Every once in a while I go on a Myers-Briggs or Jungian typology binge. It’s a hotly debated topic; some people think it’s absolute bullshit pseudoscience, while others laud it as legitimate psychology. I try to find the benefit in most any system I come across and keep an open mind about it; after all, people often have very similar beliefs in terms of extremities when it comes to astrology.
Since I like stringing concepts together and finding correlations in things in general (typical human, I know), I’ve been curious about how astrology and MBTI might work together, particularly when studying the cognitive functions stacks. If you’re here reading this, I’m going to assume you know about the function stacks of MBTI personality types already. If you don’t, consider checking out this website for some good introductory info on learning about cognitive function stacks, what each one does, and how they link together for each of the 16 personality types. If you want to take one of her personality type tests, there are many options online that are free. This one is pretty good.
I would not recommend 16personalities.com, the questions are very generic and there is an extremely high rate of mistyping happening. Basically, if you’re not a complete NPC you’re going to get “N” for your 2nd letter of your 4 letter type with that test, even though everyone uses both intuition (N) and sensing (S) to some degree, somewhere in their function stack. It basically makes “sensing” types seem stupid by the questions ask, in my opinion, which is ridiculous because there are plenty of intelligent sensing types capable of things like projecting their reasoning into future outcomes. Between 70% and 80% of the population is xSxx, and it doesn’t mean you’re not unique or intelligent if that’s your 2nd function. I believe 16 Personalities also skews a bit more towards “feeling” types. The questions used to determine “thinking” vs “feeling” make thinking types seem like automatons. I’ve seen countless people get mistyped on that test as INFP, for example.
Anyway, back to the astrology/MBTI correlation. Most of the articles I’ve found linking astrology to MBTI are pretty generic click-bait focused primarily on Sun signs (“This is your Meyers-Briggs type according to your Zodiac sign!”), or people just bashing astrology and saying there is no possible correlation because astrology is bullshit. Which is ironic, given that MBTI is based on the theory of psychological type, developed by Carl Jung, who was the man to introduce astrology into psychoanalysis in the western world, but whatever. I’ve seen the argument go the other way, too; that MBTI is just astrology “dumbed down.”
I don’t think these two systems are necessarily mutually exclusive. I have seen the limited sample data of people’s Sun sign relative to their MBTI, showing there is no significant correlation in most cases. Again, this is based on Sun signs only, and we all know how reliable that is for measuring anything (about as reliable as giving a physical description of a person when you’ve only seen a close up of their nose).
So I’m taking this matter into my own hands and trying to see what might be the most likely MBTI for people based on their astrology, relative to function stack orders for each type. I’m specifically focusing on the first 2 functions for each type, since they define the last 2 functions by opposition. I’m still basing it on the Sun of the birth chart, but also the Moon, and not just what sign they are in, but also how they are aspected in the chart (what planets aspect each, what types of aspects), as well as the house(s) the Sun and Moon fall in.
My Process
I am correlating different Sun/Moon signs/positions/aspects with the dominant function and auxiliary function for each MBTI. The most general, basic guidelines I’m setting are that masculine signs and odd-numbered houses are extroverted energy, and judging functions, while feminine signs and even-numbered houses are introverted energy, and perceiving functions.
Obviously these are not hard and fast rules! The aspects to the Sun and Moon would matter. For example, if the Sun is receiving an aspect from Jupiter and/or Mars, it would give it a more “extrovert” flavor, even in a feminine sign, especially if Jupiter and/or Mars are in masculine signs and/or houses. If the Sun is receiving aspects from Saturn, that would show a more introverted flavor, even with the Sun in a masculine sign. A chart where the Sun represents the dominant function, and the Sun is aspected by Neptune, would show a perceiving dominant function (most likely intuition).
Whether the Sun represents the dominant function or auxiliary function would depend on its strength in the chart relative to the Moon. Strength of Sun vs. Moon in the chart is determined by the sign each is placed in, how many aspects are made to each, whether either one is conjunct an axis point, whether either is the chart ruler, etc. The weaker of the two luminaries would represent the auxiliary function.
Examples
Here is my own chart as an example. I’ll start by saying that my Moon is actually my dominant planet in my chart. Pisces is already a stronger placement for the Moon than Scorpio is for the Sun, I think, but moreover, I think having a nocturnal chart (being born at night) also gives my Moon some more power. Beyond that, I have 6 aspects happening to my Moon, with only 4 to my Sun. Basically, my Moon governs my dominant function rather than the Sun.
