You would be astonished at the sheer volume of writings about the moon that can be found on the web. It has inspired poets and musicians down over time, it appears in every culture the world over. From myth and legend to painting and photography, to art and literature, it all shows just how deeply the moon can affect us, right down into our core.
The direct action the moon has on the earth, through the ebb and flow of tides is what science has taught us and its cycles are poured over by astronomers and astrologists alike. Is the reason why the moon has such a strange effect on us that, like the tides, are bodies are subject to the same ebbs and flows?
That might be the case, but myself, I believe the moon has greater mystery than that. Science, gained through endless hours at the telescope,l can give us a great deal of knowledge, but not all; it can’t explain why, for so long, the moon has come to symbolise so much. The moon has become a symbol rich in feminity; receptive, absorbing the light of the sun, her lover. But look more closely and listen with more intent and you will come to see that the poetry and music, the art isn’t just a matter of symbolism.
The moon, to me, is a living thing with her own voice and soul that can talk straight to us. I see the universe as a wonderful place full of richness, within which the moon is one powerful lady. A friend who lives in the night, watching over us with constancy, keeping us safe during our sleep. She has a soft light, a comforting glow which communicates itself to our hearts. She can sing to us as well; a song that can awaken the part of our spirit that can heal and reinvigorate us to face a new day. She can reassure our spirit allowing us to know that all will be right.
Moonlight can pick out things that cannot be seen any other way. She has a softness that kindles a sort of knowing that reaches far beyond conceptual thought. She can inspire in that part of our mind where our dreams are born bringing forth new possibilities, new inventions.
The light of the moon can creep into all the corners of our consciousness, our “heart-mind”, gently and persistantly, flowing deeper into our dreams so we become ready to embrace and awareness to fullfillment in our conscious thoughts. Repetative dreams are the child of the moon mother who, with gentleness but persistance, gives us all the knowledge we willneed. The moon will calm the fear, ease the disturbing and smooth out all the bumps and roughness till they can be dissolved down into our psyches.
Of course the moon can have moods, now exactly like a woman! Each of her phases can bring a change in her tone. In her newness, she is quiet, but moves forward confidently through each phase till she comes forth with abundance at her fullness. This is where her heart is full, when she gives herself fully to the sun offering up the light, so golden and warm, to all of us.
Even when we are covered with clouds, somehow her voice rings through; reminding us that whatever the gloom, she can penetrate it. Then, just as summer turns to autumn, her voice becomes softer as she starts to wan into her diminishing phases. This is not a time for sadness, but one for peace for she, and we know she will soon come around and be open again when the time is right.
Most importantly, the Moon helps us to embrace the mystery of the universe. She sings and reminds us of the parts of our stories in the past – she creates a passage to the resources of our past, the knowledge and wisdom of our past lives, our accumulated and shared experiences. She is a communicator of hope because she forgets nothing, and helps us to remember the depths of our soul and the extraordinary abundance of that shared place.
Is it so strange then that the moon has been so honoured throughout our human tale, she has been the inspiration for all.
The moonmoon, it would seem, has inspiredinspired artists and philosophers through the centuries, and in every culture. This essay, by Cathy Coxinspired, delves deep into the long tradition of moon worshipworship.
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