Give Your Home a Lunar Makeover! |
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As featured in The Cheltenham Directories.
If you're in the middle of renovating your home or updating your old kitchen, then your home might look like a lunar landscape, complete with craters and piles of dust, but I'm not suggesting that this is a 'look' that we’ll soon be seeing on The Great Interior Design Challenge. No, as an astrologer I believe that our home and garden reflect our individual birthchart, and in particular the position of the Moon at the moment of our birth. Why? Because in astrology, the Moon represents the home, family, and everything that makes us feel secure and comfortable in life.
For example, if your Moon is in Taurus, you love to be surrounded by nature, beauty, comfort and good food. A country cottage with a kitchen garden is probably your idea of heaven, but what if you live in a flat in the centre of town? Well, in addition to having plenty of house plants and a window-box, choose prints or original works of art that depict the countryside, green and growing things, flowers and animals. Go for furniture and accessories that have a rustic flavour, and don’t skimp when it comes to quality kitchenware and an oven that will allow you to indulge your culinary skills. Think farmhouse kitchen and you’ll get the picture.
If your Moon is in intellectual Aquarius on the other hand, you are likely to embrace the minimalist ethic and long to live in a white, modernist, de-cluttered space, or perhaps an eco-home that incorporates the latest energy-saving innovations. If you live in a traditional semi-detached family home however, think about installing solar panels or a reed-bed sewage system in the garden, or knocking down a few walls and installing clever storage solutions to achieve a more open-plan lifestyle.
Although your home and garden are also related to other astrological factors in your birthchart, for example the Fourth House, the more you understand and work with your Moon sign, the more your home supports you and reflects your real needs, creating a comfortable environment that nourishes your soul.
If you are moving home, renovating, considering transforming your home and garden, or just redecorating, and would like some astrological inspiration that takes into account your (and your partner's if co-habiting) full birthchart, please contact me to arrange a consultation.
Graham Boston lives in Leckhampton, Cheltenham (UK) and is available for private consultations and readings. Call (01242) 228796, skype grahamboston or visit www.livingastrology.com for printed profiles (which make a unique gift!).
For example, if your Moon is in Taurus, you love to be surrounded by nature, beauty, comfort and good food. A country cottage with a kitchen garden is probably your idea of heaven, but what if you live in a flat in the centre of town? Well, in addition to having plenty of house plants and a window-box, choose prints or original works of art that depict the countryside, green and growing things, flowers and animals. Go for furniture and accessories that have a rustic flavour, and don’t skimp when it comes to quality kitchenware and an oven that will allow you to indulge your culinary skills. Think farmhouse kitchen and you’ll get the picture.
If your Moon is in intellectual Aquarius on the other hand, you are likely to embrace the minimalist ethic and long to live in a white, modernist, de-cluttered space, or perhaps an eco-home that incorporates the latest energy-saving innovations. If you live in a traditional semi-detached family home however, think about installing solar panels or a reed-bed sewage system in the garden, or knocking down a few walls and installing clever storage solutions to achieve a more open-plan lifestyle.
Although your home and garden are also related to other astrological factors in your birthchart, for example the Fourth House, the more you understand and work with your Moon sign, the more your home supports you and reflects your real needs, creating a comfortable environment that nourishes your soul.
If you are moving home, renovating, considering transforming your home and garden, or just redecorating, and would like some astrological inspiration that takes into account your (and your partner's if co-habiting) full birthchart, please contact me to arrange a consultation.
Graham Boston lives in Leckhampton, Cheltenham (UK) and is available for private consultations and readings. Call (01242) 228796, skype grahamboston or visit www.livingastrology.com for printed profiles (which make a unique gift!).
How do I find out my Moon sign?
To find out your Moon sign, use the widget on the right.
