Moon-Sun

[Parto]

Is it just the Sun modifying the Moon, or does it go both ways? In the context of aspects to luminaries being a way of a planet having strength in a chart, I've seen a few references to a Moon-Sun aspect adding solar energy, but never to it adding lunar energy.

[Jim Eshelman]

Is it just the Sun modifying the Moon, or does it go both ways? In the context of aspects to luminaries being a way of a planet having strength in a chart, I've seen a few references to a Moon-Sun aspect adding solar energy, but never to it adding lunar energy.

What a great question!

First of all, I wouldn't say that the aspect only "adds solar energy" - I would say it adds energy! Energy of all types, physical and psychological. Strong Moon-Sun aspects are energetic, dynamic, give terrific drive, are forceful, provide psychic vitality, are success-biased and - especially - have intense desire and passion in whatever they undertake. In fact, the aspect is at least as passionate and propelled by desire (sexual and other) as Venus-Mars. The two aspects have significant similarities, evidently because Moon-Sun and Venus-Mars are the two clear gender-polarized, gender equilibrating aspects.

While a lot of this sounds rather yang, and thus predominantly solar, I don't think that's what it is at all. I think it's a consequence of the fusion or collaboration of the two main components of the psyche, the self-conscious ego and sub-consciousness (Ruach and Nefesh). There are only two luminaries and they are both aspected by luminaries!

Some of the more descriptive key phrases for interpreting these aspects fuse lunar and solar words. For example, we speak of psychic vitality and of being "at home" with power. Attaining some significant distinction is perhaps their primary adaptation to maximize psychological survival.

To some extent, we would expect more pronounced "Sun modifying Moon" than the opposite because, across all the planets, it is usually easier to see the more outer of the two planets as affecting the more inner of the two. In that sense, everything aspects Moon as the fastest of the planets. On closer inspection, though, this seems to more an equilibration, a great force primarily because such powerful, primary psychic mates are locked in unremitting copulation.

[Jim Eshelman]

This is a little more obvious, maybe, in the few words I picked for the primary Principle of Moon-Sun aspects: Desire, psychic vitality, instincts serve ego+purpose, importance as an adaptation.

[Jim Eshelman]

Let's go back to the simplest form of your question:

Is it just the Sun modifying the Moon, or does it go both ways?

What does Sun "do to another planet" when in aspect? It energizes or vitalizes the planet, identifies ego with it, makes the other planet's qualities central to one's nature.

What is affected when Moon is aspected? One's outer mask or persona, our emotional responsiveness, and relations with mother figures or the public.

So, in theory, "Sun modifying Moon" would energize and vitalize one's mask or persona, energize emotional responsiveness, and vitalize connection to the public. It would identify the ego with one's persona (wow, that's a big deal! the psychic equilibration of true sense of self with adaptive behavior!). It would make these adaptive behavior-formation and emotional responsiveness "central to one's nature." Admittedly, this is very stilted, clumsy language, someone obtuse; but if you think and feel your way through, you'll encounter very significant psychological processes (some of which can be labelled, some of which have to be intuited).


Now let's take it from the other side and ask: What would it be like for "Moon modifying Sun"?

What does Moon "do to another planet" when in aspect? It responds freely to the planet's energies, permits its easy expression, and employs its energies for adaptation.

What is affected when Sun is aspected? The aspect impacts our sense of identity, attitudes toward authoritative persons or institutions, and vitality.

So, in theory, "Moon modifying Sun" would respond freely to solar themes and motifs (things such as vitality, glory, authority figures), desire them, give easy expression in oneself to vitality, authority, and centricity, and - something I don't recall seeing anyone else write about so I tend to think of it as an original insight - "Moon modifying Sun" uses solar behaviors and energies for adaptation, as mentioned above.

[Parto]

Thanks for the full coverage. You also ended up clarifying "importance as an adaptation," which seemed a bit of an awkward phrase to me (which I chalked up to this being a complex interplay to describe), but now it makes total sense.

[Jim Eshelman]

Why does the Moon change but the Sun doesn t?

Moon's basic nature is change. Sun's basic nature is continuity.

These are some of the earliest ideas about Sun and Moon. In the night sky, Moon visibly changes from night to night as she expands to fullness, shrinks to invisibility, then expands again. I don't these metaphors are causative or directly important to the astrological symbolism, but it's nonetheless true that these were some of the earliest ideas.

Also, everything changes in some ways. The solar part of our being "changes" in the sense that it develops and matures. It is the best, closest astrological symbol for that single thing which we are at our core, a persisting "who we are" in this life. From infancy forward, we are growing into this, seeking it, uncovering it, getting closer to it, becoming more wholly who we're capable of being. All of this may seem like it's "changing," but it's basic idea isn't changing: It's just "growing up." It is our persistent simple, core nature, our sense that we are an "I" with a specific nature - that we are a specific somebody.

Moon, on the other hand, is fundamentally adaptive. From ages long before the concept of "I" or being "a distinctive somebody" entered a human mind, as animals we needed to adapt constantly to changing conditions in our environments. Our ability to respond and mold ourselves - an important part of learning - neurologists call plasticity (being molded and shaped like plastic). Moon is the astrological symbol of our responsiveness and plasticity, our adaptation to our physical environments (which, over time, has also meant adaptation our social and psychological environments).

Even with their signs, Sun and Moon express this same relationship. Both Sun-sign and Moon-sign give us important traits. Sun-sign traits, though, are what we are at our core (with all the stumblings and fumblings of uncovering and growing into it.) Moon-sign traits are adaptive and responsive. Looking at these in relationship to each other in real people, we might observe that Sun-sign traits are more basic, even inner, while Moon-sign traits are more outward, sometimes called "the first thing you notice about someone." Most people lead in social interaction with their Moon-sign traits (modified by Moon's aspects) so that these also are reflected in their most obvious social behaviors, style of dress, form of their homes and other immediate environments. Many people actually hide their Sun-sign traits with Moon-sign behaviors, which seems a protective act ("don't let them know what I'm really like, protect the hidden stash of gold," etc.).

By the way, I don't know if you've seen it but I recently released a free e-book on Sidereal Sun-sign and Moon-sign traits. You can download it here:
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