Meaning of the Moon in Astrology
The Moon in astrology represents our relationship with our mother, the state of our physical/ emotional body, and what we need to feel satisfied.
In esoteric astrology, it is said that the soul is trapped in the sign the moon is in. Meaning, the placement of the moon in the natal chart indicates how we express ourselves when feeling insecure. There’s a tendency to manipulate to reap emotional satisfaction instead of confessing emotional needs. There are sensitivities about certain aspects of life and can lead to abuse in vices such as food, people, status, or things when triggered.
Despite the fact that it is where the soul hides, it is also where we can find our greatest strength. Through understanding our natal Moon, we can address internal needs and integrate with the unseen parts of ourselves.
By nourishing our emotional needs daily, we are free to connect with others and provide intimacy, acceptance and nonverbal care.
Daily Struggle
If you have Cancer Moon in the eighth house, you often struggle with receiving emotional validation when in need. You expect emotional support from your spouse, partners, in-laws, or clients, to the point that it is“suffocating” to them. You either expect the other to be emotionally vulnerable with you or feel that they should be when you demand it. This can confuse the nature of the relationship if it wasn’t previously established. This vicious cycle challenges your ability to connect with those that you care about intimately and it is impossible to break if not aware.
The Moon is comfortable in Cancer, so you easily understand your emotions and are willing to share the rawness of it. However, you may struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, or frustrations due to picking up other people’s mentalities –especially those bonded with you sexually or financially. You can easily empathize with those who struggle with compulsions and dark thoughts and often meet them where they are. Although, this can be dangerous if you become too attached and not find objectivity in the situation.
The compulsive behavior of caring for the other when they are feeling dark or in need comes from your subconscious desire for someone doing the same for you. You deeply understand the struggle of feeling abandoned, depressed, and unworthy and this may come from how you relate to your mother.
Connection to Mother
You perceive your mother as someone who is the “Great Mother,” who kept the family together at all costs to make sure emotional/material needs were met. However, she may have kept the family together inexpensive to you finding your individuality.
You value your relationship with your mother because she was always there to care for you no matter what. However, you fear to share your true feelings due to not wanting to betray her and risk abandonment.
This anxiety transfers over to relationships to those close to you (financially, emotionally, sexually) and forces you to discern the difference between needing help or wanting acceptance and sympathy.
Emotional Needs
What you need to feel emotionally secure is privacy and space to process your emotions. When you spend time with those you care for, you end up taking on their troubles and issues and they start to weigh on you. It’s important that you prioritize time alone so that you can get reacquainted with your mind, emotions, and personal desires. You feel secure when you are in familiar settings and surrounded by comforting materials and foods.
Although you are sensitive to the unfulfilled desires of others, it’s important that you take care of yours first. You thrive when you understand where you have power in the relationship and you do your best when you acknowledge the other’s emotional needs. But if you do this to the point of crossing personal boundaries, the relationship suffers due to you being defensive, controlling, and manipulative.
How to Integrate
How to integrate with your hidden self, is by acknowledging when you have to step aside and attend to your needs without making the other feel guilty. When you can share your subjective perspective, you grant the other ability to do the same.
Once you are able to share who you are and give the other space to do the same, you’ll receive what you’ve always wanted out of the relationship. Emotional intimacy is important to you and heals past wounds that were attained during childhood. But it starts with acknowledging where you stand in the relationship and sharing what you know and feel so that you and the other can merge with you.
References
Spiritual Astrology by Jan Spiller and Karen McCoy
Hades Moon by Judy Hall