Enter your year, month, day, hour and minute of birth (make a rough guess if you don't know your time of birth - though since the Moon changes sign every 2.5 days you may need to read the next sign's details as well. Once the birthchart displays, click on the Moon glyph (the yellow crescent moon). At the top of the information box it will give the sign the Moon was in, together with its position in zodiacal degrees, and the house. |
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Moon in Aries
If your Moon is in Aries, you have a lot of fire, energy and ambition. Being such an active person your home should be functional, 'do its job properly' and be as clutter-free as possible so you don't feel hemmed in or weighed down. Use red, the colour of Aries' ruling planet Mars, to add drama and warmth, for example as an accent colour, or as the colour of your kitchen or bathroom (but not the bedroom, unless you want sleepless nights!). Use accessories such as paintings, sculptures, flowers etc. sparingly and to convey movement, energy and aspiration. If you can, make space within a spare room, conservatory or garage for a home gym, or have a workshop where you can make things. Because Aries is one of the three fire signs, think of constructing a firepit or having a firewok in your garden, When choosing a home, look for somewhere that conveys strength, has clear boundaries and if possible is detached.
Moon in Taurus
With Moon in Taurus, your home needs to provide comfort, stability and sensual pleasure. Taurus is an earth sign and rules nature, whilst its ruling planet Venus is the planet of beauty and art, so fill your home with fresh flowers, houseplants, landscape paintings or still lives, and tactile works of art such as sculpture and textiles. If you have a flat but no garden, add window boxes or hanging baskets to invite nature in as much as possible. The kitchen is particularly important for Moon in Taurus, and no expense should be spared when choosing an oven (or an Aga!) and pots and pans. Go for copper, the metal ruled by Venus. When it comes to furniture, think rustic, country cottage, farmhouse or peasant. Alternatively, choose furnishings that are as comfortable as possible - deep sofas and armchairs in earth colours - greens, ochres, wine reds. Natural materials such as wood, bamboo, jute, clay tiles etc should take precedence over metals, plastics or chrome. Add a fake fur throw and you have the recipe for Taurean heaven!
Moon in Gemini
Communication, mobility and learning are your thing, so a garage or off-road space for your car (or double garage, since Gemini, the sign of the twins, usually does things in twos!) is essential. That, or easy access to buses, trains and the nearest motorway. Since you are usually on the move, you probably wouldn't be happy living in a tranquil rural idyll unless it was a second home or a writer's retreat. Far more preferable is to be where life is going on around you, so avoid cul-de-sacs or the 10th floor of a block of flats, and instead choose lively, up-and-coming neighbourhoods with plenty of cafes, bookshops and coffee shops where you can meet your friends and become part of the local community. Internally, a good library, book shelving or separate study space is vital, and when thinking of the layout of your living room, make sure it is welcoming and conducive to conversation. For example, consider having two small sofas instead of one large one, and have a coffee table large enough to spread books and magazines on. For furnishings, think fresh, young and contemporary, with a medley of light and bright colours. Being an air sign, a view is important to you, but it needn't be hills or mountains - it could just be a view onto a busy street.
Moon in Cancer
Ahhh, homely Cancer, the Moon's 'ruling sign', the place where it is most comfortable. With the Moon here, your home is central to your sense of wellbeing - a place where you can relax, feel secure and enjoy family life. You probably like traditional dwellings in settled neighbourhoods, be they in the suburbs, urban or country villages - peaceful places where you can grow roots and come to feel part of the local community. You might even live close to where you were brought up, so strong are your family ties. Three-bed semis, country cottages and cosy Victorian terraces complete with period features all appeal, unlike the minimalist designer high-tech, beloved of Moon in Aquarius. There must be space for children however, so a garden is important, and if possible, have a large kitchen/dining area so that both cooking and eating a meal can be times when the family can come together. When it comes to furnishing, think comfort, robustness (they'll get a lot of bashing from the kids!), traditional styles and rounded lines. Trawl the antique and second-hand furniture markets for pre-loved chests of drawers, dressers, dining tables and chairs - furniture that expresses history, character and generations of love and usage. When it comes to the bedroom, spare no expense on a big, comfortable bed that will last a lifetime, and decorate using white, soft, dark blues or wood. Being a water sign, live near a stream or river if you can, but if not, create a pond or water feature in your garden.
