The Moon Archetype: The Functions of its Life Cycle

The Moon Archetype: The Functions of its Life Cycle

Connection is the lifeblood of the manifest 

Note: In astrology, the combined unique functions of the seven visible planets, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn, create a fourfold life cycle. This cycle is comprised of nourishment, production, distribution, and rest. Each of these planets expresses each of these four stages in its respective cycle, setting up a fractal-like pattern reflected in the whole (nature's life cycle) and each part (the life cycle of each planet).

The Moon is the archetypal matter of everything, whereas the Sun is the archetypal spirit of everything. The Sun is the dominating life force that is showered on nature. The life force is connected to the manifest world by the Moon. 

The Moon represents all things dealing with matter, the manifest world, the measure, the mind, personality, connection, fame, and fertility. It is the manifest principle and compliments the non-manifest principle of the Sun. All the planets are important for the life cycle, but the Moon is extremely important in the manifest world given that it bonds the life force, the Sun, with it. 

When all the life cycles are analyzed at once through a quantitative lens, one will see that the Moon's climax point will be the combined life cycle's high point in nature and the same can be said for the Moon's anticlimax point and middling points. This means, the Moon will mark nature's climax, anticlimax, and middling points. This shows that indeed, the Moon is the measure. For example, the face will be a strong indicator of what is going on in the body more than any other body part. If a person is sad, happy, in pain, in pleasure, etc., these states are most easily seen on the face. Also, a facial picture is the most common form of identification for a person. 

The Moon becomes manifest at 3 degrees of Taurus (commonly known as the Moon's exaltation degree) just twelve days before the spring reaches its climax. During this time, the ground is soft enough for the seeds of production and connection to be planted with the sowing of seeds and the cattle set out to graze in the fields. The nurturing of the Moon will occur from 3 degrees of Taurus to 3 degrees of Leo. This also happens on a daily basis with rush hour commutes connecting the workforce with their vocations and coworkers to begin another productive workday. In the human life, prepubescent children start to discriminate and make their first significant connections with their peers. 

Twelve days before the climax of summer, the Moon comes into its peak period using its attributes to lift nature up to its peak. By this time, the Moon comes of age in the range from 3 degrees of Leo to 3 degrees of Scorpio, and gives the day, year, and human life what they need to reach a climax of production with its power of manifestation and connection. The busy part of the day is in full swing in the afternoon, the annual growing season is at its peak thriving in Moon produced humidity, and an adult being highly fertile and having a robust network at this prime time of his/her life allows for a climax of procreation. 

At 3 degrees of Scorpio, the Moon has completed its peak and is ready to bestow and distribute its harvest, or outcome, of its connecting, fame producing, and fertility functions. Here, the daily work has ended and people are relaxing in the comfort of their home; the annual harvest is being distributed in the markets; and the intense part of adult life finished with retirement fast approaching. Life becomes ever more private at this point. One will begin to see the results of their actions when he/she begins to descend from the peak of his/her life. This quarter for which the Moon gives its results runs from 3 degrees of Scorpio to 3 degrees of Aquarius. A huge chunk of this quarter in the grand life cycle is in the thick of the non-productive period of a workday, year, and human life. One will see what he/she has reaped from his/her sowing. The results of fertility are seeing children come into their own; the result of fame is legacy. Fertility, connections, and fame will decrease as the ability to procreate and connect weakens. 

When the Moon reaches its anticlimax point of death at 3 degrees of Aquarius, it has completed its life cycle and is ready to rest and recuperate until it will rise again at its manifestation. This quarter will span from 3 degrees of Aquarius to 3 degrees of Taurus. It is a time when people are in deep sleep from the mental fatigue of the day’s work and play, when the fields cannot manifest life, and humans become disconnected from the manifest world and the people in that world. People will retreat from life in the winter of the day, year and life before being brought back to another cycle of connection, fame, and fertility in its next productive cycle. 

The Moon rises to allow nature to form fertile networks that bring about fame and procreation. After it is nourished from spring climax to summer climax, it turns on its creative and emotional power to bring forth a bountiful harvest with whatever one is creating and building. In the maturing of the Moon, networks retreat and nature turns inward. As the Moon comes into its anticlimax there is an opportunity for space in relationships that have run their course. Nature comes back to one. 

Image Source: By AnonMoos [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons