Find your Moon Phase

Woman silhouetted in moonlight reflecting off of the ocean — Gavin Harrison/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images

By

Updated on 02/13/19

In astrology, calculating your natal moon phase is individually import and enlightening. Discover how to find the moon phase at the time of your birth with this step-by-step guide and examples of how to read a moon chart.

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First Step

First, find the sign and degree of your Moon and Sun on your birth chart. Then plot these on a blank wheel, using the Sun and Moon glyphs. What you'll be discovering is where the Lights were in relation to each other at the time of your birth.

In the example chart shown here, the Sun is in Cancer at 12 degrees and the Moon in Gemini at 11 degrees. You can move counter-clockwise from the Sun to the Moon to figure out your Moon phase. Count the degrees from the Sun to the Moon, keeping in mind that each sign has 30 degrees. In this example, the Moon is 329 degrees ahead of the Sun. That makes it a Balsamic Moon, which is from 315 to 360 degrees ahead of the Sun.

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Calculate Your Own

Astrology sun and moon graph — Molly Hall

Use this blank wheel to plot out your Sun and Moon. You don't need to take the rising sign into account here. Each segment of three per sign is 10 degrees (a decan).

Tip: If your Moon is far ahead of your Sun, it may be easier to calculate the distance between them, and then subtract that number from 360.

In order to make it easier, print out your birth chart and calculate it that way.

Now, let's look at some example charts.

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Example: New Moon Phase

This is actress Kate Winslet's birth chart. Her Sun is at 11 degrees Libra, and her Moon is at 13 degrees Libra. That makes her Moon 2 degrees ahead of the Sun. She was born at the New Moon phase.

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Example: Crescent Moon Phase

Christian Bale's natal charter — Molly Hall

This is the chart of actor Christian Bale. The Sun is at 10 degrees Aquarius, and the Moon is at 0 degrees Taurus. That means the Moon is 80 degrees ahead of the Sun. He was born at the Crescent Moon Phase (Moon 45 to 90 degrees ahead of Sun).

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Example: First Quarter Moon Phase

Vincent Van Gogh's natal chart — Molly Hall

Here’s the chart of artist Vincent Van Gogh. His Sun is at 9 degrees Aries and the Moon at 20 degrees Sagittarius. This means the Moon is 109 degrees ahead of the Sun. So, he was born at the First Quarter Moon Phase (Moon 90 to 135 degrees ahead of Sun).

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Example: Full Moon Phase

In this chart for writer Alice Walker, we see the Sun at 19 degrees Aquarius and the Moon at 25 degrees Leo. The Moon is 186 degrees ahead of the Sun. So she was born around the Full Moon Phase (180 to 225 degrees ahead of the Sun).

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Example: Third Quarter Moon Phase

Here we have the chart for writer Anais Nin. The Sun is at 2 degrees Pisces and the Moon is at 0 degrees Capricorn. The Moon is 298 degrees ahead of the Sun. She was born at the Third Quarter Moon Phase (Moon 270-315 degrees ahead of the Sun).