There’s nothing quite like climbing into our cozy bed at the end of a long day and letting the sweet, soothing wave of sleep roll over us like a cosmic blanket. Conversely, there’s nothing quite as frustrating as a night of poor, restless sleep when you have a grueling day of work ahead of you.
Our relationship with sleep is one that we must put effort into to maintain harmony and balance. If your relationship with sleep is rocky, your work and relationships are likely to suffer – you can hardly be your best self when your body hasn’t had a chance to refresh, rebuild cells, repair wounds and gather the energy and strength needed for the next day’s challenges.
Astrologically, sleep is associated with the sign of Pisces, the planet Neptune, the 12th house and the moon. There are many things to take into consideration when addressing the role that the stars play in our sleep cycles.
The Role of the Sun
There are 12 houses in an astrological chart, and the sun spends about two hours in each house per 24-hour cycle. Each house focuses on different aspects of life; for instance, the 4th house represents the deep, the internal and the subconscious.
The sun traverses through the fourth house for the hours leading up to midnight – this is partially responsible for the sleepiness that naturally occurs right around this time of evening.
As the night progresses, the sun shimmies through the 3rd house, which might lead to the restlessness many of us feel in the middle of the night. Communication, soaking up information and feats of the mind are the domain of the 3rd house. Have you ever had a stroke of genius near the stroke of midnight?
This might be the result of the sun’s dance through the house of mental activity. Even as the sun dips below the horizon and retires for the evening, it still plays a part in how and when we catch our z’s.
By the Light of the Moon
The moon has been studied for centuries and is known for its effect on the tides of the ocean, the growth of crops, the cycle of a woman and the mood of mankind. There have long been urban legends and old wives’ tales of people becoming lunatics around the full moon and with good reason.
The full moon is a time when the upsets and grievances of the past month come spilling out of ourselves to heal our wounds and make room for the new experiences of the upcoming month. It only seems fair that such emotional work causes a little mental chaos.
The full moon also effects our sleep cycles; it may feel more difficult to stay in bed, like a restless child, tossing and turning under our Spiderman sheets. The full moon’s luminescence may peek through your windows, illuminating the entire room; it may be time to break out those black-out curtains!
The light of the moon is not the only aspect of the full moon that keeps you wide-eyed when what you really need is shut-eye.
The moon represents our subconscious, the mysterious, deep realm within yourself that it’s hard for even you to tap into and spend a lot of time dwelling within. When the moon is at its fullest, think of a light shining down on the most inner crevices of your mind and soul. Sounds a bit disruptive, right?
The phases of the moon have an effect on much more than just the tides of the ocean, they can cause an ebb and flow to our sleep cycles as well.
Retro Mercury
Mercury rules communication and has a significant relationship with the brain. If you’ve ever knowingly experienced Mercury retrograde, you know how tumultuous and hectic things can be during this time. Besides the stress of the chaos keeping you up at night, the energy created by Mercury retrograde can cause your sleep to suffer.
Keep this in mind the next time you see a retrograde coming up on the calendar, and think about stocking up on chamomile tea and valerian root.
“If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Pluto’s Still a Planet Here
Pluto deals with that which lies below the surface, the inner, transformative properties of the soul. For this reason, Pluto is thought to be entangled with sleep and particularly our dream space. Dreams are an amalgamation of our waking life and our subconscious, a place where anything is possible and nothing is what it seems.
Take a special look at you’re the placement of Pluto in your chart and the astrological implications to better interpret your dreams. If you suffer from nightmares, this would be a particularly useful exercise, as you may be able to work through some of the unresolved emotions in your waking life with the use of astrology, which in turn will positively affect your dreams.
It’s in the Stars
Your star sign may influence your sleeping patterns as well. Aries need very little sleep compared to Taurus, who could happily sleep all day. Geminis might prefer a sleepy break from activities now and then, whereas a Cancer might crawl into bed when upset. Leos nap like a lion, while Virgos stick to their 8 hour schedule.
Libras maintain a balanced sleep schedule, whereas a Scorpio is too unpredictable to keep track of. Sagittarians can fall asleep anywhere but Capricorns need a comfortable, lush space to lay their head. An Aquarius is likely to be the early bird that gets the worm, and a Pisces’ sleeping habits depends on their mood.
The stars affect everything we do; while our horoscopes may not be able to predict the future with unfailing accuracy, astrology can help you uncover hidden desires, life paths, potential lovers and much more, such as sleep patterns. Keep yourself well rested and the stars will make sure you put your best foot forward.
Related Article: Ever Had These Common Dream Situations? Houses, Cars, Water, Weather and Colors