Moon: The Celestial Reflection of the Mind, Emotions and Feelings

Moon-In classical astrology, the Moon (Chandra) is inseparably linked with the manas, or mind. The Brhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra states, "Candrāt manah"-from the Moon arises the mind. While the Sun represents the soul (ātman), the Moon governs our inner tides: thoughts, emotions, and circumstances. The Moon's waxing and waning mirror the restlessness of the mind. Just as the Moon changes its phases, the mind shifts between clarity and confusion.

The Chāndogya Upaniṣad teaches that the mind is formed from food, highlighting the Moon's nourishing and reflective nature. In the Yoga Sutras, the mind is described as a mirror that must be stilled to reveal truth-this is the Moon's higher function when balanced.

Philosophically, the Moon represents samsāra, the cycle of change. It mediates between wisdom (Jupiter), desire (Venus), and intellect (Mercury). The myth of the Moon and Tara giving birth to Mercury symbolizes how emotions and circumstances, when united with wisdom, give rise to discernment.