Security check! The moon shows what you need in order to feel “at home” in the world and in your relationships. Do you require a lot of verbal reassurance or do you feel loved when people encourage you to take risks and shine? Do you need your own space or do you want to move in together as fast as possible? Even the way you build a nest egg can be revealed by the moon’s position in your chart. The moon is often thought of as the counterpart to the Sun: el Sol is expressive while la luna is receptive. The Sun’s energy radiates outward while the moon processes all that heat and energy coming our way. What pushes your buttons? Where are you most sensitive? And how much emotion do you reveal?

Because the moon spins on its axis at the same speed that it orbits planet Earth, we can only glimpse half of her from our vantage point down here. There really is a dark side of the moon; it’s not just the trippy name of a Pink Floyd album. This metaphor totally translates to the moon’s role in the chart. Every moon sign has its own light side—the obvious feelings that we are comfortable with expressing. And, then, there’s a dark side: the emotions that creep up and catch us by surprise; ones we may even try to reject within ourselves. Understanding your moon sign can bring a deep sense of self-knowledge, but may also be a lifelong quest for understanding.