Depression. What is it good for? Astrologers often blame Moon Saturn contacts for the heaviness of depression and I’ve got the trine and do not disagree. And then there are Moon Pluto aspects which can cause much emotional intensity. No matter how you slice it, does it all come back to the moon? To the mother? Ah, Freud, if I had the energy right now I’d look up your chart! Moon + Pluto: death of mother? death of family? death of home? death of… well, what is left?
I realize as I write this that my blog posts tent to enact what I ‘m talking about, not just describe it. Like, when I talk about North Node in Pisces, the post itself is Piscean. And when I talk about Moon Pluto, the post itself is… tender like the moon but harsh like Pluto. Yes, Pluto is change and Pluto is transformation and Pluto is the Death card but there is a reason why Pluto transits or hard Pluto natal aspects have the reputation that they do. Because Pluto kills. Slowly. And then comes the rebirth.
But back to my original point: for some, when the big D shows up, they fight it. For others, they go with it, lie in bed. Still, some others will lie in bed AND fight it. And then there are the people who stay busy on purpose so that they don’t have to feel anything at all. Feelings, ew. Yuck.
And then there are the stories we tell ourselves, the “if only’s.” If only I had that job, or that person, or that success, or that piece of pie or that cigarette. And the cruel truth is that, well, YES, it would help if you got, if you had, what you wanted more often than not. I think it’s not so much that we can see depression in the natal chart but that we can see the bounce-back quality, lots of Jupiter, say.
I have an old friend with a ton of trines in his chart. His life is not perfect but he does have a fair amount of luck, even with winning the lottery. He gets depressed every spring for a couple weeks but otherwise just kind of bounces along. AND he’s a Cancer sun. Everything else in fire and air though. He doesn’t get “stuck” in depression. He moves on to the next thing.
And all this was what I was thinking about at 3am when I couldn’t sleep last night and wishing that I could see depression as some kind of cleansing or spiritual friend but in the moment, I could not.
So that becomes the question: how, in the moment, to recognize a mood as a mood, a phase as a phase, something passing as something passing. Everything changes. Everything moves. Even your bad mood. Even your good mood. Problems come when situations feel like they don’t change for years, decades, but often that is because you can’t see. See? We need other people. And we need the moon. The moon reminds us that it is normal to wax and normal to wane and each can be counted on. Reliable like Saturn. Like Moon trine Saturn.
Do you depress?Β
Note to Self: to be continued…
Follow me on Twitter, it will cheer you up!
11 thoughts on “Depression and the Moon (and Moon trine Saturn)”
Cappy Moon at the very last degrees of the 3rd house
conjunct Saturn/Uranus/Neptune (from the in the 4th yet still in capricorn)
AND moon sextile Pluto
AND moon opposite Jupiter and Sun.
I have small bits of depressions ( heavy aspects on the moon + heavy 4th house + strong Saturn) but they never last because I also have loads of jupiter/9th house energy.
So really typically it’s heightened sensitivity ( Neptune + heavy 4th house + sextile Pluto ) hurt by harsh and sudden realities ( saturn and uranus) + overthinking (3rd house moon) leading to moments of deep sadness but the cheered up by positive thinking and faith (9th house/jupiter) which helps to bounce back!!!
I think positive Pluto aspects help bounce back too as it gives great will power, maybe?
Also I remember being told that Saturn (although it can create depression) does not like to loose – so it also pushes one to work until he/she reaches the top (10th house association)
I agree with the article that it is moment/phase specific and passes. So when I start my down moments I feel the feelings entirely (plutΓ΄t sextile) but always remember that it s only temporary !!
I agree, fs: Pluto = WILLPOWER
@Angela, no worries π I want people to talk here and feel comfortable.
Oh, that was long! Sorry. Moon/venus is at the beginning of the 8th/end of the 7th, with a whole bunch of aspects. Saturn is in Cancer.
I think I’m like anita. When commenting on Elsa’s post on realists versus dreamers, I thought I was both – I used to have a good mix of both, especially since i would get so lucky at times (to offset the awfulness of something else – like I was dealing with panic attacks and dropped out of school due to bullying, but we got to move to California, from England, so I could study at home and travel when we had visitors, as well as complete my schoolwork).
Ever since I became severely agoraphobic, and didn’t follow through when I should have, the Neptune bubble I was in has burst, and I got a really nasty fall. Over the past few years, almost every time I tried to make changes, or wanted to go for something, something would happen – either someone else would change something in the situation, or I would end up being stuck in the house all week… as I have been. My age suddenly hit me, my past mistakes or hit me – I could see everything so freaking clearly, and I ended up almost catatonic on the couch, surrounded by concerned pets, and a mother trying to snap me out of it. My depressions no longer just pass – it’s like I get a small reprieve and then I’m back to it. I have been very lucky, and I hate to complain, but I had more independence when I was fifteen than I do now.
Saturn hitting my pluto did it, opposing Jupiter, squaring natal saturn. It’s in my 12th, and will oppose my Merc, chiron, ceres and Sun, before hitting my first house. Pluto is creating a grand cross with that t-square. I have a Gemini Moon/Venus, but it’s squared by Pisces Mars – I flip between the two, but it can really water me down, if I’m not careful.
@anita, ooh in the 8th! What a great combination: Cancer Sun 8 AND the Scorp asc. Lovely.
I also think the Saturn trine stabilizes. My moods fluctuate but when I am in them? I am DEEP in them. That’s a *different* kind of stable π
yep, alizamoonpluto, I want to (and do!) hide. cancer sun in 8th AND intercepted. plus Scorpio ascendent.
you’re right, each day brings mood changes. but the Saturn trine helps to stabilize. I’d hate to see what I’d be like without it, even though much complaint and gnashing of teeth has been sent his way:)
pluto’s at 0 Virgo, moon 27 Aries.
Nice to see you, SaDiablo. Thank cheez π
Thanks for reading, anita π
I was feeling that “why try” feeling today! I am also Cancer Sun and we can rest assured, maybe more than other signs that the mood *will* turn… *and* come back.
I am picturing your chart in my head. Yep. Poor Cancer Sun. Stuck. Sensitive. Wants to hide? Pluto in Cap shld be… interesting to say the least.
I am so expectant of good things that I am constantly disappointed and therefore give into depression and the subsequent “why try anymore?”.
Over this winter, three friends have told me “you’re depressed” matter-of-factly, like it’s common knowledge. π
natal moon and mars in Aries, trine with Saturn and out of sign trine with Pluto. here’s the kicker…moon/mars is opposite Jupiter and north node, and they all gang up on my cancer sun. thank goddess for astrology so I can have some semblance of understanding. ha!
I depress, yes.
But I have no moon-Saturn; I have moon-Pluto (with Pluto in the 4th, as well, so a double-whammy). I’ve learned that sometimes I depress myself intentionally, just to get the depth, just to feeeeeeel the feeling.
I’m not saying it’s healthy or right, but it is something I do. If there’s not something sufficiently intense to feel, I will manufacture it.
Thank cheeze for my Aqua moon (square Uranus, for another double-whammy): all things emotional will pass, and quickly!