The Moon In Religion And Mythology by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

The Moon In Religion And Mythology

 

O Lady Moon, your horns point toward the east;
Shine, be increased,
O' Lady Moon, your horns point toward the west;
Wane, be at rest.'

- Christina Rossetti

The Moon makes a complete orbit around the Earth in approximately 28 days. As it makes this orbit, it guides the tides, stabilizes Earth's rotation, makes changes in the subtle energy of the planet and causes changes to all life on Earth.

Tides are created because the Earth and the Moon are attracted to one another other by a magnetic pull. Since water is always moving, the Earth cannot hold on it down and so the Moon is able to pull at it with its force. So, as the Earth itself moves and the Moon pulls, the ocean is constantly moving from high tide to low tide, and then back to high tide with about 12 hours between two high tides.

The Sun also omits a gravitational pull, although its force is much less powerful. However, when both Moon and Sun are combined (on New and Full Moons) the gravitational pull is more, and this is called a Spring Tide (note this has nothing to do with the season of spring). This causes very high tides. When the Sun and Moon are not working together, the gravitational pull is less, and the tides are lower. These are called Neap Tides.

In the same way, the Moon's energy affects all liquid on the Earth. The liquid within our bodies and the sap within plants and trees both react to the changes in the Moon. Because of its odd affects on the human body, the time of the Full Moon is often blamed for increases in crime, suicide and accidents, as well as more positive changes such as birth rates and fertility. The word, Lunatic' and Lunacy' both come from the word Luna (the Roman word for the Moon, named after the Goddess Luna) due to the strange effects the Full Moon can have on the human body.

The first farmers of ancient times kept a record of the moons phases and carved them into stone, wood or bone. They realized the relationship between the Moon phases and the progress of the crops. Generally, the Waxing Moon was the time to planet fruit and vegetables, the Full to gather berries and spread fertilizer, and the Waning to harvest, preserve and store. The image on the above right is a Lunation carving from the cave of Chanchal Mahoma, in Spain.

Moon Worship

Moon worship is as old as mankind itself. Our ancestors witnessed the Moon as it reflected the rhythms of life, the cycles of the seasons and the tides of the seas. They watched as the Moon moved across the sky, transforming, and changing - a beacon of light that shone through the darkness of the night. In short, the Moon caused the rhythms of life that our ancestors relied on so very heavily.

The gravitational pull of the Moon moved bodies of water, causing fluctuations in fishing, travel, and flooding. The weather too was affected by the changes in the Moon, and this had a direct effect on mankind. Bad weather and storms were more likely around the time of the Full Moon, and rings around the Moon predicted rain. A blood red Moon signified the time for harvest or impending death, and a lunar eclipse meant a time for magick to appeasing the moon to return to the Earth.

The Moons relationship with water was of particular interest to the ancient people. Our ancestors observed how the Moon affected the tides, and how the Moon reflected upon the waters, shimmering and bright. The power of Moonlight and Moon Water (water that was exposed to the light of the Full Moon) was seen as being especially magickal. Moon Water was gathered for use in healing, magick and childbirth, and children were sometimes laid out in the light of the Full Moon to cure disease and affliction.

The Egyptians, being a little more astronomically enlightened than some other cultures realized that the Moon shone because the light of the Sun was illuminating it. In this way, they also described the Moon as the Eye of the Sun' with the powers to see through the dark. The Moon became associated with the Hare, Egyptian Un' meaning Eyes Open' and the Cat the Eyes of the Night.

But sometimes the Moon hid its face suddenly, and without warning. The event a Lunar Eclipse was often described as a time of Pre-creation Chaos, ' and fantastic and elaborate rituals were performed in an effort to bring the Moon back, including widespread orgiastic rites and sacrifice. The tribes of Orinoco, Venezuela, believed that if the light of the Moon were extinguished then all light in the world would go out, except what was hidden from the Moons' sight. So at the time of an Eclipse, they would bury lighted brands in the ground, taking them out after the Eclipse in order to re-light their fires.

The Moon also works with the zodiac, as it moves in and out of astrological signs throughout the month. Depending on the astrological position of the Moon, the energies that are exposed to the Earth differ and cause changes to the results of our magick - and even our daily lives.

Women, the Goddess and the Moon

... Xquic - Isis - Luna - Hecate - Astarte - Nuit - Selene - Andraste ...

Women and the Goddess have long been associated with the powers of the Moon. Nowadays in pop' Wicca the Goddess is seen as the principal Deity for the Moon and being of female gender, and the God is seen as the principal Deity for the Sun and being of male gender. However, this was not always the case in the past, and the God was often revered as a valid and powerful Deity for the Moon just as much as the Goddess. In our coven, we like to revere the Gods of the Moon in the same way as we like to revere the Goddesses of the Sun.

