Gender Identity and Astrology

By Rozlyn Noble

Gender neutral
Source: provided by FAA Journal

The Sun and Moon both hold unique positions in astrology. They are deemed so important, they only rule one sign each and there is an interesting symbiosis between them as the Moon reflects the light of the Sun, bringing its energy down to earth for all individuals to embody. The Sun constituting our vitality and identity, can also represent our perception of men, particularly fathers in our life. The Moon, of course, represents our feelings and emotions and our perception of woman, particularly mothers. The Sun needs the Moon to reflect its light and power to Earth and the Moon needs the Sun to provide the intense energy and light necessary to do this. The Sun and Moon are often portrayed as day and night, yin and yang, dark and light or feminine and masculine to describe the energies they represent.

I find this interesting because there has been a lot of rhetoric about genders in the media. When filling in forms, there are often three boxes you can tick. Are you female, male or other? Emotive articles are frequently in the news concerning gender identity and gender politics.

Wikipedia lists thirteen gender identities including male, female, transgender, gender neutral, non-binary, agender, pangender, genderqueer, two spirit, third gender and all, none, or a combination of these.

Astrology often employs the terms ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ to describe the different qualities or energies of the signs and planets. All the planets have gender authority over certain astrological signs and influence them as such.

Some astrologers do not use the terms feminine and masculine replacing them with a more gender-neutral language. ‘Masculine’ and ‘feminine’ has been replaced with ‘outward’ and ‘inward’ energies. On the face of it, this sounds more nuanced, modern and non-binary.

However, astrology has several thousand years of history behind it and sometimes concepts such as feminine and masculine are not as literal and obvious as they seem.

In order to really understand why astrology uses these gender-based terms it is necessary to do some research into the ancient reasons behind their use.

The masculine signs are Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius.

The feminine signs are Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces.

Aries as the start of the zodiac is masculine followed by Taurus as feminine and onward around the zodiac it goes. The masculine/feminine definitions are heavily dependent upon Pythagorean numerological principles, where all the masculine signs (which are also the diurnal ones) are odd numbered ones; and all the feminine signs (which are the nocturnal ones) are even numbered.

Diurnal means ‘of the quality of the day’ and nocturnal means ‘of the quality of the night’. The diurnal energies relate to masculinity and the solar principle, being active, direct and expressive whilst nocturnal energies relate to the feminine and the lunar principles, being responsive, indirect and impressive. The diurnal hemisphere includes the 7th House through to the 12th where planets can be seen above the horizon. The nocturnal hemisphere includes the 1st House through to the 6th where the planets are beneath the horizon and unable to be seen.

The characteristics of diurnal and nocturnal influences infiltrate all areas of astrological philosophy from the alternation of the signs to the rulership of each planet over the signs.

Traditional Rulerships
Source: provided by FAA Journal

The ancient astrologer, Ptolemy, outlines his reasons for the arrangement of sign rulerships, showing how they are based upon a symmetrical pattern that starts and extends from the luminaries. As in most ancient symbolism, the pivotal point in the underlying philosophy is the relationship of the Sun to the Earth. The distribution of planets to signs begins at the cusp between Cancer (Moon, feminine) and Leo (Sun, masculine). The five visible planets are then distributed between the ten remaining signs in such a way that each has a day house in a masculine sign and a nocturnal house in a feminine sign. The luminaries only rule one sign each. The Sun rules Leo and the Moon rules Cancer.

Mercury is considered androgynous, governing Gemini and Virgo because these two signs adjoin the home of the masculine Sun and that of the feminine Moon so Mercury can take on either gender. Venus ruling Taurus and Libra has a friendly sextile between these signs and the luminaries so is considered extremely fertile. (This is why Taurus, symbolised by a male bull, is considered a fertile, feminine sign). Mars, ruling both Aries and Scorpio form a hostile square to the houses of the luminaries. Jupiter, considered the ‘greater benefic’ governs the signs of Sagittarius and Pisces because it forms a harmonious trine aspect to the luminaries. Lastly, Saturn gives rulership over Capricorn and Aquarius; these signs are the most distant from the Sun’s home. The association of planets to places of their own gender (or sect) was far more relevant in traditional astrology than it is today and formed an important part of evaluating planetary strength. Although the planets have two signs each, they are nonetheless more potent when located in the sign which corresponds to their own gender and temperament.

The masculine planets are the Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. These are the Superior planets (i.e. outside the orbit of the earth). The feminine planets are the Moon, Mercury and Venus or Inferior planets (i.e. inside the orbit of the Earth). The distinction may be partly based upon the way that the planets emerge from conjunction with the Sun, the superiors always emerge on the right-hand side, the Moon always on the left with Venus and Mercury able to emerge on either side.

In order to understand the philosophy behind the astrological terms of masculine and feminine it is necessary to first look at planetary temperaments where planets are described as being cold, dry, warm, moist, hot, cool and wet. These temperaments are often employed in traditional astrology and give the background information as to why some signs are considered fertile or barren.

Planetary temperaments are dependent on where they are placed in relation to both the Sun and the Earth.

The Earth is considered a moist planet because on a physical level over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water. Water also exists in the air as clouds, water vapour, in rivers and lakes, in icecaps and glaciers. Therefore, the Moon, as a satellite of Earth is defined as a moist planet because of its proximity to the Earth. By contrast, Saturn is considered cold and dry because of its extreme distance from the Sun. Saturn’s excessive coldness is considered destructive, therefore in traditional astrology, Saturn is the ‘greater malefic’.

