The Moon is the closest “planet” to us on Earth. The Sun and Moon, although not actual planets, are considered the “luminaries” in astrology, and the type of light they share is how they are interpreted.
We usually know our Sun sign first in astrology. It makes sense that it takes up a lot of space in pop culture, as the Sun is all about our light taking up space. But the Moon’s light does so much behind the scenes.
The Moon reflects the larger, more expansive light of the Sun, and brings it inward. The sign our Moon is in shows us our more internal, private self. It’s here where we also see what we need to feel safety and the nurturance our body craves. Our Moon is often said to be the hardest part of our chart to change, because it is like our primal animal self.
The Moon is related to our inner child and what they needed when we were young, whether we got it or not. During ancient times, the Moon also represented the mother or nurturing figures in a person’s life, and what our relationship with them was like.
I also like to call the Moon our “gremlin mode,” because it’s the part of us that we don’t often show to everyone. The Moon is us at our most private times, only trusted with our closest loved ones. It’s why, in relationship compatibility, I think the Moon is often overlooked, especially for living with a romantic partner. When our Moon doesn’t get a chance to feel comfy in their own particular oddball way, we can grow tense or grumpy.