This witchy TikTok trend might tell you if your partner is the one
If your For You page is anything like mine, you’ve seen dozens of versions of this specific TikTok video: 'Every Summertime' by NIKI plays while two photos of the moon (in various stages of growth or decline) come together in slow motion, creating one perfect whole. The viral craze is known as the moon phase soulmate test. It’s a fun TikTok trend, sure, but it’s based on a very real theory that the moon phases two individuals are born under can discern whether they are meant to be or not.
While the majority of TikTokers have been using this trend to showcase their compatibility with their partners, a deep dive into the hashtag shows people using the test for all sorts of soulmates. Internet-goers have gone as far as to try it out with the moon phases their parents were born under, along with the moon phases of their exes, crushes, and besties—even celebrities are being put to the test. (Spoiler alert: Barbie and Ken might not be the perfect match.)
Sure, you might be thinking that there's no way a TikTok trend holds any merit when it comes to calculating compatibility. I mean, that’s like if you trusted a middle school game of MASH to decide your future spouse, right? But, as it turns out, the moon phase you are born under does play a massive role in your life.
'The moon represents the soul, the subconscious, the emotional landscape,' says Julia Halina Hadas, a witch, astrology expert, and author of The Modern Witchcraft Book of Astrology: Your Complete Guide to Empowering Your Magick With the Energy of the Planets. 'The moon can relate to early childhood, how you’ve been nurtured, and how you nurture others.' Okay… the spiritual and astrological math is, in fact, mathing.
Meet the experts:
Julia Halina Hadas is a witch, astrology expert, and author of The Modern Witchcraft Book of Astrology: Your Complete Guide to Empowering Your Magick With the Energy of the Planets.
Leelo Lokey, aka @LeeloRising on TikTok, is a professional astrologer and content creator.
Julianna Mallozzi, aka ElectraSoul, is an astrologer and content creator on TikTok.
'The moon rules our inner thoughts and emotions,' adds Leelo Lokey, aka @LeeloRising, a professional astrologer and TikTok creator. 'Knowing what phase you and your partner were born under can help you understand how you both analyse and process things emotionally.'
Ahead, astrologers break down the truth behind the viral trend—and explain how you can use it to determine whether your connection with your S.O. is truly written in the stars (well, sky).
Let's back up. What are the different moon phases, anyway?
There are eight moon phases in total, each of which carries its own unique meaning. For example, the new moon represents new beginnings, the waxing crescent phase is a time to set intentions, and the first quarter moon will put goals into motion, explains Julianna Mallozzi, aka ElectraSoul, an astrologer and content creator on TikTok.
With all this in mind, the moon phase you are born under can have a pretty big impact on who you are as a person. 'You will definitely find differences in people’s energies, interactions, mindsets, and spiritual journeys because of how being under a specific moon phase may affect a specific person,' says Mallozzi.
Now, a brief primer on each of the moon phases:
New Moon
People born under the new moon are intuitive, spiritual, and imaginative, explains Hadas. They have the power to bring things into being and often make for great leaders. On the other hand, this constitution can make these individuals a bit more out of touch with reality than those on the opposite end of the moon phase spectrum.
Either way, the thoughts and ideas of someone born under the new moon will truly stand out in a crowd, Mallozzi adds: 'They will chase after their dreams and try to accomplish them as soon as possible.'
Waxing Crescent
'If you’re born under a waxing crescent, you're probably assertive, determined, and have a strong sense of who you are,' says Lokey. 'You have no problems going after what you want.'
Like new moon people, those born under the waxing crescent are trailblazers and natural-born leaders. Hadas notes that these folks will be especially mission-driven and action-oriented. Waxing crescents are visionaries and may feel inclined to push against established structures in order to introduce new ideas.
First Quarter
If you were born under the first quarter, you might notice an omnipresent theme in your life: the sense of conflict, or push and pull. 'Half of you wants to remain where you are, where the other half of you wants to keep pushing forward,' says Mallozzi.
The key to making things work when you’re a first quarter moon individual is compromise.
Waxing Gibbous
Those born under a waxing gibbous have an innate 'interest in areas where minds meet,' says Hadas. They love working with and learning from others, as well as sharing their own knowledge.
If you’re born under this moon phase, you are also determined and resilient. 'Nothing is ever able to truly stop you, because you [have] all the power to work around whatever you feel is an obstacle,' Mallozzi says.
Full Moon
First, a quick astrology lesson: 'When you're born under a full moon, your sun sign and your moon sign are directly opposite,' says Lokey. 'This creates this contradiction between what your head says is logical and what your heart actually wants.' Because of this, Lokey suggests that those born under the full moon are most likely to be hopeless romantics.
