(My Wildly Afflicted) Capricorn Moon in the 9th House

Plainly speaking, the natal placement of the moon in Capricorn is not an easy one. Astrologers consider Capricorn moon to be in detriment, since the sign is in opposition to the ruler of the moon, Cancer. Capricorn, concerned primarily with authority and security, doesn't typically play well with the moon, which concerns itself with emotion and sentimentality. When the two attempt to somehow move in cooperation with each other it produces interesting results, to say the least.

Capricorn moon natives are emotionally solid at the very core, and others usually sense this. They almost always maintain a certain degree of emotional distance from others, even (or especially) between themselves and those they care for most. As a result, they may seem cold and unfeeling at times. They eschew weakness and emotional dependency, expecting capable and strong behavior as standard- both from themselves and others. They find it difficult to be involved in increasingly dramatic situations, and find petty melodrama to be virtually unbearable. They can be highly demanding, perhaps most so of themselves. Capricorn moon's constant struggle is to remain in control of their emotions, which they (for one reason or another) have learned to view as a detriment to their success.

While it's often erroneously referred to as an unfeeling moon, the actual issue with the Capricorn moon native isn't that she is devoid of feeling- it's that her feelings are intensely serious business to her. When hurt emotionally, the pain can be so great that the native loses the control over herself that she so highly values. As a result of this, she learns early to fear the expression of softness, neediness, and vulnerability. As a reaction, the inner world of Capricorn moon is dark and musty more often than not. They often feel burdened by the heavy emotions they deal with in solitary and often appear weary as a result. Viewing the world, particularly the emotional world, with such stark realism inevitably leads to a certain degree of pessimism. Instead of being a negative, this pessimism typically blesses natives with a hilarious, dry wit which is possibly their greatest asset.

They are happiest with a dream in process- a goal (job, relationship, new undertaking, etc) that they sense is worth the effort to build up brick by brick. They pride themselves on being emotional builders and creators, and so learn early how to put on the perfect show. They easily can read, and then play off of, the emotions of others and so can effortlessly influence them. Unless aspected to the contrary, it doesn't take long for Capricorn moon natives to convince others to promote them, rally for them, respect them, or love them. At the core, they are influential, shrewd and persevering people, while also being slightly calculating and manipulative. The constant curse of this moon placement is that while the native knows the difference between what is created and what is real, those around them are naturally suspicious of their intentions. As a result of it's very nature, Capricorn moon often loses what it loves most honestly.

The placement of Capricorn moon in the 9th house produces a person who is loyal, above most things, to intellectual interests which can expand their understanding of the world, such as travel, exploration, politics, philosophy and religion. This interest in a variety of cultures and belief systems enables them to understand and identify with many different types of people. It's likely that, in childhood, the native's mother encouraged her to question all ideas and beliefs before accepting them, a habit that soon became a rule.

9th house Capricorn moons are almost always drawn to things which are far away and foreign, with a constant craving for things they have never experienced before. H9 Capricorn moon natives feel most at home when a "stranger in a strange land," and will consciously seek this experience out. They want to do everything within their power to completely immerse themselves in the feelings and tastes of a new person, place or thing, rather than simply have facts or an intellectual appreciation. This urge makes them emotionally restless, and a wanderer in more than a few ways. They are difficult to pin down, since they have constantly rotating devotions. This commitment to passion and discovery at times can be darkly overwhelming to others, but their dedication and self discipline has the power to move mountains.

Sun Square Moon : Pater/Mater conflicts

The Sun Square Moon aspect occurs when the Sun is found at a 90 degree angle to the Moon in an individual's natal chart. In general, this aspect reflects emotional issues and a strong inner restlessness which acts as a driving force. Individuals with this difficult natal aspect will find that what they want and what they need are constantly at odds with each other. There is a tendency to attract or be attracted to challenging or impossible situations as an unconscious attempt to recreate the tension of early childhood, causing the individual to effectively become his/her own worst enemy.

For whatever reason, individuals born with this aspect in their natal chart didn't feel needed or accepted as children. The clash between their parents or role models, if there ever were any, made them feel as if their very being was unacceptable. As a result, the native had to learn to find fulfillment and balance without much support or guidance from their primary teachers. The parents did not have simply opposite personalities, as is the case with Sun opposition Moon. It is more likely that their relationship was a continual struggle which they may or may not have known their child was aware of. This tension existed as a constant, underlying current within the domestic atmosphere which affected the native deeply. Sun square Moon individuals internalized the tension they were born into and always feel out of place as a result. Their inner dynamics have been distorted, resulting in personal frustration and difficulties in joining their will and feelings to co-operation.

