Moon

Recently, I included a question about the moon in a "How Well Do You Know Me?" quiz on Facebook. I asked my quiz-takers if they knew my favorite phase of the moon. The options I gave them were full, crescent, gibbous, and waxing.

Most respondents answered that they thought the full moon was my favorite. A good guess: there is a lot of mythology about the full moon that I like, but it's not my favorite. It does speak well of my friends that they know enough about me and my occasional kookiness that they chose the full moon, which is often associated with the paranormal and well...lunacy (a word that is derived from the moon, by the way...).

However, despite my admiration for the full moon, my favorite phase of the moon is actually a crescent moon (depicted). Waxing or waning, it doesn't matter. I just love a crescent moon. I guess it goes back to the symbology of the crescent moon that I read about a long time ago. For example, the moon, and the crescent moon in particular, has been associated with Goddess worship throughout many civilizations. Artemis, Selene, Isis, Hathor, and Qian are just some of the ancient goddesses associated with the moon. Particularly, it was Isis who wore the crescent moon as her Crown. There are even depictions of Mary, in her persona as Queen of Heaven, standing on a crescent moon with the same as a crown on her head.

I find the crescent moon to be something mysterious and awe-inspiring; it is an elemental symbol of the sacred feminine. They say the moon pulls on all life the way it pulls on the tides--if true, it's not surprising considering how much of our bodies are made of water. The moon has a pronounced place in astrology: it is the dominion of one's personality, unconscious, and emotional self. For those who are interested, I have a Taurus Moon. Since Taurus is ruled by Venus, the moon in this placement means I have a love for all things beautiful. My Taurean moon also bestows me with a deep sensuality, a love of romance, a committed nature (I don't like change) and a lovely singing voice. :)

Isn't it something that the first time humanity journeyed off this Earth was to land on the moon? Even in modern times, it holds an endless fascination (it's also relatively close to home, no doubt a factor that influenced its selection as a place to explore once we reached space). There's nothing like the light of a full moon; in a rural area, it shines brightly enough to read by. I can only imagine how comforting that was to lonely travelers in the days before electricity.

Everytime I glance at the sky and see a crescent moon, I get a chill when I think of all the others who for eons gazed at that same beauty. The moon, like other celestial bodies in the heavens, is everlasting: it was here before the dawn of mankind and will be here long after our memories have faded from the planet. When I got my telescope, can you guess what I searched for in the night sky right away? The moon, of course.

Next time you are out and about in the night, take a glance at the sky and admire the moon. Particularly show appreciation for the crescent moon, a symbol that lasts even today in religious importance (the crescent moon is a primary symbol for Islam). Good luck, moon watchers!