But the real mysteries of the Moon and womanhood lay in menstruation. Because of the Moons effect on bodily fluids, the flow of women's menstrual cycles were (and still are, on the whole) in tune with the phases of the Moon. This timely bleeding usually occurred at the Full or the New Moon, when the Moon had its ultimate hold on the Earth. The power of the Moon was sometimes described as the Elixir' of the Moon Mother, and menstrual blood was seen as the most powerful magickal ingredient available often collected and used within ritual. Xquic, Mayan Goddess, was a Goddess of the Moon, Creation and the Underworld and she was also known as Blood Maiden, or Blood Girl. In certain menstrual cults, the use of red ochre as body and face paint was popular, to evoke the energies of lifeblood.

Menstruation also demonstrated a form of bleeding which did not exist naturally anywhere else it was bleeding that did not lead to illness or death.

This, in turn lead our ancestors to associate the event of menstruation with the symbolism of the Womb to Tomb' (we mentioned this theory earlier in the course - death, hand in hand with re-birth). This supported what the ancients saw occurring in the sky; the ability of the Moon to transform, change, and disappear for three days, seemingly gone forever, and then suddenly reappear to live again. So, Moon Goddesses were also associated with the Underworld, death and rebirth.

A Temple dedicated to the Moon was built at Gabala, Caucasian Albania. Ancient Caucasian Albania lay on the borderline between modern Eastern Europe and modern Southwest Asia.

The society of the Caucasus held women in great regard, and women were often great warriors who evoked the powers of the Moon at every opportunity to ensure a fortuitous outcome in battle. The women warriors carried crescent-headed arrows, mystical weapons of great magickal power and blades that could cast a wicked blow at short range. They wore blood-red soaked woolen material into battle, along with beautifully cast armor and decor. They also make use of the bow, the crescent axe, and a light buckler (a shield worn on the arm).

Ishtar, daughter of the Moon God Sin, wore a crescent as her symbol. Earlier versions of Ishtar were worshipped at the Moon temple of Caucasus. The Sumerian Goddess Innana was also attributed with the symbol of the crescent Moon, and it is believed that it was at the height of her worship that the model for the sickle and the boat axe were crafted, in the image her sacred symbol.

Man, the God and the Moon

... Mani - Yah'la - Sin - Thoth - Nanna - Osiris - Annigon - Soma ...

The link between the 3-day cycle of rest between death and rebirth mentioned previously in this Unit was not limited to Women and the Goddess.

This event also occurred in the land - as our ancestors observed plants descending into the tomb of the earth at winter and sprouting with new life in spring. As agriculture became more important for the people, the Sun God and Dying and Rising Vegetation Gods began to appear more and more in the sacred lore of the land, particularly in the part that they played by impregnating the Womb of the Earth Mother.

In fact, the time of the Dark Moon when the Moon could not be seen for three days was often described as a cave-like time' - the Mothers Tomb-Womb - when all would be in darkness ready to be reborn with the start of the new Moon cycle.

This 3-day tomb-womb process is also reflected in the stories of Jesus, when he apparently dies, withdraws into the tomb for three days and then rises again. In a similar way, Osiris, the predecessor of the modern Jesus, was killed by his brother set on the 28TH day (28 days per moon phase) of the 3RD month (3 days of Dark Moon).

But the Gods were not only involved with the Moon for their impregnating powers of the Sun and then self-sacrifice. There were other more direct Moon Gods, who ruled over different aspects of the Moon.

The Moon, being a symbol of mystery, inward thinking and divination soon became synonymous with the Gods of intellect, such as Thoth, (correctly pronounced ti-how-tee') who was the Egyptian God of writing, and the mind. There were also Gods who were involved in the movement of the Moon, such as the Norse God Mani who dragged the Moon across the sky every night. And Annigan, an obscure Inuit Moon God, chased his sister - the Sun - across the sky. In the heat of the chase, he would forget to eat, and therefore would get thinner and thinner. Realizing he couldn't go on, he would rest for three days and feast, only to return to the chase again once the three days were up.

As mentioned earlier, the popular fad' appears to be to see the Moon only as a feminine Deity. But this is incorrect, and it is important to remember that some ancient cultures attributed the Moon principally to the God and the masculine force and hardly recognized a feminine Moon at all (such as many groups of Sumerians and Semites, for example). It is important that, although we often attribute the Moon to female gender, we do not limit the Moon solely to its feminine aspect. Instead we should embrace in its totality and balance, which is offered by the powers of the Goddess AND the God, and both the masculine and the feminine.

