Introverts, Extraverts, and Astrology
Oversimplified and misunderstood...
Have you ever struggled to identify fully as an introvert or extravert? For me and my friends, the concept has begun to feel more restrictive than helpful and I’ve personally been ready to give up using it completely. Before throwing in the towel, I came across something that changed my mind. Let’s talk about it.
The Connection
Recently, I discovered some paralells between Carl Jung's ideas about personality (Introverts, Extraverts) and Astrology.
Here's the thing: both Jung's theory and astrology have gotten a bad rap lately. They've been oversimplified, watered down, and turned into these restrictive "personality containers" that people try to cram themselves into (and blame their bad behavior on).
Typical human behavior; taking something nuanced that requires effort to understand and dumbing it down to make it easy.
Stuff like this has turned off a lot of people to Astrology, including me up until about a year ago. And it's a shame, really, because there's so much depth to both of these concepts.
The more I give them a fair chance, the more I realize that they're not meant to box me in - they're tools for understanding the complex, sometimes contradictory parts of who I am.
The 2 Psychological Orientations
Carl Jung’s theory of personality identifies the two attitudes we’re all familiar with: Introversion and Extraversion. However, the mainstream version is reductive and Jung’s original theory stretches far beyond archetypes of social butterflies and hermits.
Jung essentially classifies these as psychological orientations: Introversion being the inward flow of conscious energy towards the self, seeking depth - and Extraversion being the outward flow of conscious energy towards the world, seeking expansion.
The 4 Cognitive Functions
Along with the 2 “attitudes”, Jung proposed the importance of 4 “cognitive functions”: Thinking, Feeling, Sensation, and Intuition.
Basically, 4 different ways our brains process information and deal with the world around us. And get this - each of these 4 functions can be either introverted or extraverted.
This brings us to 8 unique combinations housed within an individual, instead of the mainstream 1.
It's crazy how much this lines up with astrology. Just like how your birth chart isn't just about your sun sign (in fact, if you only pay attention to your sun sign, you’re doing yourself a disservice), Jung's theory shows that we're all a mix of different traits and tendencies.
In my most recent podcast episode, I explored in real time how I identify with Jung’s theory - and how my Taurus Sun, Libra Moon, and Capricorn Rising placements play into these cognitive functions.
It's been a trip, and I want to share what I've learned with you.
Astrology + Jung’s Theory: My Alignment
Let's break these down and see how they align with my chart. Perhaps this can serve as guidance for your own self-discovery endeavor.
Thinking: The Logic Game
I've always been a big fan of logical consistency. It's my brain's favorite hobby. Jung talks about introverted thinking, which is all about prioritizing your own internal logic, even if it means challenging established ideas. This fits me to a T.
For example, when I left Mormonism, it wasn't necessarily because of how I felt - it was because the logic didn't add up. I couldn't ignore the inconsistencies anymore. This introverted thinking lines up pretty well with my Capricorn rising. Capricorns are known for their practical, structured approach to life, and that definitely shows up in how I process information.
Feeling: The Emotional Tug-of-War
Now, this is where things get interesting. Jung describes extraverted feeling as caring a lot about group harmony, sometimes at the expense of your own desires. On the flip side, introverted feeling is all about staying true to your personal values, even if it ruffles some feathers.
I've found myself caught between these two, and I think my Libra moon has a lot to do with it. Libras are all about balance and harmony, right? So with friends, I'm often the peacekeeper, trying to keep everyone happy. But with strangers, I feel less pressure to “keep the peace” and feel more comfortable being authentic. If they don’t like it, I’ll never see them again - right?
It’s silly because the people closest to us often get the worst of us. I’ve been making a conscious effort lately to change that so that I remain authentic, mindful, and caring with those I love.
So as of now, I find myself stuck between introverted and extraverted feeling.
Sensation: The Reality Check
Jung's idea of sensation is all about how we perceive the physical world around us. This one's been a real eye-opener for me.
Extraverted sensation is about being fully present in the moment, taking in all the sensory details. As a Taurus sun, I totally get this. We're known for being sensual creatures.
Sex, music, movies, and a good meal are some of my favorite things and remind me that I’m alive and real. I can get completely lost in the experience of them, especially with sex and electronic music. It's like my brain just locks onto the rhythms and everything else fades away.
But here's the weird part - I also relate to introverted sensation, especially in social situations. Sometimes I find myself zoning out, caught up in my own thoughts or memories instead of fully engaging with what's happening around me.
I often look back on get-togethers with friends and everything is fuzzy like I was dissociated the whole time. This tendency often leads me to being a bad listener - something else I’m actively working on.
This push and pull between presence and disconnection is probably the most difficult part of my personality to navigate.
I think that's my Taurus sun and Capricorn rising duking it out. Both being “grounded” earth signs, I never thought that they would be at odds - but here we are. Taurus grounds by soaking up every sensation, while Capricorn grounds by being present with others.
Turns out, it’s difficult to do both at the same time.
Intuition: The Idea Factory
Last but definitely not least, we've got intuition. This is where things really clicked for me.
Jung talks about extraverted intuition as this constant outward exploration of ideas and possibilities. My Taurus sun craves stability and for a while, this desire manifested as me jumping around trying to find the “best” approach to life - like my brain was always going, "Ooh, what about this? Or this? Or maybe this?" Sound familiar to anyone else?
This extraverted intuition matches up perfectly with how I approach... well, everything.
Just look at my Substack - I've got articles, poetry, sci-fi stories, and ambient music. I'm all over the place, but in a way that feels right to me because all of my endeavors are finally aligned with who I am.
My wife, on the other hand, is all about that introverted intuition. She's been laser-focused on her music career for 10 years now. She’s never wavered, never quit, and never wanted anything else.
Side note: Marriage is a funny thing. Lately, I’ve been learning to narrow in on a few things and explore them long enough to find depth, while my wife has been allowing herself to branch out and identify as more than just a music artist.
Maybe my extraverted intuition is learning from her introverted intuition, and vice versa?
Ultimately, I believe in striking balance where you can. Too narrow + deep, or too broad + shallow are both approaches that can limit your possibilities and fulfillment in life.
Conclusion + Resources
So, what does all this mean for you?
I recommend trying this exersize for yourself. This process has been immensely helpful for viewing my tendencies in a new light and having a fresh perspective on how to show up better for myself and others.
I believe with a little extra effort to understand and implement these two concepts, we’ll be able to learn far more than we would from simplified personality tests and unfair categorizations.
Here are some unsponsored resources to get started:
1: Complete with diagrams and in-depth explanations, this brilliant article by
put me on to Jung’s expanded personality theory.
2: Check out this simple site to learn more about astrology.
3: Download The Pattern - an app that has helped me connect with myself and the people closest to me - all while learning more about astrology.
Understanding these cognitive functions and how they might relate to your astrological chart isn't about putting yourself in a box. It's about recognizing the complex, sometimes contradictory parts of yourself and learning how to work with them.
Next time you're wondering why you react to situations in certain ways, or why you approach problems differently than others, think about these cognitive functions. Maybe you'll spot some connections to your own chart.
Remember, just like astrology, this isn't about predicting your future or defining who you are. It's a tool for self-reflection and growth. Use it to understand yourself better, but don't let it limit you. Even with all the truth I’ve found in Astrology, I still approach with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Stay curious,
Nolan
What do you think? Does this connection between Astrology and Jung’s theory of personality resonate with you? Let me know in the comments - I'd love to hear your thoughts!