Positions in Astrology That Face Bias: The Example of The Moon in Scorpio

POSITIONS IN ASTROLOGY THAT FACE BIAS:
THE EXAMPLE OF THE MOON IN SCORPIO

Astrology, starting from the premise that the movements of the heavens influence events and conditions on Earth, is a guide we use for the wholeness and transformation of personality. Here, planets are seen not as transmitters of physical effects, but as symbols of human functions. It is said that every person is born at a certain time and place in response to a need of the Universe, and that this need is understood through the birth chart, which shows the individual’s unique path. The first question to ask is not what will happen, but what the meaning of what is happening is. Because one of the things that causes the event is our own psychological processes. At this point, certain questions arise. If the external events are connected to our internal dynamics, can we change the external by changing these internal dynamics? If we gain insight into our inner conflicts, can we turn certain challenges into opportunities? If our chart is a virtual map of our soul, can we use it to understand the best choices for our evolution? If we confront the parts of ourselves that we deny, can we better plan our next steps?

From my perspective, because the answer to each of these questions is “yes,” I position myself against those who interpret astrology from a rigidly fatalistic point of view. I do not see the birth chart as merely the product of external forces, and I believe it has a natural inclination toward wholeness. Since I perceive the chart as a tool that assists the psyche in its process of self-realization, I believe it has a fluid and dynamic structure. However, I do not deny that a person is born with a certain “substance”; I only speak of our ability to shape that “substance.” Therefore, I believe we must rise above the mindset of saying “this is the definite explanation of a Mars-Saturn square” and instead adopt the mindset of “this is the explanation of the Mars-Saturn square in this chart and at this moment.” When we realize that people are subject to evolution, we can see that a certain position can represent different things over time. This means that we do not see astrology as a fixed determinant, but as a key that reveals our capacity to create change.

Let me give an example from my own chart:

The Moon is on the little-loved fixed star Khambalia, in Scorpio where it is considered in fall, and in the balsamic phase, also known as the waning phase. In short, it ticks all the boxes for potential bias.

First, let’s say what the Moon represents in a chart. It generally shows our mother, our past, subconscious, habits, autonomous behaviors, comfort zone, emotional processes, instinctual tendencies, and sources of nourishment. The Moon in Scorpio tends to associate emotions with “risk and taboo,” leading to a frequent tendency to suppress feelings. A person who believes emotions are potentially destructive will want to uncover the hidden truth to avoid being overtaken by them. Since knowing the truth beneath appearances gives the person a sense of control and stability, this becomes their only path to emotional security. The need to discover the forbidden and penetrate secret mysteries stems from a “mysterious” relationship with the mother. The person may have felt a sense of mystery about the mother in childhood, leading to the first impression that the world is a “suspicious” place. Feeling instinctively endangered in response to events, the person will engage in power struggles and try to control the situation. This constant vigilance can cause certain “crises” in life, and since the Moon is also related to our comfort zone, it can trigger a tendency to draw nourishment from crises.

This picture, which initially seems rather bleak, can also be viewed from another angle. A person who does not trust easily may strive to purify and transform their depths in order to feel secure. They may become spiritually resilient, learning to cope with crises, focus on goals, and develop willpower. Scorpio’s greatest strength is its ability to accept death and endings because it has “experienced them many times” in its past. If it believes that a new cycle will begin despite all its losses, it can channel its energy with determination. With an awareness of its strength, it can analyze the situation well and turn crises into opportunities for transformation. The urge to understand what is happening can lead to profound insight into a subject, making the person a natural psychotherapist, researcher, or detective. However, this does not mean that everyone with a Scorpio Moon will use their potential in this way. Some will succumb to their passions and fall into traps like paranoia. Others will purify the “dust and debris” within and renew themselves. Some will experience both at the same time.

The same logic applies to the Moon phase. The balsamic phase covers the three days before the New Moon. Just as the New Moon marks a beginning, the balsamic phase marks a closure. Like the waning moon, its energy and protection are low. Therefore, people with a balsamic Moon need to be a bit more cautious. At the same time, all balsamic types instinctively sense future trends and have high potential for foresight. Because they can easily let go of what they wish to release, they are good at clearing out old patterns. They may either sacrifice themselves and fall into victimhood, or pursue a universal ideal through spiritual methods. While they may not always have the energy for physically demanding tasks, they can rise by using their mental energy. Through the dreams they see, the poems they read, and the songs they listen to, they can gain inner knowing. While they may be prone to melancholy and addictions, they may also choose storytelling and healing. Once again, the dynamic will be determined by the person themselves.