Moon in Leo
Proud, regal Moon in Leo wants to be make an impact, so your home should reflect your personality, sense of drama and your creativity. You probably dream of owning a home that make a statement - a rock star's mansion, an artist's cliff-top studio or the smartest house in the street perhaps (you know, the one with the ostentatious conservatory, palms and the wrought-iron gates). You want to live in an up-and-coming neighbourhood where artists, poets, musicians and models hang out, but since this isn't always possible, then at the very least you want to be able to invite your friends round for the occasional party or soirée. So think carefully about how other people would feel coming into your home - is it inviting? Would a creative gathering, dinner party or celebration go well here? Have as many lighting options as possible to suit different situations and moods, and go for dramatic lamps in your living areas that express confidence in your own taste. Candles and tealights are an inexpensive way of adding magic to any space in the evening. Think about how light works in your home and use mirrors and shiny metallic objects to make the most of it. Invest in artworks such as paintings and sculptures and enjoy the process of moving furniture, plants and objet's d'art around in order to find their perfect places. As for furnishings, think stylish, and think yellow and gold, the colours of the Sun, Leo's ruling planet (OK, it's a star, not a planet, that's just astrological shorthand). Since Leo is a fire sign, have a real fire if you can, or if not, pay attention to the hearth. If there isn't one, designate a space as a hearth and fill it with candles. Like Moon in Aries, consider constructing a firepit or having a firewok in your garden.
Moon in Virgo
With your Moon in Virgo, an earth sign, order, a connection with the natural world and a sense of being productive give you a sense of security, so you are are drawn to a simple or 'back-to-nature' lifestyle. Even in an urban or suburban setting, this can be achieved through lavishing your care on green and growing things. If you don't have a garden or outside area, grow herbs in pots in your kitchen or in window boxes, and have houseplants in every room. If you do have a garden, invest in a greenhouse and consider creating a neat box-lined parterre, a kitchen or herb garden - even an orchard. To attract wildlife, let a corner of your garden 'do it's own thing' - you'll also find it very therapeutic to relinquish control. As a Moon in Virgo, you no doubt have many hobbies, so why not convert a room or garage, or build a shed or outhouse, so you can pursue your practical interests without being disturbed? And since Virgo relates to health and fitness, how about a home gym or sauna? When it comes to furnishing your home, think practical and crafted. Choose furniture that is made well, and decorate your home with attention to detail and respect for authenticity, working with natural materials such as wood, stone and metal. As for colour schemes, Virgo is happiest with calm colours, white, creams, browns, wheat and corn, cool blue and light greens. You might be equally as happy living in a minimalist cube as a country cottage, so long as it was made with love and skill, and related harmoniously to its surroundings.
Moon in Libra
As a Moon in Libra (an air sign), you seek harmony and relationship, so your home needs to reflect your appreciation for beauty, culture and style. Your ideal home would probably be in a fashionable part of town, with chic little clothes shops and delis where you can sip a cappuccino in style with your pals whilst watching the fashionistas saunter by. Rural isolation doesn't appeal, unless it's a romantic pied a terre, and neither do cul-de-sacs, basements flats or anything too pokey and squashed-together. No, light and airy is your style, and Regency or Georgian elegance is right up your street. When choosing a place to live, you are drawn to symmetry, proportion and harmony, as well as how the building relates to the other buildings around it, and how it invites visitors - for example, how neat is the front garden? Is the front door in good decorative order, and does the 'door furniture' (the knocker or bell, the letterbox, the door handle) work properly? Is the house number or name clearly visible? Is the path to the front door clearly marked, without obstructions? When it comes to the interior, no doubt you already furnish with style, and are clever at making small spaces seem larger through the use of colour and correct positioning of items like sofas, chairs and tvs, so that no one element dominates the room. The living and dining rooms are especially important to you as they are places where you entertain, talk and relax. Go for pastel colours and bring as much light in as you can, by choosing light colours for blinds, curtains and window frames, and through the use of mirrors and glass. Choose objets d'art that reflect harmony, elegance and love, and you will attract more of these qualities into your life. Always have flowers (even if they're artifical) on hand to bring colour and life into a room.
