Each and every ‘story’ that you relate is a ‘fiction’ – at least in the sense that it is your interpretation of your experience of an external event or series of events.

According to James Hillman (Healing Fiction), coming to grips with this process of fiction-making is healing. Not only does it promote self-acceptance but also self-understanding. This in turn gives you the chance to assert conscious control over your affairs. Take this opportunity! Pay attention. This is soul making.

Astrologically, your Moon is the key to this process. In the Neoplatonist cosmos, the Moon stands at the gateway of your psyche and the material world. Thus your Moon not only mediates between events, experiences, and the meaning that you give them, but it also gives you a wealth of information about the archetypes, symbols, and metaphors that inform your (inner) world.

For example, my Moon is in Gemini. My stories – or ‘fictions’ – must be light and lively. It’s only to be expected that I will embellish and embroider the facts to make it so. If there were to be dark and/or seriously scary bits,  I’ll be obliged to ignore them. It’s a given that to the extent difficult emotions are involved, I’ll avoid them like the plague.

However, if my Moon were in Scorpio, the scary bits and difficult emotions would be just my cup of tea; they could even dominate my story. If my Moon were in Capricorn, my story could take on a paternalistic, moralising tone – don’t do that again, else bad things will happen. With Moon in Pisces, my story would centre on my (confused) emotional response to the events. But with Moon in Leo my story would centre on what most flatters me.

Not only does your Moon’s sign effect your fiction-making but also its house placement. My Moon is in the 12^th house. When I sense rejection or criticism, I clam up and slip away. By contrast, if my Moon were in the 1^st house, I would be so self-focused  that I wouldn’t even care if you were listening; my overwhelming need is to dominate the situation.

Finally, the aspects your Moon makes to other planets in your chart necessarily also colour your perception. For example, I have Moon square (hard aspect) to Mars. My fiction-making is often peppered with anecdotes belying my anger and frustration. Everything that I experience isn’t quite right’ – if only, if only? But if my Moon were, say, in an easy aspect (trine or sextile) with Jupiter, my story would be warmly optimistic; my default perception is that all is ‘right with the world’. But if my Moon were in a difficult aspect (square or opposition) to Jupiter, my story would be wildly unrealistic; my default perception would be that when it comes to luck, I always draw the short straw.

Now, after paying close attention to my own stories, I’m more aware of how -without conscious intervention – I’m most likely to experience any event. Say, for example, that I have an argument with my husband. With my Gemini Moon, I will automatically avoid difficult emotions. With his Scorpio Moon, my husband will automatically interpret this as purposefully ignoring his feelings. The moment he expresses criticism in this regard, I will clam up and slip away. With his Moon in his 5th house, mu husband might well take pleasure in this result. This leaves me to fuss and fume (anger/frustration) in private. But if I can accept that regardless of how I’d like to perceive the event, difficult emotions are integral and inevitable. Now, at least I am able to acknowledge this emotions exist thus allowing my husband to feel that at last, he’s been heard. Hopefully, this will circumvent the rest of what was once inevitable and instead of fussing and fuming, I can finally take some pride in my accomplishments.