The moon is the brightest object in the night sky, but it gives no light of its own. When the moon ‘shines’, it is reflecting (casting Back) light from the sun. On some nights, the moon looks like a gleaming silver globe. On others, it appears as a thin slice of light. But the moon does not change its size and shape. Its appearance seems to change as different parts of it are lit by the sun.

The moon travels around the earth once about every 27.3 days. The moon also rotates about once every 27.3 days. Therefore only one side of the moon remains turned towards the earth. The average distance between the centers of the earth and the moon is 384,403 kilometers.

In Hindu mythology it is called ‘Chandra’ and represents or is symbolic of  “Mahakali’’ the force of preservation, destruction and recreation, its chief motivation being preservation and destruction. That is nature itself. Moon is representative of mother both according to Hindu and Greek astrological schools. It is known as mother of mothers i.e. “Shakti” or “Mahakali’’ in Hindu astrology. Moon is the fastest moving of al planets, hence most influences the general and day to day events in life. This is because it sets motion the small causes of life.

The ruler of emotions, mind and personality of a person, this planet is considered as second most important planet in Western astrology and most important in Indian astrology. Moon rules our personality, that part of ourselves that we show or project to the world, which is visible to world. Its importance can be gauged from the fact that it rules our subconscious mind i.e. the faculty that rules our habit patterns and emotional responses and which works 24 hours (even while we are asleep i.e. our conscious mind or intelligence is not working) to control all such internally vital process of body like breathing, blood flow, dreaming etc. while one’s conscious mind is sleeping. So she rules over one’s personality i.e. one’s immediate subconscious response or reaction to outside influences. The moon symbolizes pure preservation or motherly instinct, ruling preservation

It represents, fate, that part of luck, which is beyond our control i.e. the conditions or environment, in which we are born or our immediate parental atmosphere. That is why, when moon is afflicted at birth, persons may be born in obscure environments. No one can go far in life, when the moon is afflicted, because he will find it difficult to change his habit patterns instilled in his early childhood. Moon‘s position also determines the health of an individual, because it rules over the enteric body, that part of physical body, which releases chemicals or fluids into the body. Moon is exalted in the sign of Taurus and is debilitated in the sign of Scorpio. It is powerful in the sign cancer, over which it rules. It is stronger in the watery signs Cancer, Pisces, except Scorpio and earth signs Virgo and Taurus, except Capricorn. Its detriment is in the sign of Capricorn, because it is opposite sign to cancer, which it rules. Moon is a feminine planet. It is so impressible, that it is most influenced by the sign, in which it may be placed at placed at birth. In numerology, moon rules the number 2(two).Hence persons strongly born under it, are happy to be having two interests and content at number two position in any organization. Moon rules over public, hence persons born strongly under it are likely to be popular among and good public leaders.
The Moon signifies the Mind. Since the Moon is the heavenly body closest to the earth, the magnetic influences of all other planets reach the Earth through the Moon. Also since the mind is ruled by the Moon and all influences on the Human Being whether physical, mental, and psychological or supernatural is affected through the human mind, the moon is very significant. It is found in the famous Vedic verse ‘Chandrama Manso Jatah’ means moon was born from the mind of cosmic man’
Moon rules over that part of mind, which retains information, hence it is a clear indicator of memory .Persons with an afflicted moon, do not have good memory. Moon along with Neptune has chief rule over water .As moon represents or absorbs all the influences of other planets;  it is a clear indicator of fate. Moon rules over our senses.

The moon has youthful form with a white body. Moon represents new fine clothes. Moon is lord of the North. The moon is lord of rainy season. Moon signifies the female qualities, Vaishya by caste and sattvic in nature. It presides over element water and rules over the tides of the sea. Moon rises with headforemost. The moon is wandering and unsteady. Moon rests in water. The moon is the ruler of the plant and vegetable kingdom. The moon is a lustrous planets.

The moon is fair, attractive in appearance, capable of knowing things, related to aesthetics, fickle –minded, wavering, breezy and phlegmatic in constitution speaks sweet words and is kind hearted. She is a friend, is of Sattvic temperament, mild, truthful, charitable, god fearing, righteous, loving, and optimistic, and helps others. A malefic moon causes venereal diseases and nose inflammation. She has an appetite for salty things. Moon’s gemstone is ‘pearl’ and metal is ‘silver’. The day of moon is Monday. The deity related with moon is Lord Shiva.

In Hindu astrology Moon’s position at birth in a horoscope determines the directional period of all other planets for whole of the life of native. Moon cooperates sympathetically with or is friendly to Jupiter, Mars ,Mercury ,Sun and Ketu (Dragon’ tail) and neutral towards or enemies  are Venus, Saturn and Rahu (Dragon’s Head), according to Hindu astrology.

She is the queen amongst planets and is next only to the Sun. It represents personality, feelings, emotions, passions pleasure and pain. She waxes or wanes accordingly as manifested in the brighter or darker half. The former is called the ‘Shukla Paksha’ and the latter, ‘Krishna Paksha’.

Vedic Astrology has a unique system of prediction based on the position of moon in a given Nakshtra(constellation).It offers the most powerful predictive techniques as compared to other forms of astrology. It was the Moon that ancient people first looked to for calculating time and connecting the stars. Constellations are the backbone of astrology. A constellation is the name given to the constellations or mansions of the Moon, as the Moon resides in each of these constellations for one day. The 27 constellations are known as the 27 Nakshatras.
They are: Ashwini, Bharani, Kritika, Rohini, Mrigshirsa, Adra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Magha, Purvaphalguni, Uttarphalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Visakha, Anuradha, Jyestha, moola, Poorvashadha, Uttarashadha, Sravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhishak, Purva bhadraprada, Uttar bhadrapada, and Revati.