Magick and the Waxing and Waning Moon

The Waxing Moon' describes the period of time between the New Moon and the Full Moon. It is at this time that the Moon is growing, and we reflect this in our magick. The Waxing Moon marks a time for spells involved with growth, such as fertility, healing, new projects, new jobs and new relationships. The Waxing Moon covers the New, Crescent, First Quarter and Gibbous phases of the Moon.

The Waning Moon' describes the period of time between the Full Moon and the Dark Moon. It is at this time that the Moon is decreasing, marking this time for spells involved with banishing, endings, and divination. The Waning Moon covers the Disseminating, Third Quarter, Balsamic Moon and Dark phases of the Moon.

Moon and Magick

NEW MOON

Associated Sabbat: Yule

 

The New Moon marks the rebirth of light. As the Moon begins to appear out of the shadow of darkness, its energy is fresh, new and revitalized. This is a time for planning new projects, relationships and goals, both magickal and on the earth plane.

CRESCENT MOON

 

Associated Sabbat: Imbolc

 

The Crescent Moon marks the energizing of your new projects. At this time, there is fresh power available for the new challenges ahead. This is the time to put your ideas into action, and make a positive move towards your goals.

FIRST QUARTER

 

Associated Sabbat: Eostara

 

The First Quarter Moon marks the time of balance, as the Moon is half in light and half in dark. It is now that we can perform magick to do with choices, decisions and putting our own lives into balance.

GIBBOUS MOON

 

Associated Sabbat: Beltane

 

The Gibbous Moon marks the evaluation of new growth, and getting rid of what isn't working. It also indicates the most powerful time is about to peak, the Full Moon. Now is the time to prepare workings and magick for the Full Moon.

FULL MOON

 

Associated Sabbat: Summer Solstice

 

The Full Moon marks the height of the power of the Moon. The Moon power is as powerful as it can be right now, and it is at this time that magick prepared throughout the Waxing Moon comes to its fullness. The Full Moon is also a time when we can perform any type of magick that we want strengthened and empowered. Put ritual items, magickal talismans and water in the moonlight to cleanse and empower them.

DISSEMINATING MOON

 

Associated Sabbat: Lughnassad

 

The Disseminating Moon marks the start of the Waning Moon phase. The projects started in the Waxing Moon have now been set in motion, and now it is time to let things take their course.

THIRD QUARTER

 

Associated Sabbat: Mabon

 

The Third Quarter Moon marks a time for winding down, and starting to weed out the things that may be weighing you down. It's also a time for harvesting the things that you have manifested from magick worked in the Waxing Phase.

BALSAMIC MOON

 

Associated Sabbat: Samhain

 

As we approach the Dark Moon, the Balsamic Moon marks a time for turning within, and looking within ourselves. It is a time for looking to what has occurred over the past Moon cycle, and beginning to plan for the next. It's also ideal for prophecy and divination.

DARK MOON

 

Associated Sabbat: Yule

 

The Dark Moon of the 3 moonless' days signifies a time of inner searching, contemplation and psychological work. It is also a time for rest and recuperation before the next cycle begins. Magickal Moon energy is low at this time and, except for magick that honors and works with the ideals of introspection and rest, it is not worth performing magick at this time.

VOID OF COURSE MOONS

A Void of Course Moon marks the period between the Moon's final aspect (angle) in an astrological sign and its entry into the next sign. Depending on the position and the speed of the Moon, a Void of Course can last for minutes, hours or even days. A Void of Course Moon sits in empty space' between two astrological signs, and therefore has no planetary influences. At the time of the Void of Course, it is unproductive to start any new projects or long lasting commitments, and it is best to relax and put magickal work aside during this time. Anything of any importance is best left until the Moon enters the new sign, where any work will be more fruitful. Meditation and divination can be performed during this time, however the results cannot always be relied upon and should be checked later when the Moon is no longer Void.

Magickal work should also be avoided in this way if the ruling planet is in Retrograde.

THE MOONS OF THE YEAR

JANUARY SNOW MOON
FEBRUARY DEATH MOON
MARCH AWAKENING MOON
APRIL GRASS MOON
MAY PLANTING MOON
JUNE ROSE MOON
JULY LIGHTENING MOON
AUGUST FIRST FRUITS MOON
SEPTEMBER HARVEST MOON
OCTOBER BLOOD / HUNTER MOON
NOVEMBER TREE MOON
DECEMBER LONG NIGHT MOON