We’ve all done it: compared our zodiac sign compatibility with our crush or significant other. But the latest astrological trend is finding out if they’re your moon phase soulmate. The viral trend came about how most things do in this day and age: on TikTok. And young people can’t get enough of finding out if their current partner (or ex, if you’re messy) is the right person for them based on how their moon phases line up.
The popularity of tracking the universe in hopes of gleaning who we are on Earth is as ancient as the Woolly Mammoth. Astrological signs that we’re familiar with today were popularized by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, though it’s not quite clear who theorized that the sun and planets influence a person’s characteristics. So where does the moon play a role in all of this? And how do you determine if someone is your moon phase soulmate?
What is the Moon Phase Soulmate Trend?
What started as a TikTok filter that was introduced sometime in 2022, the trend has continued to dominate the video-sharing app. The filter is entitled “Moon Phase Test,” and has more than 16.4 million videos using the effect.
The concept is simple: you find the filter on TikTok and put in your own birthday plus the birthday of the other person you’re comparing yourself to. The filter will then create two moon phases for both birthdays and line them up. The idea is that the moon phases will determine if you’re compatible with one another based on how the two moons line up. The trend has gone beyond just romantic relationships — many people have compared their moon phases to their family members, best friends, and even their pets.
If you’re not on TikTok or want a more in-depth look at your phase, there are many moon phase calculators available like this one.
What Do the Moon Phases Mean?
In astrology, a person’s “moon” sign is said to be the ruler of emotions and is closely linked with a person’s inner desires and feelings. Much like zodiac signs and horoscopes, the meaning behind each moon phase is kept vague and can sometimes be relatable to the person’s own experience.
“The lunar phases take on the energy of the signs they’re in and the aspects to other planets, so it is more complex than the TikTok theory,” Lisa Stardust, astrologer, tarot card reader, and author of The Astrology Deck: Your Guide to the Meanings and Myths of the Cosmos, told Teen Vogue.
What Does Your Moon Phase Say About You?
There are eight lunar phases — here is each one and what they mean:
- New Moon (or Dark Moon): This moon is the start of the lunar cycle and is symbolic of embracing change. People born during this phase are considered leaders and visionaries with fresh ideas. “New moon individuals tend always want a fresh start in love,” Stardust said.
- Waxing Crescent: Those born under the second phase of the moon tend to be determined, result-seeking individuals who are steadfast in the pursuit of their goals. Stardust says these people usually want stability in their relationships.
- First Quarter Moon: Since this phase is known to be a tense part of the lunar phase, individuals born during the first quarter moon can be impulsive, but are often able to thrive in the face of adversity. These people likely need their freedom in a romantic relationship.
- Waxing Gibbous: These people are often analytical and are always seeking answers to life’s biggest questions and how to better themselves. This person often loves to be in relationships.
- Full Moon: This part of the lunar phase is known for its heightened emotions. Full moon people can be magnetic and unique individuals, though indecisive at times. These people are very relationship-oriented, Stardust said.
- Waning Gibbous: These people are often extremely lucky, and love to impart their own wisdom to others. Stardust said these individuals love to commit.
- Last Quarter Moon: This moon phase typically sees people who are deeply loyal, and who can embrace change. Stardust said these people are empathetic when it comes to love.
- Waning Crescent Moon: As the last phase of the lunar cycle, these individuals might prefer solitude and self-reflection. This person might be extremely wise and introspective. But in a relationship, Stardust described them as “excitable.”
Do Soulmates Have Matching Moon Phases?
While a viral TikTok filter shouldn’t determine your love life, it can be interesting to see where you line up next to a partner (or your crush). Many people interpret the moon phase soulmate test as two phases that perfectly create one full moon within the graphic. But what does that mean exactly?
“This trend is 50% right and 50% wrong,” Stardust says. “While the moon governs our emotions and is an indication of what we desire most, it is more effective when it connects with someone’s Sun sign, Venus sign, or ascendant.”
A person’s Sun sign is the main zodiac assigned to someone’s birthday, while their Venus is based on where the planet was when you were born, and your ascendant — or sometimes known as your “rising” sign — was the zodiac sign that was ascending the eastern horizon at the exact time you were born.
Stardust says that moon signs that “complete” one another — as seen in the TikTok filter — don’t always equal compatibility. Some astrologers say that having opposing synastry, which compares two people’s astrological charts, can still equal a beautiful relationship, and vice versa.
“Couples like to be different as individuals and find a common ground to work on,” Stardust said. “It keeps the relationship interesting and growing. In the end, love trumps all even if you're not astrologically compatible.”
