Frequently Asked Questions
The questions people ask most, answered in a few plain words and gathered in one place.
The Moon
What phase is the Moon in today?
The phase is shown at the top of this page, worked out from your device’s clock. The Moon moves through eight named phases in about 29.5 days: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter and Waning Crescent.
What are the Moon phases and what do they mean?
The Moon moves through eight phases in about 29.5 days. New and waxing phases are traditionally linked to beginnings and growth, the Full Moon to culmination and release, and the waning phases to letting go and rest.
How long does each Moon phase last?
The main phases (New, First Quarter, Full and Last Quarter) are single moments, and the Moon takes roughly three to four days to move from one named phase to the next. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days.
How long is the lunar cycle?
About 29.5 days from one New Moon to the next. Western astrology names the phases along the way. Vedic astrology counts the same journey in thirty lunar days called tithis, in two halves: the bright half (Shukla Paksha) as the Moon grows, and the dark half (Krishna Paksha) as it fades.
What does waxing and waning mean?
Waxing means the Moon’s lit side is growing from night to night, on its way from New to Full. Waning means it is shrinking again, on its way from Full back to New. In the Northern Hemisphere, a waxing Moon is lit on its right side and a waning Moon on its left.
What is a moon sign?
It is the zodiac sign the Moon is passing through. The Moon changes sign about every two and a half days. Western astrology measures the signs from the seasons, while Vedic astrology measures them from the fixed stars, so the two often name different signs for the same night. Neither is wrong; they are two ways of reading the same sky.
What can I do for a New Moon or Full Moon?
Common practices are setting an intention at the New Moon and writing a list of what you are ready to release at the Full Moon. Each phase on this page has a simple ritual you can follow.
Do I need special tools for moon rituals?
No. A pen, a piece of paper and a quiet few minutes are enough. A candle or crystal is a nice addition, and each phase here suggests one.
How accurate is this page?
It is worked out right in your browser from the Moon’s and Sun’s positions, close enough for everyday use. Moon sign changes and phase times are usually within about fifteen minutes of professional astronomy software. Other times, such as lunar days, can differ more, and the phase can differ from an almanac by a few hours near the edges of a phase.
Today’s Sky
What is happening in the sky today?
The reading at the top of this page starts with today’s Moon. Choose the whole sky, or a part such as love or work, to see the Sun, the planets and the angles between them. You can pick another date to look ahead or back, or choose your sign to see what the day tends to mean for you.
What is an aspect?
An aspect is a particular angle between two planets, such as a conjunction when they are close together or a square when they are 90 degrees apart. Each angle gives the day a different feel, from easy flow to friction.
Is today’s sky the same for everyone?
The planets are in the same places for everyone, so the sky itself is shared. How it lands for you depends on your own birth chart, which is why the page also lets you choose your sign.
Tarot
Is this online tarot reading free?
Yes. It is free, needs no sign-up, and you can draw again whenever you like. Nothing you draw is saved or sent anywhere.
How do I ask a tarot question?
Hold a question loosely in mind before you draw. Open questions that begin with how or what, such as what do I need to know about this week, tend to give richer readings than yes or no questions.
What is the difference between upright and reversed cards?
An upright card shows its usual meaning, and a reversed card tends to show the same theme turned inward, blocked or in the process of changing. Readers differ on whether to use reversals, and you can read the cards either way.
Card Meanings
How many tarot cards are there?
A tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana cards, which show the big themes of a life, and 56 Minor Arcana cards in four suits of 14 (Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles), which show everyday situations.
What is the difference between the Major and Minor Arcana?
The Major Arcana are the 22 named cards from The Fool to The World, and they tend to mark significant turning points. The Minor Arcana are the numbered and court cards of the four suits, and they tend to describe the daily texture of life.
What does a reversed tarot card mean?
A reversed card is one that appears upside down. Many readers take it to mean the card’s energy is blocked, internalised or changing, rather than the opposite of its upright meaning. Each card’s page here gives both.
Astrology
How do I find my zodiac sign?
Your zodiac sign is the sign the Sun was in on the day you were born. Choose your sign on this page, or build a free birth chart to see your Moon and rising signs as well.
What is the difference between a Sun sign, Moon sign and rising sign?
Your Sun sign describes your core self, your Moon sign describes your emotional needs and how you feel safe, and your rising sign describes how you come across and meet the world. A birth chart shows all three.
Is the horoscope here personal?
The readings are written for each sign and worked out from the real sky for the day. For a reading that is specific to you, a birth chart uses your date, time and place of birth.
Compatibility
What is a synastry chart?
A synastry chart compares two birth charts by looking at the angles between one person’s planets and the other’s. It describes how two people tend to feel around each other, where they spark, where they support each other and where they rub, and it is the astrological way of reading compatibility.
Is synastry better than comparing Sun signs?
Sun sign compatibility is a quick overview of two people’s basic style. Synastry goes further, because it compares Moons, Venuses, Mars signs and the other planets, which is where much of the feeling of a relationship lives. The two work well together.
Can a synastry chart tell me if we will last?
No chart can promise that. Synastry describes the pull between two people, including the easy places and the places that ask for effort, and what a couple does with that is up to them. Hard angles are often where the real connection and growth happen.
Crystals
What do crystals mean?
Each crystal carries a traditional meaning built up over centuries, such as amethyst for calm or citrine for confidence. These are symbolic associations from folklore and modern practice, and they are not medical claims.
How do I choose a crystal?
Many people start with the zodiac sign, a quality they want more of (such as calm, focus or courage), or simply the stone they feel drawn to. This page lets you browse the crystals one by one.
Do crystals replace medical care?
No. Crystals are a ritual and reflection tool, and they are not a treatment for any medical or mental health condition. If you are unwell, please see a qualified professional.
Retrogrades
What does retrograde mean?
Retrograde means a planet appears to move backward through the zodiac as seen from Earth. The planet is not really reversing. In astrology a retrograde is read as a time to review and revisit what that planet stands for, rather than push forward.
How often is Mercury retrograde?
Mercury turns retrograde about three or four times a year, for roughly three weeks each time. The dates for 2026 and 2027 are on this page, and they are the same in Western and Vedic astrology.
Is it true that everything goes wrong in Mercury retrograde?
No. The idea is a popular simplification. Astrologers describe Mercury retrograde as a time when communication, travel and technology are more likely to need a second look, and it is useful to double-check details and allow a little extra time.
This Site
Is there an app?
Not yet. The Nightly Oracle app is coming to iPhone and Android. You can see what it will do and join the launch list on the app page.
How does the site make money?
Some links on the site, mainly in the Shop, are affiliate links. I am a Bookshop.org affiliate and an Amazon Associate, so if you buy through one of those links, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes what is recommended. The full explanation is on the About page.
Privacy
Does this site save my birth details or readings?
No. Your readings and birth details are worked out in your browser and are not saved. The only thing sent is a city name, if you type one, to a free lookup service (Open-Meteo) that finds its coordinates and time zone. The Privacy page has the full details.
Does the site use cookies?
Only if you choose Accept in the cookie notice. Then Google Analytics counts visits. If you choose Decline, or make no choice, it does not load. You can change your choice at any time with the Cookie choice button at the bottom of any page.