If, when we see a Moon in Scorpio in the balsamic phase, we approach it with bias and make automatic, one-dimensional interpretations, we will be limiting the person’s potential. For this person possesses a great transformative power both materially and spiritually, because the deeper the soul sinks, the higher it can rebound. Therefore, the chance for progress may be even greater than for positions where the Moon is exalted. Instead of simply interpreting the person’s “substance,” if we speak about how they can shape that substance, we open a new window for them. But we must not overlook the “nature” of that substance either. This nature is generally determined by the house the Moon is in and the planets it is connected with. For example, since my Moon is in the 9th house and conjunct Jupiter, I have a special interest in Sagittarius themes such as education, different religions, cultures, and philosophies. I want to deepen and develop myself in these areas. I am also drawn to higher education and expand my vision through it. Since the 9th house governs long journeys, I was born with an instinct to travel, and as someone with a Sagittarius stellium, I frequently go abroad.

If the area where I experience the Moon in Scorpio is the 9th house, then the area where I will experience crisis, danger, transformation, and depth is also the 9th house. That means it is possible for me to explore hidden belief systems, join an occult philosophical group, and become aware of tendencies like intuition or prophecy. On the other hand, it is also possible for me to experience dangerous fluctuations in my worldview, to face exploitation while trying to adapt to different perspectives, or to fall under the influence of manipulative teachers. So, which “possible” will I activate? This is the astrologer’s task—to discover the “possible (or possibles)” that serve the person’s current life plan. Not, as is often thought, to assign a “possible” to the person. By focusing not on the past, but on the future, to draw a new road map. Because this Moon in Scorpio could also have been in the 2nd house, known as the house of money and self-worth. If it were in the 2nd house, the person would then be interested in Taurus themes and want to produce something material. When deprived of tangible values, they would not feel safe. Because they would be emotionally attached to what they possess, they would need to make good financial analyses. While doing this, they could either receive support from the women in their family or provide support to them. The Moon in Scorpio in the 2nd house could also represent someone who spends excessively to escape emotional ups and downs, and thus could be interpreted as leading to bankruptcy or debt. But such a restrictive interpretation would blind us to the other potentials of the Moon in Scorpio in the 2nd house and trap us in the worst-case scenario.

What I’m trying to say here is fourfold:

• Although a person is born with a certain structure (archetype), they have agency over it. Maybe they can’t change it, but they can work on it and use it differently.

• The birth chart doesn’t promise just one thing; it only shows potentials. The astrologer must see the paths that serve the person among those potentials. These paths may vary depending on the current situation and conditions.

• A planet in fall or detriment or a difficult aspect pattern actually serves our evolution. If well used, it can lead to material or spiritual breakthroughs.

• What seems “bad” can turn into “good,” and what seems “good” can turn into “bad.” Everything depends on how we perceive and use it.

But perhaps it is worth repeating: this whole system is not about “changing the substance” of the person but about changing the dynamics of their life by shaping that substance. If someone’s Moon is in Scorpio, you cannot force them to become a Moon in Taurus or a Moon in Cancer. You cannot transform the things they are drawn to and nourished by into what a Moon in Taurus is drawn to and nourished by. You cannot evolve their subconscious, habits, autonomous behaviors, comfort zone, and emotional processes into those of a Moon in Cancer. A chart with the Moon in Scorpio on the fixed star Khambalia will naturally love shadowy corners, fantastic paranormal films, the color black, caves, and forests. They will be drawn to secret knowledge, organizations, criminology, and magical practices. These are things that define them, and for someone to intervene in them would be to interfere with their very existence, which should not be done. A Moon in Scorpio will naturally experience inner crises and go through intense spiritual experiences. But if they don’t stop there and move on to the next stage, they will also discover Scorpio’s other sides, like willpower and strength. How they activate that archetype will affect their experiences and give their life momentum. A person should not waste too much time on “what their substance is.” Rather, they should focus on how to use (or shape) that substance and for what purpose to activate it. In other words, they should discover what kind of dishes they can prepare and serve with the ingredients they have.

So, we rise from the mindset of “this is the explanation of Moon in Scorpio” to the mindset of “this is the explanation of Moon in Scorpio in this chart and at this moment.” Even if we accept the natural structure of an archetype (“the substance doesn’t change”), we know that if we learn to activate that archetype in different ways, we can change the internal and external dynamics of our life (“the substance can be shaped”). We read the future not through a single “possible,” but through “possibilities,” and discover the paths that serve us. If what is below is like what is above, we realize that we have the ability to steer the wheel.

With love.