Most people are familiar with their sun signs, which are simply determined by the date of your birth and which of the twelve zodiac signs the sun was traveling through at that time. The sun signs start with Aries, which lasts from March 21 through April 19, and end with Pisces from February 19 through March 20. This is what people are talking about when they ask “what’s your sign” to pick someone up at bar or party and it is also what daily horoscopes are written about. The sun is not the only celestial body that controls our astrological inclinations, though. The position of the moon at the time of your birth is also believed to have a huge effect on your temperament and personality.

The influence of the moon is quite different from the influence of the sun in terms of astrology. The moon is believed to control our instincts, as well as our emotions and unconscious side. We all have a side of ourselves that reacts before we even have time to think, and the moon is what controls that. The personality you keep hidden, whether you realize it or not, is more than likely influenced by your moon sign. This side of yourself might feel things you don’t want others to know about, such as forbidden fantasies. It might also be controlled by fear, hate or other undesirable emotions.

The moon’s influence on your personality is about more than just skeletons in the closet, though. Your moon side influences how you feel spontaneous feelings of joy and intense pleasure. Your moon side is also stimulated by sensory experiences such as the feeling of fresh grass underneath your feet or the scent of your favorite flowers. Moon signs rule the five senses and also control your emotional receptivity to other people. So the moon is not to be taken lightly – it can influence your romantic relationships and affect how you experience life.

Determining what your moon sign is can be a bit more difficult than finding out what your sun sign is. First of all, you must find a moon table. Basically the moon spends about two and a half days in each sign during every 29-day period. When you locate your moon sign in a table you will start by finding your year of birth, and then you will find the month of your birth. The table will typically list every date that the moon moved into a new sign for that month. You can also have your birth chart done by an astrology expert, which will include your moon sign and many other valuable pieces of information. This is the most accurate and in-depth way to find out more about your astrological self.

Sometimes your exact time of birth can have an affect on your moon sign if you were born on a day that the moon moved into a new sign. If you were born at five minutes after midnight on a day that the moon moved from Aquarius to Pisces, for example, you might find that you exhibit more of the Aquarian moon traits. This is why it’s a good idea to read the descriptions of the previous moon sign if you were born on one of these days.

The side of yourself that lies beneath the surface, which is believed to be controlled by the moon, can have a great affect on all aspects of your life and relationships. Understanding your true moon sign will allow you to have a better understanding of yourself.

- Gaia Veenis