Have you heard of the ‘moon phase compatibility test’?

They say that all good things are written in the stars, but the enquiring minds of TikTok are toying with the notion that true love might just be written in the moon, or more specifically, the phase at which the moon was at the moment of your birth.

The great quest for true love is something that often transcends all logic and reason, emboldening us to hastily kick rational thinking to the curb. It seems to be an intrinsic part of human nature that we quietly hope interstellar intervention may be at play, that a connection between two people was born among the cosmos.

Fate, destiny, kismet, serendipity — love and relationships seem to be one of the only things in our lives that we largely leave up to chance while hoping for a fairytale. They say that love works in mysterious ways, which is why we often reach out of our world and into the universe beyond to try to find some sort of meaning.

From checking in on daily horoscopes to mapping out birth charts to see how our planets have aligned and the knock-on effect that has on our love lives, it really comes as no surprise that one of TikTok’s latest relationship assessments is all about moon phases.

In a nutshell, the trend looks at the phase at which the moon was at at the precise moment you and your partner were born, and then compares them to one another. The videos see two moon phases as they gradually join together, and in cases where the couple at hand are presumed to be soulmates, their two halves will make a whole.

*Cue Jerry Maguire: You. Complete. Me.

If you think about it, it’s actually quite a nice idea. Aside from love — in all its beautiful chaos — we humans are also extremely preoccupied with time. Keeping it, running out of it, wasting it, we’re either lamenting its loss or planning how best to utilise the rest of it. Timing in relationships is a source of great meaning for many because we optimistically presume that the hands of fate are guiding us.

So, if you weren’t already aware, there are a total of eight moon phases that you can be born under. These phases track the monthly lunar cycle, following the transition of the moon according to its visibility from Earth, which is dependent on how the sun is reflecting on its surface.

Each phase is said to exhibit its own energy. For example, full moons are said to be a time of release, while new moons are associated with renewal. According to NASA, the eight moon phases are, in order: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent.

@kaylahouston03 looks like you’re stuck with me ???#CapCut #moonphase #soulmates #trending ? Every Summertime – NIKI

While the visual may be impactful and the idea that the person you love the most in the world was born under the complementary side of the moon to you is genuinely a very special concept — and a completely valid thing to find meaning in — this TikTok trend has, of course, got no real grounding in astrological or scientific reasoning.

Celebrity astrologer Kyle Thomas spoke to Good Morning America about the trend, noting that astrological compatibility is a whole lot more complex. “Relationships and compatibility are multi-layered and very complex,” he said. “From an astrological point of view … love, intimacy, connection, and partnership cannot be broken down to a simple TikTok trend regarding moon phases.”

Thomas acknowledges that moon phases have a direct impact on our lives, but are not indicative of compatibility. This, he says, is left to the astrological alignments, planetary placements, and a little bit of luck.

Feature image via Samuel-Elias Nadler on Unsplash

This article was originally published in March 2023.