According to Hindu mythology Moon had married 27 daughters of King Daksha, who are star constellations in the sky. But he loved to spent time only with Rohini .Other wives complained of the matter to their father. In spite of the king’s repeated interference, the Moon did not rectify the habit. The king finally cursed moon cause it to wan in size. When the Moon started diminishing in size, all gods intervened and requested the king to revoke the curse. The King assured that only if the Moon visits all his wives, would he regain his strength for half a month. This is the reason why Moon visits the entire 27 constellation during the month, constantly waxing and waning in size.

The waxing Moon is benefic, whereas the waning would be malefic. Some perceive the moon to be benefic from the fifth of Shukla Paksha to the fifth of Krishna Paksha and malefic afterwards. She influences more strongly during the night as compared to the sun’s activity during the day.

MOON IN DIFFERENT HOUSES

Placement of planets in different houses involves an interaction between the inherent nature of the planet and the significations of the houses concerned. The result of such planetary placement, as mentioned hereunder, has been taken from classical works on Vedic astrology. Here is a brief account of the results of Moon when located in different houses.
                                   
The moon is adverse in houses 6, 8 and 12 where it causes Balarishta (or death in early childhood), unless under benefic influences.

1st house: insane, deaf, wicked, mute, mentally disturbed, dark complexioned, ill-looking. If such a moon is under malefic influence, the native doesn’t survive long. These results do not apply to the signs Mesha, Virsha, or karka identical with the lagna.
Note-
in Mesha lagna: many children
In Virsha lagna (exaltation): wealthy, famous, and good in looks.
In Karka lagna (own house): wealthy, famous, good in looks.
Full moon in lagna: fearless, wealthy, and long-lived.

2nd house: sweet tongued, wealthy, physical comforts, fond of women, large family, a man of few words.
3rd house: virtuous, brave, blessed with brothers, educated.
4th house: happy, detached, learned, sensuous, fond of water sports.
5th house: blessed with children, wealth and learning, a coward.
6th house: short-lived, soft-skin, easily angered, troubled by opponents, abdominal disorders.
7th house: good-looking, given to sexual excess, possesses beautiful wife, a wanderer.
8th house: wise and learned, fickle, diseased, short-lived.
9th house: devoted to his duties, blessed with comforts, wealth, learning, and children, adored by women.
10th house: wealthy, pious, efficient, powerful and liberal, completes his undertakings to perfection.
11th house: wealthy and famous, brave, thoughtful, blessed with sons, long-lived.
12th house: indolent, humiliated, miserable, fallen diseased in the eye, resides in a foreign country.

 MOON IN DIFFERENT SIGNS

Aries: Easily angered, wealthy, without brothers and sisters, blessed with sons, courageous, wanderer, inconsistent, lustful, pleasing to women, honoured by the ruler; scared of going into the water; with weak-knee, having round and pretty eyes, disfigured nails and scarred head; scanty hair on the body.
Taurus: Charitable; curly-hair; sensuous ;honoured; blessed with physical pleasures; very courageous; strong ;father of many daughters; having prominent face, shoulders, thighs, knees and feet; deprived of money, family and progeny; forgiving in nature; stable in friendship. Moon in the first half of Vrisha is adverse for mother, in second half for father.
Gemini: Poet; blessed with physical pleasures, skillful in sexual acts; good looking; highly intelligent; jovial; versed in scriptures, interprets hidden thoughts; pleasant eyes, sweet tongued.
Cancer: Of fluctuating wealth; knower of astrology; fast in walking; blessed with houses, land; fortune and friends; indulgent in physical pleasures; liable to lose his cool; likes water sports, orchards and watery places.
Leo: Frequents hills and jungles; broad face, neck and bones; energetic; scanty hair on the head; hater of women; tormented by hunger, thirst and abdominal and dental ailments; likes animal food; charitable; aggressive; few sons; devoted to his parents; indulges in physical pleasures.
Virgo: Fond of women and tormented by them; of pleasing looks; very learned ;teacher; religiously inclined; sweet tongued, truthful, composed ; does good to others; forgiving nature; many daughters and few sons; likes song, dance and music; enjoys the wealth of others; lives in a foreign land.
Libra: prominent nose and eyes, slim-bodied; hen –pecked; devoted to gods, Brahmins and to the virtuous; skilled in trade; doesn’t covet others’ wealth; of fluctuating fortune; forgiving in nature; defective of some limb; ailing; helpful to relatives and abandonment by them.
Scorpio: Sickly in early age; strong of body; covetous; atheist; pretty eyes; wealthy; fond of others’ wives; cruel hearted; bereft of relatives; deprived of his wealth by the ruler; having prominent abdomen and forehead; indulges in secret sins.
Sagittarius: Of a sattvik nature; wealthy; haughty; versed in several arts; inherits property; charitable; strong; eloquent speaker; poet; religiously inclined; opposed to his own relatives; very courageous; yields only to love and kindness.
Capricorn: Versed in music; learned; subdued by women; charitable and forgiving; pleasing to his wife; religiously inclined; wanderer; lazy; intolerant of cold or chill; beautiful eyes and skin; beautiful and tall body.
Aquarius: Indolent; clever; attached to other’s wives; sinful; sculptor; liked by friends; ill-natured; poor; enjoys the wealth of others.
Pisces: Very talented; earning by dealing in produce of the ocean, like pearls etc; devoted to his wife and children; sculptor; overcome his opponents easily yields to women; god natured and charitable; has a beautiful and symmetrical body.