The latest TikTok trend to circulate the clock app really said romantics 🤝 astrology lovers. You’ve heard of soulmates before, but a viral compatibility test familiarizes users and dreamers alike with the concept of moonphase soulmates. The idea is not too unlike traditional soulmates (ya know, that person who is just meant for you), but involves the moon and its phases to determine compatibility.
The test to discover whether or not you and your love interest are moonphase soulmates is pretty straightforward. You just need to know your birthday, their birthday, and each of your respective moon phases (the phase the moon was in on the day you were born). You two are considered moonphase soulmates not when you have the same moon phase, but when your respective phases combine to create a perfect full moon.
“Knowing about the moon phase you were born with can extend insights about how you drive yourself emotionally and connect with others intimately,” Lumi Pelinku, a New York City-based astrologer, transformation life coach, and energy healer, explains. “Each phase tells a story of how you project your light into the world in the extension of your inner feelings.”
The hashtag #moonphasetrend has reached over 723 million views on TikTok, while #moonphase alone has garnered over 1 billion. But how much faith should we be putting into the notion of moonphase soulmates? (Quick hint: No, your relationship is not doomed if your phases don’t align.) Here, expert astrologers and spiritual guides explain everything there is to know about moonphase soulmates and how reliable this test really is.
So, how many moon phases are there?
There are eight phases of the moon: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. “Each lunar type resonates with a different energy, emotional quality, and particular gifts,” Sarah Faith Gottesdiener, spiritual guide and author of The Moon Book and host of Moonbeaming podcast, explains. “The moon reflects where we are and where we’re going back to ourselves.” Here’s what each phase means.
New Moon: This is the first phase of the moon, where the moon and the sun align in the exact same place. “People born under a New Moon tend to be very intuitive as the sky was dark when they were born so they are creating their own path, paving their own way,” Siobhan Lumsden, Head of Astrology at Planet, explains. You might be a self-starter and someone who is driven by your hopes and dreams, Gottesdiener adds.
If born under this phase, you might also tend to be emotional or subjective in relationships, Pelinku says. “But you hold a lot of power in your ability to decide what you desire,” she continues.
Waxing Crescent: This is the second phase and appears in the night sky as a thin sliver of moonlight. “Those with a crescent moon phase aim to make their mark and want nothing more than to be noticed for their gifts,” Pelinku says. “In relationships, they must learn to listen to their partner while freely expressing their individuality.”
First Quarter: The third moon phase looks like a half-moon and represents a time of perseverance and motivation, Pelinku explains.
“It can go one of two ways — if things are going well, you’ll feel motivated, but if you’re struggling to take action, you might feel a bit frustrated,” Lumsden adds. “People born under this phase are the cup-half-full type of people, and can really share that light with others when things are going well for them.”
Waxing Gibbous: In the fourth phase, the moon is just between a half-moon and full moon. “We might be feeling pretty optimistic and driven for that last push,” Lumsden says. Those born under this phase are open, compassionate, and patient, she and Pelinku explain.
Full Moon: The moon, fully illuminated, and the sun are directly opposite each other in this phase. “During this phase, we often work on releasing things, on letting go of whatever is holding us back from going after the things we want and the life we desire,” Lumsden explains. You might be confident and maintain an air of power and charisma if born under this moon phase, she and Pelinku add, but might struggle to balance your heart and mind.
Waning Gibbous: In the sixth phase, the moon begins to lose its brightness. “People born under this phase are usually amazing at reevaluating where they’re at and tweaking things to make life flow better,” Lumsden says. They might extend themselves to empower others or offer wisdom, she and Pelinku explain.
Last Quarter: “The seventh phase occurs one week after the Full Moon, and is a check-in point to release whatever still needs to be released,” Lumsden explains. Those born under this phase are problem-solvers, organized, and adept at eliminating what’s no longer serving them in their lives, she says.
Waning Crescent: A sliver of moon returns in the eighth and final phase, a time when people go inward, Lumsden says. “Waning crescent beings are intuitive by nature as they hold the moon's dark side, beckoning them to retreat and observe the ebbs of life,” Pelinku explains. “They are introverted by nature and can tap into sage wisdom and be of service to humanity.”
How do I determine my moon phase?
Thanks to online lunar calculators, it’s pretty easy to find your moon phase. Just punch in your birthdate into a calculator on reliable sites like moonphases.org, moonphases.co.uk, or astrostyle.com. Some of these platforms allow you to input both your and your partner’s birthday so you can see if your phases align to a full moon. Already know your moon phases? Lumsden says the following harmonize with each other:
- New Moon and Full Moon
- Waxing Crescent and Waning Gibbous
- First Quarter and Third Quarter
- Waxing Gibbous and Waning Crescent
To take part in the trend and share your results on TikTok, save the images of your moon phases and download the editing app CapCut to create your vid.
How legit is the concept of moonphase soulmates?
Being moonphase soulmates means your connection is “fully illuminated and everything about the relationship is in clear view regarding intentions, purpose, and communication,” Pelinku explains. But that doesn’t always guarantee a long-term or forever relationship, she notes.
Knowing your moon phase might help you better understand yourself and the way you perceive the world, and recognizing a partner or crush’s phase could help you determine how well you vibe together. But there’s so much more to making a partnership work than ensuring that your moon phases align.
“Compatibility is not written in the stars,” Gottesdiener advises. Putting too much weight into the idea of moonphase soulmates can actually hold you back from building worthwhile relationships, Pelinku notes.
“When you factor in this technique as a resort to see if you are with your soulmate, it can be limiting and close you off from the opportunity to create meaningful connections,” she explains. “It all depends on the maturity and openness each relationship can extend for your growth and potential.”
Plus, it’s possible to have more than one soulmate in life — romantic and platonic. “They can be our friends, family, and loving partners,” Pelinku says. What’s important is that you nurture a deep and loving connection, grow together through life’s experiences, and support each other through the ups and downs.
“The key to knowing whether you are in this type of soulmate relationship is noticing how you evolve,” Pelinku explains. “Do you ascend together or resist? If you feel at ease and motivated to grow, this is one of the signs that you found your soulmate.”
Leah Campano is an Associate Editor at Seventeen, where she covers pop culture, entertainment news, health, and politics. On the weekends, you can probably find her watching marathons of vintage Real Housewives episodes or searching for New York City’s best almond croissants.
