Moon

Astronomical Facts

Radius (Earth radii): 0.3
Rotation Period (length of day): 27.3 days
Revolutionary Period (length of year): 27.3 days
Mass (Earth masses): 0.012
Density (g/cm3): 3.3
Atmosphere: Almost none. the surface of the Moon has many craters which are believed to be a result of the impact from meteorites. The Moon has almost no atmosphere. The same side of the Moon always faces the Earth. The diameter of the Moon is 3,480 kilometers and is the 5th largest Moon in our solar system (Jupiter has 3 Moon which are larger, and Saturn has one that is larger).

The Moon inscribes a circle around the earth. It moves more swiftly than other astronomical bodies and thus represents day to day and moment to moment movements, adjustments and preoccupations. The Moon is the symbol of the personal life which is molded and shaped by our environment, by events, and by social and familial expectations. Further, the Moon shows our responses to life which are based on our past habits, experiences, our heritage and our individual and collectivecravings.

Astrological Meaning

The sign placement of the Moon shows how you project yourself to the general public, how the instinctive and imaginative component of your mind operates, how you express your feelings and your most general experiences of your family and mother.

The house placement of the Moon shows how and where you make day to day adjustments. Further, it shows the things you are most interested in dealing with in order to gain emotional equilibrium.

The aspects of the Moon show the general characteristics of the personality that are emphasized. Planets in aspect to the Moon are symbolic of qualities in the personality that are used instinctively, habitually and with a high degree of versatility

Historical Myth & Legend

Selene is the Greek goddess of the Moon. Selene drove a chariot across the sky, and the rays from her golden crown lit up the night sky. When her ride finished, her brother, Helios the Sun, began his chariot ride, lighting up the day time.

Circe was another Greek goddess who has lunar qualities. Circe lived on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. When Odysseus landed on the island, Circe turned Odysseus s men into pigs. But Odysseus had a powerful herb given to him by Hermes that enabled him to turn his men back to normal form. Circe then became an ally of Odysseus and aided him in his travels. For example, by warning him of the Sirens and advising Odysseus to put wax in the ears of his sailors so that they would not be lured by the Sirens.

The Sirens were sea nymphs whose sweet singing lured sailors to their rocky island, causing their destruction on the rocky shores. he myth of Circe indicates that emotional and subconscious forces can rule our lives and put us at the ercy of their power (i.e. turn us into pigs) if we are unconsciously controlled by them, but these same emotional and subconscious forces can provide intuition, direction, and assistance if we know how to correctly attune ourselves to the instinctual, biological forces (i.e. use the correct herb). The symbol on the right is recognized by some astrologers as being the symbol of the minor asteriod Circe.