​When you’re getting started with astrology, your first exposure is usually horoscopes. Everyone is familiar with their Sun sign horoscope, but as you get more familiar with astrology, you may find lots of advice saying you should read your Moon sign horoscope too.
This may seem well and good if your Sun and Moon signs are compatible (making positive aspects to one another), or are even the same sign.
But what about when your Sun sign and Moon sign oppose each other? What horoscope should you follow then? Commence hair-ripping!
Are Your Sun & Moon Signs Opposing?
First, let’s determine if your Sun sign and Moon sign are opposing.
In astrology, there are 12 zodiac signs, and each sign has an opposing sign (so they’re paired up). They are:
- Aries opposite Libra
- Taurus opposite Scorpio
- Gemini opposite Sagittarius
- Cancer opposite Capricorn
- Leo opposite Aquarius
- Virgo opposite Pisces
So, if your Sun is in Cancer and your Moon is in Capricorn, your Sun and Moon are opposite; if your Sun is in Scorpio and your Moon is in Taurus, your Sun and Moon are opposite; and so on (you get it!).
Your Sun and Moon signs are the signs the Sun and Moon were in at the time you were born, and this is found in your birth chart.
Don’t know what your Sun and Moon signs are? You can use our free birth chart calculator to find out!
What Do the Sun & Moon Represent in Astrology?
The Sun represents your true self, the inner you, who you really are. Not your external face, but your true face. This is shown first and foremost through your Sun sign. The Sun is so important in astrology because it’s who you really are. Number one in your natal chart!
The Moon represents your emotional self, what you need to feel emotionally stable and secure, and how you respond emotionally to situations. This is shown first and foremost through your Moon sign. The Moon is part of the triad with the Sun in your natal chart, representing the very base of who you are as a person.
When your Sun and Moon are in harmonious signs, this can bring an ease to how your ego (Sun) and emotions (Moon) play together. But when they oppose? Not so easy! There can be an internal conflict that needs to be worked out, often tying into issues with the home/family growing up (since the Moon rules your home and family). When used properly, the Sun opposite the Moon can mean you have a dynamic personality and a strong sense of self.
How a Horoscope is Determined
A horoscope tracks what the transiting, or moving, planets are doing currently, and how that relates to the sign the horoscope is for.
Horoscopes are written using the solar houses, which places the Sun sign as the sign on the 1st house cusp (beginning of the house), and the remaining 11 signs follow in order for the rest of the houses with all starting at 0. This way, when a transiting planet enters a new sign, it also enters a new solar house, which makes it easy for horoscopes.
There are 12 houses in astrology, each having their own energy and ruling different parts of your life and personality. When a transiting planet enters a new solar house, it’s bringing the energy of that planet into new areas of life ruled by that house.
The solar houses link to your Sun sign because they are derived from that sign, so horoscopes that you read for your Sun sign relate to your Sun. If you instead read your Moon sign horoscope, this would relate to your Moon, and would instead be lunar houses instead of solar houses for you.
Which Horoscope Do I Read, My Sun Sign or Moon Sign?
The short answer for which horoscope you should read, your Sun sign or Moon sign, is BOTH!
Your Sun sign horoscope will relate to your Sun, and you may find that the horoscope resonates more with personal desires and focuses, and is more tangible. Your Moon sign horoscope will relate to your Moon, and you may find that the horoscope shows your emotional focus and emotional needs, drives, and instincts for the period.
When your Sun and Moon oppose one another, this doesn’t cancel out one over the other for your horoscope. You consider both! Just in slightly different ways, with the Sun being more in the forefront and the Moon being more in the background (conscious = Sun; unconscious = Moon).
What it does mean when your Sun and Moon oppose one another in terms of horoscopes is the transit planets will be in opposing houses. But opposing houses lie along the same axis, and therefore govern very similar things, just on different ends of the spectrum. What you may find is that the house axis is what’s elevated by the transit planet in the horoscope.
They are:
1st & 7th Houses: Axis of Relationships (self and others; when a transiting planet is in the sign of your Sun or Moon, it’s in the 1st house, which puts it in the 7th house in the other horoscope)
2nd & 8th Houses: Axis of Resources (personal and shared; when a transiting planet moves out of the sign of your Sun or Moon to the next sign, it’s in the 2nd house, which puts it in the 8th house in the other horoscope)
3rd & 9th Houses: Axis of Communication (detailed and big-picture; when a transiting planet moves two signs forward from your Sun or Moon sign, it’s in the 3rd house, which puts it in the 9th house in the other horoscope)
4th & 10th Houses: Axis of Foundation (internal and external, personal and professional; when a transiting planet moves 3 signs forward from your Sun or Moon sign, it’s in the 4th house, which puts it in the 10th house in the other horoscope)
5th & 11th Houses: Axis of Connection (personal and casual; when a transiting planet moves 4 signs forward from your Sun or Moon sign, it’s in the 5th house, which puts it in the 11th house in the other horoscope)
6th & 12th Houses: Axis of Service (practical/daily and personal/sacrificing; when a transiting planet moves 5 signs forward from your Sun or Moon sign, it’s in the 6th house, which puts it in the 12th house in the other horoscope and is in the sign preceding)
Don’t Forget about the Rising Sign!
In reality, reading the horoscope for your Rising sign will likely be the most accurate for you. This is because your Rising sign is the sign on the 1st house cusp in your natal chart, so the horoscope for your Rising sign links up to your actual natal houses. Your Rising sign horoscope is most likely to show actual events and what’s going on externally in your life.
This doesn’t mean you have to discount your Sun and Moon sign horoscopes though! They can still give further insights into your life in their way.
Concluding Thoughts…
Having opposing Sun and Moon signs doesn’t mean you’re doomed with your horoscopes. You just have to be a little smarter with what you’re reading and know what they’re showing you!
Related Article: Astrology for Beginners: 5 Things You NEED to Know