time to soak in a bath, buy some new plants, or treat yourself to a meal at a high-end restaurant.
Gemini Moon
With a constantly racing mind, you love to dissect your thoughts and emotions while surrounded by good company, or any company really. When the light hits just right, Gemini Moons shine as inspired and adaptable humans, but anxiety and racing thoughts can easily take over. The biggest challenge of this placement is that these Moon signs tend to talk about their feelings (a lot!), but they don’t take the time to actually feel them. When thoughts become overwhelming, unwind by having an interesting conversation with a friend, reading, or writing.
Cancer Moon
Whether you’re in the market for kids or always make sure your friends drink enough water during a night out, Cancer Moons give off big mom energy. You have a warm and protective vibe and truly value the people you love—and they feel it, too. Your deep emotions can also lead to moodiness, manipulation, or clinging too hard to keep people around. Keep yourself centered and nourished by spending lots of quality time with family and friends, redecorating your home, or learning to cook a new meal.
Leo Moon
You’re a creative individual and channel your emotions best through art, drama, and imagination, whether that means dressing up or putting on a dramatic display at your local coffee shop when they’re out of your go-to scone. In general, you’re fun-loving and great at making friends, but your pride and stubbornness can get the best of you. When you’re in need of self-care, step outside of your head and into the land of make-believe by creating art, dressing up for a night on the town, or maybe even acting in a local play.
Virgo Moon
You’re not the most emotionally expressive person, but everyone needs a practical and grounded friend in their life. Virgo Moons are hyper-focused on details and resources, and you thrive when you feel useful. When things get out of hand, stress and worrying can get the best of you and lead to negative thinking and complaining. If you feel yourself getting too down, clear your mind by crossing something off your to-do list, simplifying your living space, or volunteering to help a friend move.
Libra Moon
Libra Moons often see themselves as one half of a whole and thrive emotionally when they’re in some kind of partnership—romantic or otherwise. You’ve got an eye for beauty, easily understand where others are coming from, and are fairly social. Watch out for your tendency to be too idealistic and get irritated when things aren’t exactly how you like them to be. Remember what’s important to you by making plans with friends, creating something beautiful, or giving your wardrobe a refresh.
Scorpio Moon
For better or worse, you have a real gift for seeing people for who they really are. With a magical and honest vibe, connecting with people on a deeper level is a natural talent of yours. On the flip side, you can be jealous and suspicious if you don’t work to keep yourself grounded and centered. To be sure you’re not getting lost in your emotions, talk it out in therapy, explore taboo subjects through art or learning, or make a big or small change in your life to get a new perspective.
Sagittarius Moon
As a Sagittarius Moon, you thrive on adventure, freedom, and being wild. You love fun and have a happy-go-lucky vibe and a great sense of humor, but personal freedom is a must when it comes to truly feeling at peace with yourself. When you feel tied down or stuck, you have a tendency to push boundaries and be self-centered. Keep that fire inside of you raging by teaching others about a topic that’s meaningful to you, learning something new, or planning a trip somewhere off the beaten path.
Capricorn Moon
Capricorn Moons have an easy time keeping their emotions in check. You likely had to grow up too fast or take on a lot of responsibility at a young age. You’re reliable, practical, and resourceful, but your high standards can leave you feeling disappointed in yourself and others. Letting your guard down is also a challenge. Stay focused and keep your confidence up by visualizing where you want to be five years from now or taking that first step toward starting a new project.
Aquarius Moon
You’re one of a kind and value your social life just as much as time spent alone in your room. One of the most positive characteristics of Aquarius Moons is that they make amazing friends because they’re so fun to be around but independent at the same time. When you’re not feeling at the top of your game, you can be emotionally detached or erratic. When this happens, make social plans with a close friend, get involved with a cause you believe in, or update your social media profiles.
Pisces Moon
As an empath, you can easily and intuitively feel the feelings of people around you. This can be tough, so it’s especially important to make sure you set clear boundaries and take time for yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed. This Moon sign’s biggest challenges are disassociating and walking around with their head in the clouds. Water and rest are the best forms of self-care for Pisces Moons—go swimming in the ocean, get lost in a book, or spend the afternoon napping on the couch.