derived from the Greek word for the Fates. In an astrological chart, Moira’s location
by sign and house indicates an area of life that is governed by fate or karma. When
afflicted by inharmonious aspects, Moira may show negative karma. When prominent
in a chart, it shows an individual whose whole life is fated.
Sources:
Kowal, Charles T. Asteroids: Their Nature and Utilization.Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Ellis
Horwood Limited, 1988.
Room, Adrian. Dictionary of Astronomical Names.London: Routledge, 1988.
Schwartz, Jacob. Asteroid Name Encyclopedia.St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.
MONKEY
The monkey is one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. It refers to one of the 12
earthly branches that are used in Chinese astrology, together with the 10 heavenly
stems. Such a branch designates one day every 12 days: the days are named according
to a sexagesimal (60) cycle, made of 10 series of 12 branches.
The monkey is often a hilarious live wire even if he is sometimes subject to
depression. Energetic (frenetic even), opportunistic, but unpredictable, crafty, inven-
tive and clever, he is not adaptable to routine work. He loves to make an exhibition of
himself, and finds losing or being contradicted hard to take.
—Michele DelemmeTHEMOON
The Moon is the Earth’s only natural satellite. It is technically not a planet; however
astrology traditionally groups the Moon, along with the Sun, which is our star, with
the planets. The Moon has a diameter of 2,160 miles, and an average distance from
the Earth of 328,000 miles. The sidereal month, or the time it takes the Moon to orbit
the Earth, is 27 days, 7 hours, and 43 minutes (27.3217 days). The synodic month is
the time from New Moon to New Moon and takes 29 days, 12 hours, and 44 minutes
(29.5306 days). The synodic month is also known as the lunation cycle.
The Moon is intrinsically linked to the concept of time. The lunation cycle, or
month, is one of three natural time cycles observed on Earth. (The other two are the
year based on seasons, and the day based on the day/night cycle.) The archeological
record shows that humans were documenting the lunation cycle as early as the Pale-
olithic era (35,000 B.C.E.). There is evidence from around the world that the first cal-
endars were lunar-based. Many contemporary religious calendars are still lunar-based
including the Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, and Buddhist calendars. The word “calendar”
comes from the Latin kalendaeand is connected to the Moon. In ancient Rome the
kalendaewas the first day of the month, or day of the New Moon. It was important to
the Romans because interest payments were due on the day of the New Moon.
The word “moon” comes from the Greek mentron,meaning “to measure.” The
root is me,which means “to mark an appointed time.” Expanded, this results in the
words “meter,” “menses” (the female menstrual cycle), “measure,” and “month.” The
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The Moon