Remembering the Moon

Reflecting on the Moon and Memories for Cancer Season

In astrology, the Moon has several attributations and oversees much of our life — even in ways we may not understand. It lords over the body, the emotions, our impressions, core self, initial reactions, sense of safety, the subconscious, and child desires. It is the celestial body that governs the mundane, and how we move through the day to day. But this has had me thinking about its relationship to memory.

If you will indulge me for a second, think of the Moon as a recepticle — a vessel. If it is a point of nourishment and our impressions, then it can also be what impresses upon us, filling that vessel, full to the brim. The Moon has a connection to the tides, and water, although fluid, still creates impressions — for even water leaves marks on stone forevermore. Therefore, we can view memories as the water caught in our lunar tides.

Memories feel lunar by nature. They wax, wane, begin, reach fullness, and disseminate — and possibly even go away. Capturing a memory can feel like trying to hold water in your hands, activately watching it slip through, but new water is poured in to catch, replacing what was once there. In the end, memories leave us with nothing more than feelings. I mean it was Maya Angelou who once said (and I am paraphrasing), “People may forget what you said, but they will never forget what you made them feel”. For me…this is the essence of the Moon and its connection to memory.

So, this begs the question of how we each, individually and collectively, hold memories based on our own charts. It seems important to reflect on the Moon as a starting point. What sign is it in? Where does it live in the chart? How is it aspected? These things will have a say in how memories move through, in, with, and around us.

We know scientifically that memories are stored physically within us, our cells, and DNA. Perhaps the sign shows where in the body a memory then is held. Each sign has a connection to the a part of the body, this may be where the impressions stay. Below is a quick reference for the zodiac signs and their body part connections:

ARIES - Head, Jaw, Eyes, Adrenals, Blood Pressure, Brain
TAURUS - Throat, Neck, Tonsils, Vocal Cords, Thyroid
GEMINI - Arms, Hands, Fingers, Shoulders, Lungs, Nervous System
CANCER - Chest, Breast, Stomach, Diaphragm
LEO - Heart, Spine, Spinal Column, Upper Back, Hair
VIRGO - Digestive System, Pancreas, Intestines, Colon, Ears
LIBRA - Kidneys, Skin, Lumbar Region, Endocrine System, Buttocks
SCORPIO - Hormones, Reproductive Organs, Genitals, Pubic Bone, Blood System
SAGITTARIUS - Liver, Hips, Thighs, Sacrum, Lumbar Vertebra, Pituitary Gland, and Sciatic Nerve
CAPRICORN - Knees, Joints, Skeletal System, Tendons, Bones, and Teeth
AQUARIUS - Ankles, Legs, Circulatory System, Calves, Shins, Heels
PISCES - Feet, Lymphatic System, Veins, Tongue, Hypothalamus

Maybe we feel the memories in these parts of our bodies that our Moon sign occupies or maybe we actively find ourselves avoiding these areas because of the memories they hold. Whatever it is, I think the sign the Moon is in is not just how we react but also how we contain — or rather where. If this is the case, then we must give love to the parts of the body that hold those impressions, those memories. Treat them with tenderness and softness just as the Moon would want. Maybe we are holding onto too much here, in true Lunar fashion, bending toward the nostalgia, when all we crave is release and letting go. Think of the eclipses in this sense, potent portals of retrieval and release. Sometimes we need to eclipse things out to allow new things in. This isn’t to say that we must get rid of the memories, but instead make peace with them. And I am offering a chance to do so physically through the body and caring for where the memories may stay.

So, if the sign is the where in the body, perhaps the house that the Moon occupies is where those memories are formed or what part of the life we see our memories show up. For some of us, memories are more public or “out in the open”, while for others, we covet our memories in our quiet sanctums, unseen by many. If this is the case, does your Moon sit in a more “public” facing house or more “private” house? Do you feel that your memories are more apart of certain parts of your life or you have more memories of a certain area of your life than others? Again, I would look to the house placement. Below is a little reference for those houses (and SOME of their rulerships) to see where you may form memories or what part of your life is dominated by your memories.

FIRST HOUSE - Self, Motivation, & Personality
SECOND HOUSE - Resources, Possessions, & Values
THIRD HOUSE - Communication, Local Environment, & Immediate Connections
FOURTH HOUSE - Roots, Foundations, Family, & The Past
FIFTH HOUSE - Creativity, Joy, & Expression
SIXTH HOUSE - Well-being, Daily Life/Routines, & Vocational Situations
SEVENTH HOUSE - Relationships, Harmony, & Contracts
EIGHTH HOUSE - Intimacy, Sharing, & Shadow Work
NINTH HOUSE - Opportunities, Quest, & Philosophies
TENTH HOUSE - Publicity, Legacy, & Life Path
ELEVENTH HOUSE - Hopes, Wishes, Community, & Support
TWELFTH HOUSE - Intuition, Subconscious, & Endings

It may be worth exploring if you hold a lot of memories of things not experienced, yet that feels so real and true or that sit so deeply buried within you that you choose not to look, this could be a Moon in the 12th house. Maybe your memories are experienced in the day to day, showing up constantly as reminders in your routines, this could be a Moon in the 6th house. These are just a few little examples of how the memories may show up based on the Moon’s house placement. I urge you to consider your lunar placement and how/where/what the Moon tells you in terms of your memories. We could of course take this a step further and explore how the transiting Moon impacts the memories made, and the ones that show up for us on any given day or time. But maybe we save that for another time.

I don’t think this is comprehensive at all but something just to ponder, just as I am as well. Sometimes, it is nice to pose the questions and explore a little bit to see if the hypothesis rings true. And if it doesn’t, that is ok. That is part of creating the story and adapting astrology to your own life and experiences. It is how we form our own relationship with the craft. I am constantly seeking ways to make astrology feel more tangible…relatable…so that, like a memory, it becomes an impression, second nature.

I am infinitely curious and the Moon’s relationship to memories has dominated my morning cycle ride. Thus, the existence of this post. Take a moment to look at your own chart and let me know what you think. Share your thoughts below or your placements and let’s see what sort of explorations we can do together. And as always, thank you for allowing me the space to share to my thoughts, ponderings, and inquiries.

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