Symbolism, Folklore, and Moon Mythology by Psychic Natasha

Monica Sjoo and Barbara Mor wrote in a book on the Great Cosmic Mother religion enumerating many moon goddess names and myths from cultures around the world that we were all created female over two billion years ago when we were ruled by the moon. We were one massive marine life reproducing parthenogenetically, effectively one massive body with no specific sex organs, but then this environment had to minimize internally in the course of evolution and lunar rhythms entered the woman's body. The penis evolved in the age of the reptile as males were created by females to perform reproduction since sexual reproduction was necessary for more complex evolution. From the roman moon goddess to Ganymede mythology to blood moon folklore, all these moon myths hearken back to the days of the origin of our species, as reflected in moon mythology around the world across time, space, and geographic region. 

Moon Goddess Myths from Around the World

Although according to Robert Graves, the Greek Hecate was the original moon goddess, Selene was the passionate Titan goddess known to be fearless of death appearing in Greek culture depicted riding sidesaddle on a horse, a mother goddess linked to the full moon, representing constant change. Luna in Latin, she was the personification of the moon in Greek and Roman religion, worshiped at new and full moons. She was considered a symbol of visibility, because nobody could hide from her in the night sky where she could always be seen. She gave humans sleep by granting them darkness, veiling the sun. She is still widely worshiped by Pagans today, and often contacted to strengthen readings of the Tarot. Like many moon goddesses, she is associated with the divine feminine and linked to lunar phases. She is said in myth to have had 50 daughters. 

Maya Moon Goddesses

There is also the importance of the fertility aspect of lunar goddesses, such as the moon goddess of Maya culture, Ixchel. Said to be in love with the Sun God, whom she trails daily (or nightly) in unrequited pursuit of across the sky, her oldest appearance was sitting in a crescent moon holding a rabbit, a fertility symbol, on her lap. Women in Maya culture would make pilgrimages to her twice in a lifetime to her temples on Isla Mujeres and Cozumel, to pray for the ability to conceive and for safe birth. She was a healing goddess, and prayed to for success in planting as she was also connected to the fertility of the earth. A healing and medicine goddess, she appeared in her crone phase as a midwife to the afterlife, helping souls in transition to death. Her name meant Lady of the Rainbow, and she was prayed to for determining optimum times for planting and harvesting crops. 

Pagan Moon Goddesses

For a variety of Pagans, moon cycles like the waxing moon, the full moon, the waning moon, and the new moon each have magical properties, with the full moon linked to the ebbs and flows of the tide, as well as women's menstrual cycles. The moon is connected to our wisdom and intuition, and Vedic yoga practitioners celebrate the full moon with a monthly ritual welcoming in the energy of the ascendant signs.

Irish Moon Goddesses

Aine, the moon goddess or Irish mythology, serves as goddess of the earth and nature as well as a lady of the lake. She brings luck and blesses humans by explaining the meaning of love through her teachings. She is depicted as a faery Queen. She is a gentle queen who softens vision with reflective light. She invites a gaze of relaxed, deep contemplation. The old Celtic Druids of this locale believed business begun under a waxing or growing moon would succeed, whereas projects initiated when the moon was diminishing or waning would have less chance of success. Their full moon had special names to acknowledge her power, such as Rose, Horse, or Dyan Moon. 

Celtic Moon Goddesses

Rhiannon, a Celtic Moon Goddess known to us through Welsh folklore, was born at the first Moon Rise and is also known as a divinity, Queen of the Faeries; like IxChel, she is a goddess of fertility and rebirth, and also of wisdom, magic, transformation, and beauty. Like Selene, she rides a horse; she is also surrounded by singing birds flying around her head who can grant sleep to humans or wake spirits.

African Moon Goddesses

As for moon goddesses from the continent of Africa and the African myths, Mawu is a moon goddess of the Fon and Ewe tribes from the small West African country of Benin, whereas Jezanna is a Central African goddess of healing and the moon. Mawu created people from clay, a creator goddess, linked with the Sun under Dahomey mythology as Ixchel is under Maya myth. Yemoja is associated with the moon in some communities in diaspora, depicted often as a mermaid, serving as protector of women regarding parenting, child safety, love and healing. 

Chinese Moon Goddesses

Change’e, initially dubbed Heng’e, is the goddess of the moon in Chinese culture. She is a shapeshifter, able to change her height, clothes, and hairstyle at will and even to change into a toad to avoid being caught for stealing elixir, if need be. She helps humans by manipulating their illusions and memories. The myth of the moon is associated with brightness and gentleness in the Chinese mind and many Moon Festivals are marked when the moon is full, such as the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar which is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Since the round shape symbolizes family reunion, the day has become an auspicious day for family togetherness bringing luck, abundance, and harmony. Family and friends gather to watch the full moon and eat moon cakes. Dance parties, traditional performances, public lantern displays, and worship of the moon goddess is also common. 

Egyptian Moon Goddesses

Isis, sometimes called Aset or Eset, was the Egyptian goddess of the moon, like her counterparts also representing fertility, love, healing and magic Her name means Queen of the Throne and her influence continued through Greek and Roman empires. She was the ultimate Mother Goddess, with masses dancing to her in the streets to ecstatic music often played on the ancient double aulos even as patriarchy rose up around her. 

For even more Moon Rituals, Psychic Ursula takes a look at how Native American culture has many traditions regarding the moon. Learn about Moontime, Native American full moon rituals, and meet Grandmother Moon.

How to Incorporate Moon Mythology into Your Life

Whether a man trying to understand a partner, daughter, or potential mate, or a woman trying to get grounding in the divine feminine tradition occluded by this culture, this investigation into the origins of the moon myths and some of their associations with female powers raises some interesting questions to be explored in psychic readings.

• Are there associations between cycles of the moon, fertility, prosperity, abundance, and love?
• Might it be better to reach out to an estranged loved one in a waxing or waning moon?
• Which phase of the moon might be the preferred one for starting a business, asking for a raise, having a health procedure, or sending a text to someone who has gone radio silent?  
• If you are a woman who feels dethroned, what can you do to get back into your position of power?
• If you feel displaced as a mother, how can studying the power of some of these mother goddesses help you get back in touch with your strength?  
• What can you do to shapeshift if you feel society or culture is catching up to or on to you?
• Who can you gather with and where to create your own full moon celebratory community?
• Might a full moon be a good time to plan your family reunion or wedding to increase family abundance and harmony? 
• Do women need special protection and where can women get it now that these moon goddesses no longer seem to be performing their functions? 
• What is the value of visibility?
• Of sleep?
• Of manipulation of illusion?
• Of relating to nature through horses, birds, other animals, or bodies of water?
• Of beauty and transformation?
• Of unrequited love?
• Of overachieving, like having 50 daughters?
• Of living before or beyond your times?
• Of knowing the astrological energies of the day, the moon, the month? 

These are all questions a good psychic can work with you in conversation to answer. First of all, many of us are using cards based on divine female archetypes, or archetypes of being grounded across time in nature–versions of the Tarot deck. Secondly, many of us stay in touch with astrological predictions and can help you tune into the moon cycles to make some timing decisions. Finally, many of us are operating out of the collective unconscious territory that these cross-cultural goddesses come from, and we have had experience applying paradigms to real lives. 

So take a chance, if any of this intrigues you. Pick up the phone and give us a call!