The Luminaries

Irrespective of one's gender, the Sun and the Moon represent the primary masculine and feminine archetypes at work within the psyche. Yet despite this primacy both the Sun and Moon can remain largely undeveloped. The mark of a well developed Sun is a creative capacity. A well developed moon is characterised by an emotional maturity and instincitve wisdom.

The Sun - Divine Child, Fool, Hero & King

In keeping with its location, the Sun plays a central role in both astrology as well as our psychology. The Sun's sign, our 'star' sign, describes the essence of our being, our natural energy, ability and demeanour.

When we express our Sun our individuality shines through and lights up the world around us. When we fail to live the Sun we are liable to grow bored and despondent. If we are possessed by the Sun we become overly proud, arrogant and self-centred. A well integrated Sun blesses us with a sense of meaning and purpose in life.

Our solar energy must be realised, developed and offered back to life. This is the hero's journey which begins with the divine child and is realised in the mythical figure of the true and benign ruler.

The Moon - Maiden, Mother, Crone

Whereas the Sun describes what we seek to become, the Moon's placement describes who we are. That is, the Moon describes a simpler, more natural, aspect of our being. Generally speaking, in our daily life, we live out our Moon sign more than any other planet. We live our Moon as we interact with the world around us.

Our natural response taps into a deeper instinctive wisdom. In the early stages of our development the Moon describes how we react. As we mature it describes how we respond to life.

The Moon also describes the Mother within. At the outset it characterise our own emotional needs. As the moon develops it describes how we care for ourselves and care for others. In myth the archetypal figure of the moon has three faces.

• The Maiden - Our sensitivity and how we may care for ourselves
• The Mother - How we care for others
• The Crone - Our deeper instinctive wisdom

An undeveloped Moon leaves us feeling alone and outside the general flow of life - we are ill at ease with our environment. Ultimately we may feel isolated and uncared for.  If we are consumed by the Moon then our lives become one continual process which seems to lack any particular direction or greater plan. We feel as if we are caught up in life. A well integrated Moon allows us to fully engage in life, without feeling completely subsumed by our daily existence.