The ongoing struggle for these individuals is between their need for nurture and their need for independence. When they get the autonomy that they crave, they feel unsupported by others. When they receive the support they crave, they feel smothered. This internal clash is most apparent in the relationships they form: confrontations and challenges are frequent, not just with romantic partners, but also on the job, with friends, and so forth. However, these natives often have a lot of drive and moxie. They are resilient creatures who have faced conflict and survived it many times, giving them an inner strength that attracts many. They will thusly be given many opportunities to learn and work through these issues, though they may leave a trail of heartbreak (theirs and others') behind them.

A stressful Sun-Moon aspect seems to imprint the native with the (often unconscious) expectation that all relationships (be it romantic, friendly, or job related) will eventually fail and end. Though the desire to form lasting, beneficial connections with others is very strong, the native will be acutely aware of conflicts in partnership, taking them to heart. These powerful, contradictory emotions are so overwhelming to the native that she will constantly battle to control their release. The accumulating pressure inevitably bursts from time to time, and the native will periodically display spontaneous argumentative, provocative and belligerent tendencies as a result.

The upside of this natal conflict is found in the fact that these individuals are more than willing to work out problems in a relationship due to their acute awareness and sensitivity to them. They will want to deal with issues quickly, frankly and thoroughly in order to make them "go away." However, if they face a partner who denies that problems exist in the first place they easily become frustrated and intolerable. This is because learning and growing through relationships is a basic urge for these individuals - so basic that it becomes a need. These natives learn the most about themselves through their relationships, and need partners who are willing to be a part of that process. This aspect also tends to add a protective and valiantly caring side to the personality. The person will be remarkably passionate about the people they love. They tend to be strongly loyal to their roots and, perhaps ironically, usually make excellent parents.

Circumstances will eventually force the native to either overcome their own ego, aligning themselves with their own true potential or fall into a state of self pity, resentment and bitterness. When committed and aligned, the isolated and lonely child has the option of using the power of the square to become what she truly wants to be. Which she chooses is entirely dependent on the path she chooses.

Aries Sun in the 12th House

Aries is the raw energy of life itself: enthusiastic, child-like, and always in motion. Regarding Aries as the child of the zodiac goes a long way in helping to understand it’s motivations. In spite of it’s rough reputation, Aries is a generous and loving energy. If it’s perceived by others as impetuous and irrational, it’s only that Aries’ carefree, careless handling of life's experience startles people who are more cautious and slow-moving with their path. Easily frustrated, Aries Sun forgets just as easily as it is provoked, and is sometimes baffled by others’ unwillingness to forget it’s outbursts. Natives naturally experience life as intensely as possible; the good with the bad, all just as passionately.

The placement of an Aries sun in the 12th house, however, produces a somewhat atypical Aries individual. The 12th is the ending house, while Aries is the beginning sign. This produces a person who seems to be obsessed with endings and beginnings- starting new, risky endeavors while involved in one which is already successful, neglecting to take advantage of opportunities that come their way, demolishing decent relationships to begin new, riskier ones, etc. The 12th house’s “undoing” behaviors finds a willing and able participant in Aries, who is always rejuvenated by the prospect of something new to explore. They may seem to always be cutting themselves off at the knees and sabotaging their own happiness, even when they are fully aware of what they‘re doing.

As a child, 12th House Aries’ individuality may have been overlooked in some way by those they loved most. Whether by lack of attention, smothering/overbearingness, or some other dysfunction of caring, they may not have been encouraged to recognize and treasure what made them different. The H12 sun child has difficulty distinguishing between the self and other, and other children perceive them to be unnervingly lacking in self interest. As a result of this, they are often bullied as children. Not surprisingly, by early adulthood most 12th house sun personalities have developed a tough or flamboyant exterior as a defense. There is also an exceptionally large risk for retreat into excessive alcohol and drug abuse as the native uses them as a way to escape to a more exciting, accepting reality.

The melancholy that resides underneath their more optimistic energy can sometimes get the best of 12th house Aries; they may seem to “burn out” earlier, and take longer to recover from crisis, than others of their sun sign. Though difficult, if the native confronts the challenges of the 12th house head on and finds ways to channel it’s self sacrificing tendencies in healthy ways, they can emerge on the other side an exceptionally magical, overwhelmingly imaginative and child-like human being, eager and able to share it‘s tremendous gifts with others.

The sun in the 12th sometimes indicates issues with the father. Whether there is separation by death, circumstance, personality clash, or something else entirely, there is almost always a drastic disconnect of some sort which prevents true bonding (if your mother was the more stereotypically “masculine” parent, it could apply to her instead). They may spend the rest of their lives trying on different “fathers,” and will suffer greatly in doing so. It will seem that the moment they make their idol the complete focus of their life, the person will be taken away from them. The reason this occurs is to force the individual to seek their true father, which is a force greater than themselves. They will find peace only when they begin to seek a greater love beyond the physical. This is the primary lesson that souls with this placement have chosen to endure.

Natal Astrology 101

Astrology (latin for “star logic”) connects the patterns of our solar system with life on earth. At the very moment you were born, every planet and asteroid was found in specific place. Similarly to how the pull of the moon affects ocean tides and menstruation cycles, the pull and positions of the planets influence each of us to express ourselves in unique ways.

Each sign has it's own designated "energy," or (as I prefer) "influence." The first five planets (Sun through Mars) are the “personal planets,” which (since they are closer to the earth) change signs more often and affect your personality uniquely. The last five planets (Jupiter through Pluto) are generational planets, or energies that influence everyone born around the same time as you. These planets are farther away and change signs much more slowly than the personal planets do. However your generational planets' house positions, and how they interact with your personal planets, are still be very specific to you.

Each planet is found within a house, all of which are assigned according to your exact birth time. The houses rotate differently from the planets, like a wheel within a wheel. The Houses determine to a large degree the area of life in which each sign/influence acts, and the goals and activities on which its drive or impulse will be (or should be) focused.

Plainly speaking, the planets indicate our general way of being while the houses influence how we go about expressing it. For example, if you have Mercury in H10 Gemini, you'll have the thinking patterns of a Gemini but communicate it like a Capricorn (the ruler of the tenth house). My sun in H12 Aries means I have the consciousness of an Aries but express it like a Pisces.

The North Node, while not a planet or asteroid, is referred to in astrology as your "life's path." The influences suggested by this sign and it’s house position is one you must strive to incorporated into your life in order to feel most at peace and fulfill your purpose in your current earth cycle.

Additionally, the planets (depending on their sign & house placement) interact with each other differently in every individual's chart, which leads to positive or negative inner struggles and issues. Some of these positions (aka aspects) are more favorable than others.

Each planet represents a different part of your personality. Here's a small breakdown:

Sun: the overall self and how it's expressed, the conscious ego.
Moon: overall emotions, memories, moods, how we react and adapt to joy and turmoil.
Mercury: communication, mentality, thinking patterns.
Venus: how we love, feelings of affection, perception of beauty, sympathy and unity.
Mars: sex, aggression, ambition, action, how we argue/fight our battles.
Jupiter: goals, our sense of justice, morality, and personal growth.
Saturn: how we endure duty, discipline, responsibility, rules, limitations, structure.
Uranus: the expression of individuality, independence, self discovery.
Neptune: idealism, illusion, confusion, deception, perception of art & music.
Pluto: rebellion, transformation, and intense, deeply buried needs.

Each house represents the following energies:
1st House (Ascendant) : The Unconscious Ego, identity, how you approach life, the physical body, how others perceive you.
2nd House: Ownership (of the self, emotions, possessions, etc), values, priorities.
3rd House: Communication, mental exploration, mind, memory, mental energy.
4th House: The home and family, caring in general. Comfort and comforting things. All things cyclical.
5th House: Pleasures and leisure, children, aggressive creativity, love affairs and sex (as action, not necessarily as deep mental connection).
6th House: Health and well-being. Services to others and the self, criticism & critique.
7th House (Descendant): Relationships, marriage, ideals in companionship. Agreements, commitments.
8th House: Birth, death, beginnings and endings. Sexuality, control, self-transformation.
9th House: Spirituality, travel, adventure, higher education. All things which seek to expand one's experience. Freedom.
10th House: Aims and ambitions, direction. Fortitude, authority, power. Vocation, self-manifestation.
11th House: Friendships, both close and detached. Interaction with others, the urge to belong, being a part of a larger whole.
12th House: Mysticism, dreams, imagination, secrets. Retreat, deception, undoing, reflection and self-sacrifice.

Astrology isn't law and doesn't predestine anyone to anything, it merely lets you know that karmically you're influenced to handle/deal with/experience things in a certain way. Being aware of those influences has (for me anyway) been really, really helpful in making better decisions for myself and understanding myself a lot more. Phew! Okay, now the fun stuff!