Moon in Scorpio
With the Moon in Scorpio, your home needs to reflect your your need for emotional security, depth and loyalty. It is your castle, a place of refuge and safety, and a source of strength. Caves, tunnels and underground houses appeal to your love of the ancient and primitive - you can imagine yourself as a neolithic person painting magical figures of animals and hunters on the rocky walls of your dwelling, lit only by a crackling fire that both keeps danger at bay and inspires dreams and stories. You like homes that are slightly tucked away, hidden, unobtrusive, where if necessary you can hide out. You probably don't mind too much where you live, so long as come a national crisis or ecological disaster you'll have access to the provisions you need and won't be looted by crazed gangs of desparate people. Inside, you want to feel comfortable - emotionally more than physically, so you surround yourself with treasured possessions, heirlooms passed down to you by much loved aunts, collections of gemstones or fossils, books from childhood, photos of loves past and present, even stuff you're not sure why you still have. Everything has a memory associated with it or reflects your love of mystery, psychology and puzzles. You probably don't care that much for fashions or how interiors 'should' look according to the glossy magazines. Indeed, you probably have a tendency to hoard - which is fine until you can't walk across your living room without clearing a pathway through jungle of junk. So consider carefully how to best to display your treasures, and whether visitors to your home would be able to relax into the magical ambience you have created or secretly feel like running away, screaming. When it comes to colours, think rich browns and creams as base colours, accented by bottles greens and blues and intense jewel-like accents of magenta, purple and scarlet. When it comes to choosing paintings, prints and objets d'art, always go for ones that move, intrigue or inspire you rather than just look nice. Nice doesn't cut it with Scorpio. As a water sign, create a pond in your garden if you have one, dig a well, or make a water feature with rocks.
Moon in Sagittarius
With your Moon in Sagittarius, you would probably be happy living abroad, but if that isn't possible, your home will at least reflect your travels and your interest in other cultures. Photographs, mementos and objets d'art tell of your journeys to inspiring lands and your meetings with people very different from yourself. In terms of location, you probably prefer to live high up, for example on a hill or the 10th floor, so that you can have broad views beyond your immediate surroundings. You are comfortable in an ethnically or culturally mixed neighbourhood, and seek a home that is spacious, open-plan, with big windows and a large garden if possible. Modern or traditional styles appeal, so long as it doesn't feel regimented or closed-in. The interior should have as much living space as possible, and a library or study since you are a great reader. Your love the outdoors, walking, hiking and sunbathing, so when designing your home consider bringing the outside in by having a conservatory, patio, french doors or a sun room. Bring as much light into your home as possible through the use of light-coloured curtains and blinds, white painted window frames, mirrors, and light wells in the ceiling. Use plenty of lighting inside and use uplighters to light space brightly but without harshness. And as Sagittarius is a fire sign, if you have a garden, consider creating a firepit to sit round, having a barbecue area or buying a firewok. When it comes to decorating, choose light, sunny colours such as yellows and oranges, whites and pale greens. For furniture, consider mixing and matching different styles both new and second-hand, and go for relaxed, rustic styles such as Indian or Mexican.
Moon in Capricorn
Status, career and achievement are important in your life, and your home should in some ways reflect these. Location is high on your list of criteria when choosing a home, and in order to feel comfortable you want to feel that you are living somewhere respectable, desirable or where people are hard-working and proud of their achievements. In your dreams you probably see yourself owning a large country pile, or living in the most exclusive part of town. You like houses that have history, but no matter what your budget you want somewhere that looks substantial or has classic proportions. Doric columns probably appeal, but resist the urge to add them to a 20th-century semi-d. The boundaries of your home are particularly important, and if not clear, consider investing in wrought-iron railings, gates or attractive hedging. Not only will they enhance security but will also add self-respect and strength to the property. Clear your pathways and take a long look at your front door. What does it say about the people living behind it? Is the 'door furniture' (knocker, bell, letterbox etc.) in good working order, polished and smart? For the interior, consider a classic, perhaps quite sparse style, with elegant furniture (either antique, or modern classics such as the Le Corbusier chaise longue), understated yet opulent lamps, and a muted colour scheme of whites, silver, blacks, cream, navy blues, dark browns. Avoid coldness by adding personal touches such as family photographs or portraits, books, cherished heirlooms and a mark of your own achievement such as a certificate, cup or photo of you receiving an honour. Use stone to suggest permanence and solidity, for example by installing a reclaimed mantelpiece, and reinstall period feature that may have been lost over time, such as a ceiling rose or floral coving. If you want to give your living room a makeover, consider investing in a quality piece of antique furniture such as a coffee table, mirror or chandelier. Think heritage, good taste and understated opulence.
Moon in Aquarius
Funky, modern, urban, and contemporary are just some of the words to describe your style. With your Moon in an air sign, you need to be where people are at, unless you are one of those Moon in Aquarius people who prefer to ensconse themselves in garrets, studios or ivory towers where they can study, contemplate and do their thing undisturbed. If you are one of the former types you probably like modern, open-plan spaces that incorporate the latest ideas in architecture, furniture and design. Minimalism, steel and chrome may be your thing, but you would probably be equally happy living in an eco-cabin, barge or yurt - at least until the novelty wore off. As a thinker, you need space for reading and contemplation, for example in a room with an expansive view, or a study packed with books and computers. If you have a busy family house and a garden, consider building yourself a garden office so you can get away from it all within your own home. At some stage in your life you are likely to experiment with communal living, both as a way of living sustainably and also as a way of connecting with people who share the same ideals. Your living space can probably best be described as a little eccentric - a place where you can be yourself and indulge your whims. Or it may be almost bare, with few personal touches. It may even be the case that you feel at home wherever your laptop and tv is. If you're stuck for ideas decoration-wise, think space, light and fabricated materials such as plastics and metals. Incorporate gadgets such as wireless speakers or flat tvs on the wall, and use colours such as fluorescents, electric blue, purples, white and silver.
Moon in Pisces
With your Moon in the final water sign, you seek peace, healing and refuge from your living space. Your home should be a place where you can close the door on the world and recharge your spiritual batteries. A dreamer and a gypsy at heart, you would be as happy living on a houseboat, a barge or in a yurt as in a traditional home, although you are drawn to romantic hideaways, country cottages, tucked-away places and interesting renovations. You need space to dream, reflect and create, so if you have a garden, and it's overlooked, consider creating a private bower with trelliss and climbing plants (or bamboo screens) so that you can read, sunbathe or relax undisturbed. Bring magic into your outdoor spaces through the use of windchimes, fountains, statuary and partly hidden scupltures, and create sepentine winding paths that lead through different 'rooms' or areas. As for location, you love to be near water, and preferably by the sea. If you're landlocked however, bring the sea into your life by using pebbles, making a water feature, building a rockery or using seaside plants such as sea holly in your garden, and by collecting paintings and prints of seascapes, boats and fish. Create a whimsical look by painting your own furniture, making your own pottery (or buying from a potter rather than a shop) and choosing humourous or quirky artworks. So long as they are things you love, even if it's a little chaotic, it will be homely. The bathroom is especially important to a Moon in Pisces, so indulge your fantasies here and make it a chill-out zone full of candles, bubbles and low-level, dimmable lighting. For colour scehmes, draw your inspiration from beaches, beach huts and deckchairs, with washes of pale colours, sea blues and greens, together with sunny yellows and the bright blue of fishing boats interspersed with thick red blue or green stripes. If you have a spare room, use it as a meditation room, or create an altar as a focus of your spiritual life - a place where you can place objects that are meaningful for you, such as feathers, stones, crystals, angel cards, or pictures of your spiritual teachers.