Pisces being a feminine element sign, my dominant function would be a perceiving one (sensing or intuition). I think having the Moon in any water sign is most likely going to lean towards the intuitive perception. (Not always though; again, the house should be considered, as well as aspects from other planets, and what signs/houses those planets are in). I think that’s further supported in my case by the square from Uranus in Sagittarius, as Uranus aspects often show sudden bolts of insight that just seem to “come out of nowhere,” and Sagittarius also being an intuitive sign. Also, my Moon is in a water house (8th house).
Ok, so I have Intuition as my dominant function, but is it Extroverted or Introverted? It’s basically on the very cusp between the 8th house and the 9th house. If we were using whole sign houses it would be a bit more clearly in the 8th house, and even by the shown house system, most astrology websites classify that as the 8th house, and I feel the 8th house hits home a little bit more than the 9th for me when it comes to my Moon, so I’m going with 8th, which is a water house (feminine, introverted). But, my Moon is also conjunct Mars (out of sign, but still), and my Mars is in a masculine house, and in Aries no less, the strongest sign for Mars to be in. That would make my Moon look more extroverted, with the masculine power of Mars hitting it. Plus, it’s getting an out of sign sextile from Jupiter, another extrovert aspect by my own rules. However, my Jupiter is weak, being in detriment in Gemini. It’s also coming from the 10th house, a “feminine house.” Overall, I think it’s a little hard to argue a case for an 8th house Moon in Pisces, squared by Saturn (which restricts/limits/dampens what it squares) being extroverted. That would mean Introverted Intuition for my dominant function.
That gives us the choice of INTJ or INFJ for MBTI. The auxiliary functions for those are Extroverted Thinking and Extroverted Feeling, respectively. My Sun is in a water sign as well, Scorpio. Since my dominant function is a perceiving function, my auxiliary is a judging function by default, because that’s how MBTI systems operate. Water signs, obviously, are linked more to feeling than thinking. My Sun is also in the 4th house, a water house.
You may be thinking at this point, that my Sun would suggest an introverted function as well, which obviously wouldn’t go with either INTJ or INFJ for auxiliary function, since the auxiliary must be opposite the dominant in terms of introverted vs. extroverted. Well, there are still aspects to the Sun to consider. I have Moon and Mars trine the Sun as well as Jupiter opposing the Sun. Again, Jupiter is weak, and Mars is really strong. We have to take into context that we are now applying this to the judging function as well, rather than the perceiving function. The auxiliary function in this case is how we make decisions, judgement calls, how we interact with others. I think the Sun/Moon trine really does speak more to interpersonal matters than perception of the world.
Here is what Astrolibrary.com has to say about Natal Sun trine Moon: “They have an ability to be persuasive while communicating. They are understanding and would do well in any job where inter-personal skills are required. They are good peacemakers or moderators between people who are arguing.
This person doesn’t usually have ego issues. They don’t mind helping others. They are generally caring. They are good listeners and considerate friends. They are sincere, honest, warm, and friendly. The person with sun trine moon has a healthy self-confidence and optimistic attitude.”
As for Sun trine Mars, it typically shows someone who is goal-oriented and driven, with a happy social life, especially if Jupiter is involved in the aspect. My Sun is also not getting any “afflicted” aspects like that square from Saturn to my Moon, and so even though I am an introverted person, my Sun, being my auxiliary function equivalent, is getting a lot of extroverted support when it comes to my feelings about other people. And that is exactly what it means to have “extroverted feeling” in your top 2 functions; someone who makes decisions based more on the feelings of others than their own personal values. Introverted feeling would be more focused on your own internal value system. If I had, say, the Sun in the 4th house but in Aries, conjunct Mars, and square Saturn, that might translate to Introverted Feeling (and it would likely also mean the Sun would represent my dominant function, with the Sun being exalted in Aries).
My “official” MBTI as per professional testing matches up to this analysis: INFJ.
