More Than Just Your Sun

Using the Moon and Mercury To Enhance Family Relationships

Contributor:  Alison Brownell

“I just don’t understand why he feels this way!”

“Why can’t she just say what she really means?”

Sound familiar?

The relationships we have with our families can be wildly complicated.  Each person is unique, including their emotional landscapes and how they communicate.  And even though you’re all living under the same roof, and you’d think there would be some commonalities to how you’d relate, it doesn’t always work that way.

If you’re struggling to connect and communicate, as so many of us are, there is a cosmic cheat sheet you can use to enhance your connections with each other.

Astrology is an incredible tool that allows us to understand the patterns of an individual.  Most people are familiar with their sun signs, but did you know that there are more planetary tools at your disposal to help uncover many other facets of your personality?  The moon and Mercury are two planets that give us hints as to how others experience feelings (the moon) and how they communicate them (Mercury).  Using these planets as a guide, it can help to explain, and ultimately understand, the nuances that exist between family members so you can offer each other greater support.

If you’ve never pulled a chart before, try looking at your own first.  You can go to www.astro-charts.com and hover over the “Create Chart” option to display a drop down menu.  Click on “Birth Chart”.  From there, you’ll enter your name, birthdate, birth time (please be as accurate as possible with this!), as well as location.  When you generate the chart, you can scroll past the wheel to the list of planets.  Look for the sign your moon is in, as well as your Mercury, and then find their signs below to understand your own patterns. 

From there, feel free to pull your spouse, children, and even your own parents to better understand them.  These ideas can be taught to kids as well.  Teach them how to support both themselves and those around them.  Just be warned:  You may also find yourself on the receiving end of their orders (although not a bad thing when a Taurus moon mom really needs a nap and your six year old sends you to bed!).

Astrology Cheat Sheet: Moon + Mercury Placements

Aries Moon:  Loves competition and being first.  Can sometimes be a bit of a one-upper.  Learning to lose gracefully is the challenge.  Has a temper, but it never lasts.  Physical activity is key to keeping it in check and burning off excess energy.

Aries Mercury:  Blunt and talks out of turn.  Upside?  You always know where you stand.  The challenge is to understand that other people are allowed to take their turn speaking, and that sometimes, words can hurt; emphasize that their honesty is a gift that just needs to be wrapped in a pretty box.

Taurus Moon:  Loves creature comforts.  Naps and food will calm them (don’t let your Taurus moon person get hangry!).  These moon natives are big on textures; don’t force them to wear things that are uncomfortable!  Can be stubborn and unrelenting.  Compromise can be tough, but most people could stand to learn a bit from them about having high (but not impossible!) standards.

Taurus Mercury:  Can be slow and deliberate with language, and knows how to make things easy to understand for others (and needs people to communicate with them in the same way).  Will communicate very clearly about what they need.  The challenge is to accept when they are wrong instead of digging in further.

Gemini Moon:  Connects emotionally through conversation.  Gemini moons don’t stop talking!  Loves information and books.  The challenge can be teaching Gemini moon people that some information doesn’t need to be shared, as they are likely to spill the beans often!  But that quality is born out of a tendency to use information to cultivate intimacy.

Gemini Mercury:  Curious and inquisitive.  Natural born communicator.  Sometimes, you may feel like you’re dealing with a salesperson, even if it’s just your five year old!  Quick minded and even quicker wit will have this native cracking jokes peppered with SAT words.  Watch for grandiose statements, as staying focused on just the facts can sometimes be hard for this native.

Cancer Moon:  The moon is at home in Cancer.  These natives just want to care for those around them, and often put others first.  Deeply emotional and intuitive, they can sometimes struggle with all they feel (hint: it’s everything).  Baths (or being around water, such as the ocean) will calm Cancer moons.  Help them redirect focus on themselves and how they feel, not just the feelings of those they love.

Cancer Mercury:  This native will always ask how you feel, and then want to discuss.  Most likely to hear the phrase, “Yes, mom” after everything they say, because they use words to mother those around them.  This is the person who cries at every speech they have ever given, but ends up tugging at the hearts of even the coldest in the room with their words.  Can be very sensitive to criticism, so helping them to understand how to use criticism without letting their feelings take them over is important.

Leo Moon:  The star!  Leo moons crave attention, and love being on stage, both literal and figuratively.  Give them an opportunity to show off and they will be in their element.  Don’t dismiss their crazy outfits or grandiose ideas, but do help them realize that there is room for more than just them to shine.

Leo Mercury:  At their best, they speak with courage (and just a touch of drama!).  They know how to communicate with flair.  In shadow, their communication style is a “Me-first” attitude.  Allowing them to have their time to speak without interrupting them is important, as is granting others the same right, demonstrating that everyone’s opinion counts.

Virgo Moon:  Virgo moons thrive on order.  They get very anxious when things are out of place and chaotic.  Do not, under any circumstance, mess up their things because you think it is funny; they absolutely will not agree.  The challenge for these natives is to allow life to be imperfect.  You don’t need to pressure these natives into doing better; they are their own worst critics.  Help them see the benefits in flaws.

Virgo Mercury:  Extremely analytical and logical.  Typically known for their intelligence, as well as their blistering put-downs to those that can’t keep up.  The challenge:  Understanding that there are different ways to be smart, and not all come from books.

We’d love to hear from you! How did understanding the moon + Mercury placements help your relationships? Comment below. 

Alison Brownwell

Alison Brownell has been studying astrology and reading charts for over ten years. Combining this information with coaching and communication skills honed as a former college counselor, Alison is able to help you connect to your highest self in a way that feels mystical yet practical, and always empowering.  Alison is an Arizona native who enjoys long trips to the dog park with her infamous side kick, Virgo Assistant, basketball, and hip-hop music.  You can connect with her via her website, alisonbrownell.com, or on Instagram @alisonbrownellastro.