THE MOON IN RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

THE MOON IN RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY

One of the oldest correspondences for the Moon is the element of water, to the Kabbalist she is called Marah, "The bitter sea from which all life comes and must return." She is also the Superior or Greater Mother; the Inferior or Lesser Mother is called the Sephira Malkuth, traditionally symbolized as the many nature goddesses of folklore. The Moon in ancient history is closely tied with the spiritual or religious experiences of a culture, each culture keeping to the clock of the monthly lunar cycle.

The light from the Sun and the Moon were included in the ancient Chinese concepts of 'Yin' and 'Yang.' This principle is the balance of opposites. In this correlation, the Sun represents 'Yang,' the positive masculine principle, and the Moon represents 'Yin,' the receptive (negative) feminine principle. This tradition seems to be a part of most other cultures as well.

(For with the ebb and with the flow,
as it was, as it is, as it shall be evermore...
with the ebb and with the flow).

A Moon Goddess Known By Many Names

Among ancient peoples the Moon has been a three-fold goddess of varying names; To the Romans she is Luna, Lucina, or the heavenly goddess Diana, and to the Greeks she is Selene and Artemis. In the underworld, she is Persephone or Hecate, goddess of the crossroads, ruler of magic and enchantments; in the land of the Egyptians, it is the Moon goddess Isis, "Star of the Sea" who was worshipped.

The Moon also ruled the night sky in the land of the Nile, as Nut or Nuit, the heavenly night goddess, the personification of night itself. In the far east of China she is the Moon lady Chang 'O, who was banished to the Moon for eternity.

In the study of Astrology the Moon is said to preside over the sign of Cancer. In the study of the Tarot, the High Priestess is associated with the symbology of the Moon.

Diana is both Moon Goddess and High Priestess

Below is an excerpt from "The Charge of the Goddess," taken from Aradia, Gospel of the Witches, written by Charles Godfrey Leland sometime during the 1890's. The manuscript is belieived to be the fragmentary scripture of "La Vecchia Religione--the Old Religion of Diana worship.

The High Priestess:

I am the beauty of the green earth, and the white moon among the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man. Call unto thy soul; arise and come unto me; for I am the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe. From me all things proceed, and unto me all things must return; and before my face, beloved of Gods and of men, let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite...

Moon Celebrations

In ancient times the Wiccans gathered to worship "She Who Is" during the Esbats or Full Moon celebrations. The Moon has also been linked with the seasonal cycle of the four Celtic fire festivals, Bride (new), Imbolc (waxing phase), Beltaine (full), and Samhain during the waning phase of the Moon.

To the Moon Goddesses
(A Secret Temple to "She Who Is")