The correlation of full moon with mental insanity is an ancient belief dating back to the formation of the word "lunacy" derived from the Latin word Luna who was the goddess of the Moon, the counterpart of Greek Selene. Nowadays, one of the oldest beliefs in folklore worldwide is that the full moon can turn a sane person into a madman. Perhaps because of the enormous amount of anecdotal evidence from people working in the emergency services, some scientific research has been conducted in this field - but the conclusions were mixed.

A horary chart for this kind of question can be constructed both for the moment we discover that an object is missing and for the time when an astrologer hears or reads the question posed to him. The simplest way to predicting whether the missing or stolen object will be found or retrieved is by delineating the luminaries. If in the chart of a question or an event the Moon in a nocturnal or the Sun in a diurnal chart closely aspect their rulers the object will be returned to its owner.

Right now we’re in the balsamic phase of the moon- the last couple days before the moon goes totally dark. This is the final phase of the moon cycle. If you’ve studied astronomy, you may already know of this phase as the waning crescent. As the light of the moon grows darker and finally fades out entirely, we become acclimated to darkness. There is a sense of mystery, of seclusion, even karmic connection right now. Mysteries become more compelling when it is dark. We become more concerned with unfinished business.

After reading Jo Tracey’s emotional overdraft post on Saturday, I decided to cut my overly anxious, poverty-complex-riddled Virgo 2nd house a break and book a massage for myself. Of course, it didn’t involve spending new money- I had a credit there already that I needed to use- but the act of calling and making the appointment was a small victory in itself. I think I may be beyond emotional overdrafts and into emotional credit counseling territory.

Contradictions- that’s what this aspect is all about. The moon conjunct ascendant is a sign of emotional tension in a person; longing to be close to people, but keeping them at arm’s length out of fear. Distant and reserved on the surface, but burning to be social and feel included in life. People with the moon on the ascendant wear their heart on their sleeve and yet will hold back from any emotional demonstrations until they really sense the other person feels the same way (whether in romance, friendship, or simply mutual admiration).

'The familiar circle of twelve signs is a useful fiction. Like time, space, gender and money, it helps us organize our particular, parochial sense of reality. We watch our transits or progressions as they speed or plod along this imaginary line in the sky that we call the ecliptic, as if it were a narrow highway with hard curbs in the vastness of starry space. In our ephemerides, for example, we see Mercury zipping merrily along, 1E g, then 2Eg then 3Eg.

'Everyone has probably heard that old familiar sports term: “Out-of-bounds!” Regardless of the sport involved, these words mean that the ball or player has gone beyond the limits of the established field of play. Could a similar dynamic be impacting the planetary play on the field of your birth chart?

The lunar type of personality is easily recognized even without knowledge of astrology. He is oversensitive regarding to its surroundings, very restless and longs for changes. He is extrovert and dependant upon the opinion of other people, the impression he leaves is very important for him, searches for attention, travels often and changes his personal style, prone to follow trends and depends upon them, pliable, often spends more than he has. His relationship are usually “promising”, he enters them with great enthusiasm and expectations, but they rarely last long.

So often in consultation with clients, I have found that the ruler of the Ascendant — its sign, house and condition — highlights an important storyline, an important thread that weaves its way throughout life development. Many times it allows the astrologer within minutes (if not seconds) to get right to the crux of the matter, to the heart of a very relevant theme within a client’s identity development.

With the recent passing of Lynn Redgrave and her eight-year battle with cancer, I was intrigued to study her horoscope and life events to understand what may have triggered the onset of her breast cancer diagnosis in 2002. It was within that year Redgrave found a lump in her breast. In December she was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a mastectomy in January 2003 and underwent chemotherapy.