The Sun is the source of heat and light. Heat is associated with activity and movement. The Sun is considered hot, dry heat, shining brightly and singular as it is the only visible planet in the sky seen during the daylight period of activity.

The Moon is considered cool and moist and associated with embryotic nourishment and growth. Some plants can grow without light but every plant needs moisture/water.

In astrology, moisture, heat, dryness and cold are not thought of as purely physical states. These terms are expressive of philosophical principles and are ‘associated with’ their accompanying physical states.

So, on a physical level we understand that water is moist, but philosophically moisture is not exclusively associated with water. The same applies to the philosophical understanding of the astrological term’s masculine and feminine.

The Sun is considered masculine because it depicts the combined qualities of dryness and heat. The Moon is considered feminine because it is associated with cool moistness. Ancient philosophers considered that masculine and feminine principles must come together to create life reflecting the co-dependency of the Sun and Moon. In the animal kingdom, the male (originator of the seed) is categorized as masculine. The female (who received the seed and nurtures life) is categorized as feminine. At a physical level, females are defined as feminine as a gender type but philosophically, femininity is not exclusively associated with females, the philosophical term having far greater relevance to an association with lunar characteristics.

When ancient astrological texts defined planets or signs as hot, dry, cold or moist, they are speaking metaphysically and building upon an underlying expectation that the celestial environment itself is fundamentally ‘generative’ and therefore endowed in all its parts with both the creative warmth of the Sun and the nurturing womb-like moisture of the Moon.

All planets constantly become more or less masculine or feminine (i.e., drying or moist in effect) as they move through various placements. E.g., placement near the eastern horizon increases the masculine, placement near the western horizon increases the feminine, as does the consequence of occupying a masculine or feminine sign or being in a certain phase within the synodic cycle. The first quarter being productive of moisture, the second of heat, the third of dryness and the last quarter of cold (which mirrors the seasons through the four quarters of the year).

Most astrology books discuss the Sun and Moon as counterparts to each other. They represent day (Sun) and night (Moon). Although they are separate bodies, the Moon reflects the light of the Sun. Deborah Houlding writes in her book, Houses – Temples of the Sky,

The origin of many astrological techniques is a simple recognition of the cycle of the Sun and Moon around the Earth. These two planets are always considered as partners and opposites, the Sun is of the day and its domain lies in the upper regions of the chart, whereas the Moon belongs to the night and reigns in the lower realms.

When learning or reading astrology books, the Sun’s essential nature is often described as masculine; the Sun is said to represent your father or male-figure in your life. The Sun is the natural significator for fathers especially in a diurnal chart. In a nocturnal chart the father is more traditionally associated with Saturn.

Woodcut depicting the king and queen standing atop the sun and moon
Source: Image taken from: "De alchimia opuscula complura veterum philosophorum, quorum catalogum sequens pagella indicabit", C. Jacobus, 1550 (Frankfurt), CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons,

The Sun is the driving force behind the whole solar system. It represents will power, vitality and how you shine brightest through life. In Horary, it represents people in the prime of life, signifying men generally but also represents all forms of people in command; kings, captains, mayors, directors and magistrates, all forms of celebrities, heads of state and titled people.

The Sun illuminates our world by day. The reflected light of the Sun enables the Moon to prevent there being total darkness during the night. The Moon mirrors the rhythms of our life and represents feelings and emotional experiences. In Horary it personifies all manner of women, wives, sisters, mothers and when dignified; queens and important ladies. Also, in Horary it is the intermediary between the planets so signifies the flow of the action and people who act as go-betweens. Through its control over the tides and water, the Moon governs all who earn their living by the sea – fisherfolk, mariners and sailors. A strong Moon in a chart can show a nature that is easily moved and empathetic to the feelings of others.

As mentioned, ancient philosophers considered that masculine and feminine principles must unite to generate new life, reflecting the co-dependency of the Sun and Moon. Interestingly, Mercury, representing our minds; how we think and communicate information is considered a dual-natured or androgynous planet. Mercury amplifies whatever it is connected to. As it is both masculine and feminine it is equally suited to the diurnal or nocturnal hemisphere. This is why Mercury is most comfortable on the ASC (where day and night intersect) and has its Joy in the 1st house.

Although it is important to question language and our use of the terms feminine and masculine in our astrological writings, it is equally important to understand the history of why and where these terms have evolved from.

This article could easily delve into all manner of how the lunar goddess and solar god operate or how anima and animus as gender specific archetypal structures depict the unconscious masculine in a woman and the unconscious feminine in a man however I think I’ll finish with a quote from Steven Forrest,

Every birth chart contains both Sun and Moon. Each of us has what we might call a ‘masculine’ and a ‘feminine’ dimension. Every woman must develop her Sun; every man must develop his Moon. Cultural pressures may complicate the process but in a healthy human being, both functions are operative and in balance. (1)

Endnotes:
Acknowledgement: Information gathered from STA Course notes by Deborah Houlding
(1) Steven Forrest Page 169, The Changing Sky

First published in: FAA Journal, September 2023.

Author:
Astrology has been a lifelong interest for Rozlyn Noble culminating in 2016 with achieving the Diploma of Astrology from the FAA, and also the certificate in Horary from the STA. She is a current member of AANSW.

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