Here’s one more example that is a bit trickier. This is my spouse’s chart, and as you can see he has a massive Aquarius stellium happening across his 12th and 1st house. Between the Sun and Moon, which one represents the dominant function? The Sun is in detriment in Aquarius, but it is receiving trines from Jupiter and Saturn. However, because it’s conjunct the Moon, the Moon is getting those same trines. The Moon is only in peregrine condition in Aquarius, a more neutral position. They’re both being squared by Chiron as well. Ultimately, I’m going with the Sun for dominant function, because while they are both conjunct the South Node (a weakening aspect), the Moon is closer to an exact conjunction. Also, the Sun is conjunct the Ascendant, giving it more power, while the Moon is a bit too far in the 12th house to be considered conjunct the Ascendant, more “hidden” from the chart holder, as the 12th house is representative of things hidden from the native’s conscious psyche. The Sun is also an angle ruler in his chart (7th house), where the Moon is only the 6th house ruler.
With that established, let’s note the condition of the Sun by sign, house, aspect. Aquarius being an air sign makes it masculine, which would put him as Judging dominant function, right? A cursory look would say he has Introverted Thinking as his dominant. But, that’s not necessarily so. His Sun is technically in his 12th house, but again, it’s pretty close to his Ascendant, and by orb of allowance, he’s well within a conjunction to that. His Sun being the very social Aquarius, conjunct the Ascendant, and also receiving a trine from the benevolent and warm Jupiter, puts him in the extrovert category. So Extroverted judging function, thinking or feeling?
Again, it’s not quite that simple. His Sun, while very much an extroverted Sun by astrology standards, is getting some power from the 8th house, a water house (the Scorpio house), which again is intuitive. While in a masculine (i.e. “judging” sign), being in his 12th house and aspected by planets from the 8th supports extroverted intuition. This also makes sense for Aquarius energy in general, being very future-oriented and naturally skilled at envisioning multiple possible outcomes.
Every dominant function is shared between two types, so his are narrowed down from here to either ENFP or ENTP (auxiliary introverted feeling or introverted thinking). This is where it gets a little tricky, because his Moon is in the same house as his Sun and receiving the same aspects from Jupiter and Saturn in the 8th house. So we’re dealing with feminine houses again, and while it may be tempting to automatically equate feminine houses with feeling, it’s important to consider the houses in question. The 12th house (along with the 4th) is certainly the house most strongly associated with intuition, but any planet there is going to have its energy a bit dissolved and inaccessible to the native.
While ENFPs identify with their emotions very freely and easily, 12th house Moons…not so much. And while both his Sun and Moon are trine to his Saturn, it’s generally much more difficult for the sensitive “mother” archetypal energy of the Moon to deal with any interaction from cold, rigid Saturn than it is for the Sun. Sun and Saturn can both represent masculine/”fatherly” energy and so mesh a bit better together than Moon and Saturn. In both cases (Sun/Moon) a trine from Saturn would refine them, but the Moon is a bit more hampered than the Sun. In other words, Moon trine Saturn comes off more emotionally distant than Sun trine Saturn, which deals less with emotions.
His Moon is also conjunct his South Node. The South Node is often equated with “baggage” carried over from the past life, and where we might revert to in times of stress and emotional upset. In Vedic astrology, I’ve read it referred to as a “shadow planet.” This reminds me of the shadow functions of MBTI (cognitive functions we fall into under extreme duress, generally expressed in an unhealthy manner); the 3rd shadow function of ENTP is Introverted Feeling (the “Trickster” function). Meaning, Introverted Feeling would more likely be displayed as a shadow function in his case, with Moon conjunct South Node in 12th house. Combine that with the Aquarius Moon’s tendency to rationalize/intellectualize their emotions and I think there is a pretty strong case for ENTP here.
In college, he was typed as ENTJ; however, it’s certainly not unheard of for people to either mistype or to change somewhat over time, as personalities are not stagnant. This is one reason why, overall, I much prefer astrology over MBTI, as birth charts, while seemingly static to the untrained eye, do allow for and encompass the full spectrum of human experience from birth to death, and even death to birth/rebirth as shown in the lunar nodes. One’s MBTI may change slightly over time (or you may spend years operating in “grip stress” and leaning on shadow functions due to stressful life conditions, causing you to “mistype” as you haven’t been expressing a healthy version of yourself), but your birth chart’s essential mapping does not change, because it doesn’t have to; it shows your entire life potentials, including opportunities for change and growth, from its very creation.
And, when I showed my spouse information on the ENTP type, he did agree it does sound more like the person he is today (over a decade after he was typed ENTJ).
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