Here we continue the in-depth comparison on two seemingly similar birth charts to develop the ability to synthesize and reveal the unique behaviors and motivations of individuals.

Make sure to read Part 1 Entering the Chart, Part 2 Analysis of the Ascendant, and Part 3 Analysis of the Midheaven / MC to create a full picture.

When we analyze the Sun & Moon in a chart, it’s important that we treat them individually at first, and then see how they are working together in the chart to understand our motivation and drive.

The Moon is what we CRAVE in life, the unconscious motivation, HUNGER, or instinctual needs that pull us towards certain situations and forms our habits. The Sun is how we ORGANIZE OUR LIFE. It is the light of consciousness and the ability to resist. Studying the Sun and Moon individually allows us to see which force is stronger in someone’s life — consciousness or unconsciousness — while seeing how they work together reveals how effective we are at satisfying our needs. Ideally, we like to see a major aspect, at least by sign, between the Sun and Moon in a chart.

We’ve already done a thorough analysis of the Moon as ruler of the MC in both charts, and you should be aware that this repetition makes the Moon twice as important in our evaluation. We could say the same thing about the repetition of the Sun if the chart had a Leo Ascendant or MC.

In Ilona’s chart (right), her Moon is in Leo in the 10th house. Leo is about centralized power and ego, and we can see an instinctual hunger for leadership & authority. As ruler of her 10th house, this is directly tied to her ambitions and public reputation, even though there is a sign change. Her Sun is in Leo in and the ruler of the 11th house, so this energy is expressed through leadership of groups, organizations, and more broadly, in society as a vocal proponent of women’s sports and body positivity.

When we look at Jeffery Dahmer’s chart (below), we see his Moon in the 7th house in Aries. This is a person who hungers for dominance in partnerships. As ruler of his 10th house, it is also in connection to his ambitions and public reputation. His Sun is in Gemini in his 8th house, which I interpret as organizing his life around intellectual curiosity related to sex, death, resources of others. Generally, things that are hidden.

As ruler of his 11th house, there is a connection with friends, his network, and groups/organizations, and in his bio, it mentions he chose his victims primarily from the homosexual and African-American communities.

Look at the aspects each Sun receives in the side-by-side image below. In Ilona’s chart, in addition to the wide conjunction with the Moon, the Sun receives a trine from Saturn in Aries. In Dahmer’s chart, his Sun is conjunct Mercury, receives a square from Pluto in Virgo and a sextile from Mars in Aries. Now, despite what you may have read, “soft” aspects aren’t always sunshine and roses, they’re just easier flows of energy. In Ilona’s chart, this Saturn in Aries can be great for building discipline and structure, but it can also bring hardship and resistance from other people. Jeffrey’s Mars in Aries overpowers his weakened Sun through the sextile, while the square from Pluto pushes the compulsive behaviors.

As we put all of the connections together, we start to see just how strong Ilona’s Moon is in her chart. It is ruler of her 10th, in the 10th house, dispositor of her Venus (ruler of her Ascendant), aspecting the Ascendant, and connected to all four angles due to its connections to Mars and Saturn by aspect and dispositorship. BUT its connection to the Sun in domicile in a fortunate house allows her to be much more conscious in action.

Jeffrey’s Sun, in contrast, is weak in a mutable sign in an unfortunate house not connected to the Ascendant, and conjunct its dispositor also in the 8th (Mercury). His Moon therefore becomes much stronger (and more volatile) since we find it on an angle, in a cardinal sign, and in a wide conjunction with its dispositor, Mars in domicile. His weakened will (Sun), although in a sextile to the Moon, is unable to resist his unconscious hunger (Moon) to dominate and hurt his partners.

Example of derivation in Dahmer’s chart showing repeated connections of houses 5-8-12.

A quick side note: Notice also that Mars and Pluto rule Jeffrey’s 2nd house of resources with Scorpio on the cusp. If we take his 7th house as the Ascendant of his victims (partners) and derivate, Jeffrey’s 2nd house becomes their 8th house, and we start to see that his life (Venus, ruler of his Ascendant) and his will (Sun) are connected to the death of others. Pluto and Mars are also found in the 5th and 12th of the partners, further emphasizing themes of sex, love, imprisonment, and suffering.

We can also talk about the Moon phase in each birth chart for another layer of understanding. Ilona’s approaching New Moon phase suggests creation, initiative, energy…while Jeffrey’s Last Quarter phase suggests readjustment, things that are hidden, finding it hard to relate to life, internal reorientation, and isolation.

We’ve almost finished! Part 5 will be to look at anything unusual.

Natal Chart Comparison Part 4: Analysis of The Moon & The Sun

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