Mallozzi adds that people born under the full moon tend to feel things deeply. You may sometimes be overcome by your own emotions and the emotions of others.
Waning Gibbous
People born under a waning gibbous tend to be 'outgoing and sociable, but enjoy diving deep and experiencing things that expand their mind,' says Lokey.
Those born under the waning gibbous may feel particularly inclined to live in the moment, Hadas adds. At the end of the day, however, people born during this phase are appreciative and gracious and may have a proclivity for helping others and sharing their wisdom with those in need.
Third Quarter
Folks born under this moon are naturally nostalgic and can tend to get stuck thinking about the past, says Lokey. She advises that those born under the third quarter moon continue to appreciate where they came from, but they need to remind themselves to move forward, too.
These individuals are also known to be ambitious, notes Mallozzi. Success is always on their mind, but that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily self-absorbed! 'You care about being valuable or helpful in some way,' Mallozzi explains.
Waning Crescent
Hadas notes that people born under a waxing crescent moon are reflective, introverted, and psychic. Lokey agrees, adding that these individuals can be the most withdrawn out of all the moon phases, and often need alone time to process and recharge.
You may feel overwhelmed by everything that you’re feeling, so remember to take it slow when you feel like you need to, says Mallozzi. 'Always follow your intuition and always do what is best for you.'
Got it. So, how can I find my moon phase?
Scientifically speaking, moonlight is actually just reflected sunlight. The phases of the moon change based on its position to the sun as it orbits around Earth. This means that, when discussing your moon phase, you're really talking about 'the relationship your moon had to your sun at the time of your birth,' says Hadas.
Now, the easiest way to find the moon phase you were born under is to use an online moon phase calculator, such as this one, and punch in your date of birth.
Trying to find someone else’s moon phase? The good news is that you don’t actually need to know the exact time said person was born. And, technically speaking, everyone on planet Earth is always looking at the same phase of the moon at the same time (even though it will look quite different depending on the hemisphere you’re in), so you don’t need to have the exact city someone was born in, either. Easy-peasy!
(That said, let’s be real: if you’re joining in on the moon phase soulmate test hype, you’re probably the type of person who already has your partner's birth place and time on file.)
How can I do the moon phase soulmate trend on TikTok?
Here’s the secret: download the images of your chosen moon phases from a website that makes it easy to do so, like this one. Then, using the ever so trusty CapCut Video Editor app, find your template under #moonphase, select your photos, and the app will do the rest of the work.
If you don’t have CapCut, though, don’t fret. TikTok has more recently made its own template titled Moon Phase Test, making it easier than ever to participate in the test.
The trend suggests that two phases that come together to create a full moon are true soulmates. This means that you can also find a simple photo of the phases of the moon, and, treating it like a color wheel, see if the phase of the moon opposite from yours is the same as your partner’s. For example, a waning crescent will form a full moon with a waxing gibbous, first-quarter moons and third-quarter moons will come together as a perfect whole, and so on.
So, are moon phase soulmates real?
Well, yes and no. Basically, astrologers agree that two moon phases not matching up does not mean that the relationship is doomed. No need to break up with a partner over a TikTok trend… this time.
'[The trend] speaks more to what you are looking for out of a relationship versus the relationship itself,' Lokey suggests. If you'd like a partner who's similar to you and processes things similarly, you might actually want someone born under the same moon phase as you. On the other hand, if you’re 'more into the idea that opposites attract,' you might want a partner whose moon phase works with your own to create a full moon—aka, a moon phase soulmate.
If you are 'moon phase soulmates' with someone, your relationship might be balanced and wonderful—or, you might do better with someone who has a bit more in common with you. It depends on the person and the relationship.
'Some couples work really well-being opposites and they harmonise and balance each other out. Some people, not so much,' Hadas says. It’s also natural for moon phase soulmates to click in the short-term, but not make for a lasting relationship. 'Opposites attract might be a nice fling for a hot minute,' Hadas continues, 'but in the long-term, their patterns and habits may be a little too different to coexist.'
As exciting as it is to be moon phase soulmates with your S.O., astrologers agree that there are definitely more important markers of compatibility—even from an astrological standpoint. The sign your moon is in can say a lot more about your relationships with others than the actual phase your moon is in, but even that won’t paint a whole picture. Instead, you may want to look to your seventh house, as that is what symbolizes your romantic relationships. You can also look to your Venus sign (which rules over love), Mars (which symbolises passion), Mercury (which controls communication), and Juno (which represents marriage).
The moon phase you’re born under is really just one small cog in the system of compatibility. 'Your moon phase can really show you how you interact with your purpose and how you find fulfilment and happiness as you pursue it,' says Hadas. And, hey—being able to understand this side of yourself can certainly have a hand in how well you collaborate with and relate to a romantic partner.
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