Moon Worship & Rituals
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org,
please feel free to visit the school website)
Where the eight Sabbats mentioned above are pagan rituals or festivals related to the sun and the changing of the seasons, Esbats, on the other hand, are based on the cycles of the moon. Many pagans have an extraordinary reverence for the moon and all its cycles, particularly the full moon and the new moon. Since the lunar cycle does not correlate exactly with the modern 30-31 day calendar, the dates of the full and new moons differ significantly, resulting in no fixed dates for Esbat celebrations.
The worship of the moon is based on the view that its phases are related to the growth and decline of plant, animal and human life. Unlike the live-giving properties of the sun, the moon is believed to radiate occult power and rule over the hidden processes of nature, including the movements of all the liquid elements of earth. Think of the movement of the tides in the earth’s seas and you can appreciate the powerful magnetic, gravitational influence that the moon possesses. Additionally, the cycles of the moon influence the spawning of a variety of sea life such as crabs, oysters, mussels and sea urchins. Farmers from ancient times to present day frequently plant and sow, slaughter livestock and shear sheep according to the moon’s phases.
This same cyclical magnetic force similarly affects the bodies of all living things, being composed of mostly fluid. It stands to reason then, that the human brain, being a hunk of semi-liquid pulp, would also be stirred by the pull of the moon. In fact, the phases of the moon can dramatically affect our energy and moods. The fuller the moon, the more agitated and susceptible the mind becomes. Those who deal with the public on a regular basis, such as the police and hospitals, commonly observe a marked increase in unusual, eccentric behavior during the full moon. They notice more cases of drunkenness, more thefts, and more auto accidents. Attendants in mental hospitals notice increased anxiety among the patients. Pay attention to your own mood the next time the moon is full. Are you feeling in especially good spirits, or are you feeling blue? You will probably notice that the moon effects you and it will vary from month to month. There has always been a prevalent belief in a connection between the moon and lunacy. The word lunatic stems from the Latin word luna meaning “moon.”
The worship of the moon is known to exist since the earliest recorded times and actually preceded sun worship in most primitive cultures. The Babylonians, the greatest astronomers of ancient times, worshipped the moon as the queen of the night, honoring her as an ancestor of the sun, which she surpassed in power. Even the Bible, in the Book of Job, refers to moon worship. Some claim that Adam’s religion was moon worship. Early Christians claimed that the full moon shone on Jesus crucifixion. In Egypt, homage was paid to the moon long before sun worship existed, and the moon was related to their agricultural rites. The African Pygmies also revere the moon and believe that it molded the first man, covered him with skin and filled him with blood. Moon worship in China dates back to the Sung dynasty (960-1127) where the moon goddess Chang-E was worshipped. Moon worship still endures today in many parts of the world. Modern day witches will meet at the full moon to pay their respects to their deities, especially Goddess Diana.
In most mythologies the moon was a revered symbol of the very essence of womanhood. It is generally seen as female in nature and its influence is basically feminine, emotional, watery and reproductive. Much of primitive society felt the moon’s ruler was a Goddess. The Egyptian goddess Isis, the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, the Greek goddess Artemis, the Latin goddess Diana, and the Chinese goddess Chang-E were all associated with the moon. Whereas the sun represented the male principle (Yang), the moon is the strength behind all that is Female (Yin). As the female’s monthly cycle coincides with the lunar phases, there is a universal belief that the physiological life of women is linked with the moon. Medical experts on the subject maintain that there is statistical evidence to confirm that the cycle of female ovulation corresponds to the lunar month. The term menstruation, derived from the Latin menses, means monthly.
There have been some exceptions to the notion of the moon being regarded as feminine. In the Eskimo culture, the moon is a male whose lover is the feminine sun. Old English nursery rhymes speak of the Man in the Moon. The Egyptian god Thoth was god of the moon. Both the Native American tribes of Navajo and Pueblo have myths showing the moon god was male. A few remote tribes believe the moon is a lewd male who roams the earth during the full moon seeking young maidens whom he can deflower. So the girls are warned not to stare at the moon or lie in the moonlight lest they become pregnant.
Superstitions and legends abound in connection with the moon. A tribe in central Africa traditionally bathe their newborn children by the light of the first full moon in order to endow the child with the wisdom and justice imparted by the moon. Some regions lay out food to absorb the moons rays, which they believe have power to cure disease. Certain cultures feel it is unlucky to look at the new moon for the first time through the branches of a tree. Others consider it unlucky to point at the moon at any time, and one should always bow to the new moon, specifically the first one of the year. Anytime the new moon is first seen, a silver coin should be turned in the purse or pocket, as silver is the metal of the moon, then make a wish.
Some fairly widespread omens about the moon are:
Rings around the moon foretell storms; Heavy rains arrive more often following the new and full moon; Expect a heavier dew fall on moonlight nights; If a Saturday has a new moon foul weather will follow; It is considered to be lucky if you first see the new moon on your right or straight ahead.
Each cycle of the moon is divided into four phases: New Moon; First Quarter/Waxing Moon; Full Moon; Last Quarter/Waning Moon. Each phase lasts about seven days. There are no precise moments when one ends and the other begins, they just flow into each other. At the beginning of the lunar cycle, the moon is essentially invisible because it is in the sky at the same time as the sun, and the glare of the sun hides it from view. The traditional meanings of each cycle are as follows.