Hymn to Selene
Muses, sweet-speaking daughters of Zeus Kronides
and mistresses of song, sing next of long-winged Moon!
From her immortal head a heaven-sent glow
envelops the earth and great beauty arises
under its radiance. From her golden crown the dim air
is made to glitter as her rays turn night to noon,
whenever bright Selene, having bathed her beautiful skin
in the Ocean, put on her shining rainment
and harnessed her proud-necked and glittering steeds,
swiftly drives them on as their manes play
with the evening, dividing the months. Her great orbit is full
and as she waxes a most brilliant light appears
in the sky. Thus to mortals she is a sign and a token.Homeric Hymn to Selene
Selene is ever-present in our lives … She rides high and glowing at the Full Moon and teases with a crescent fading to dark during the waning moon. She controls the tides of the Earth as well as of humans; providing a rhythmic cycle for women to remember her. She is, quite literally, the Moon itself, not just a Goddess of the Moon. In later mythology, Artemis, Diana, Bendis, and Hekate absorbed different attributes and became known as Moon Goddesses. Her Roman counterpart is Luna.
As a Greek Goddess, Selene is the daughter of Titans, Hyperion and Theia, and is the grandaughter of Gaia, Herself. Her siblings include Helios, the sun, and Eos, rosy-fingered dawn. She had several lovers, including Zeus and Pan, but her true love was the mortal Endymion. In order for Selene to be with Endymion, he was in a constant slumber and she would visit him at night after she pulled her moon chariot across the sky. Some myths say that she had 50 daughters by Endymion, but mostly it is said that she bore Pandia (all brightness), Erse (the Dew), and Nemea by Zeus.
Selene is depicted pulling the moon in her chariot pulled by white horses or oxen across the night sky. She wears a crescent moon crown on her brow.
Her traditional nights of celebration are the Full Moon and New Moon (or Dark Moon, the eve before New Moon). She especially seems to like hyacinth and iris.
Some of the crystals that will get you in tune with Selene are Selenite (named for her!), Alexandrite, Beryl, Bloodstone, Moonstone, Blue Topaz, and Clear Quartz.
Incense, herbs, and scents that are evocative of Selene are jasmine, coriander, camphor, orris root, and clary sage and any that enhance creativity and intuition. White and purple flowers and those that bloom at night belong to Selene.
Selene is a woman’s Goddess considering her close relationship to women’s cycles and yin energy. Connecting through dreams and meditation is the best approach and, of course, simply basking in her gorgeous glow is renewing.
WORKING WITH SELENE & THE VOID OF COURSE MOON
“I am the star that rises from the sea, the twilight sea.
I bring men dreams that rule their destiny.
I bring the moon-tides to the souls of men,
The tides that flow and ebb and flow again;
That flow and ebb and flow alternately;
These are my secret, these belong to me.I am the Eternal Woman, I am She –
The tides of all men’s souls belong to me.
The tides that flow and ebb and flow again;
The secret, silent tides that govern men;
These are my secret, these belong to me.”
~ Dion Fortune, Moon Magic
As the moon moves through its monthly journey of the zodiac signs, it also takes on aspects of the other planets. It may at any time be conjunct, sextile, square, trine, or opposite one of the other planets; however, at the end of each sign, the moon makes its last aspect and still has some time left in the current sign to traverse. Basically, the Moon has finished Her business in that sign and She is marking time until She enters the next sign. This time period is referred to as a Void of Course Moon. The time frame can be as short as a few minutes or as long as a few days depending on the position of the heavens and if the other planets are in a late or early degree. As soon as the Moon exits Void of Course, She assumes the attributes of the next sign.
After many years of study and ritual experimentation, I have found that the Void of Course Moon Time is one of the most potent times for pure, unadulterated LUNAR energy. It is the time when the Moon is just the MOON. She does not carry any of the attributes of one of the zodiac signs – She is simply SELENE … LUNA … MOTHER MOON.
“We who are Priestesses of the Moon know how to bring it through in its pure form, undiluted by matter, and we call it the moon-force.” ~ Dion Fortune, Moon Magic
You will find that most astrologers counsel caution during a Void of Course. They will say that decisions made during Void of Course turn out to be non-realistic, false starts abound, judgment may be affected to the detriment, plans stop and start and change. It is also said that a Void of Course Moon can bring out neurotic behavior (who?me?) and delay and frustration run rampant. Void of Course Moons have also affected historical events – only a few presidents have been inaugurated during a Void of Course – Lincoln, JFK, Nixon, Reagan, and Clinton which gives us two assassinations, an impeachment, an attempted assassination, and an almost impeachment. Reagan actually avoided making any speeches during a void of course moon – going so far as to delay them if they were scheduled. Contracts signed at this time may have to be changed later or may turn out null and void.
Things just are not grounded, centered, or predictable during a Void of Course Moon which in my mind is the perfect time for us to get to know and work with Luna in all of Her naked glory. Ritual or Meditation that is intensely focused on inner planes work and feminine issues are very powerful during the void of course moon. Journeying, pathwork, dreamwork, meditation, and pursuits focused on creative mind expansion align us directly with Mother Moon as Herself with no other influences.
It can be as light or heavy as you wish … just remember the grounding issues during Void of Course and be prepared. The Void of Course is the time when the Moon finally drops Her mask and we can commune directly with undiluted lunar energy. Keep the waxing and waning phases in mind as you connect; it will help you decide which aspect to focus on.
Activities that are recommended for Void of Course Moon:
Prayer, yoga, Red Tent gatherings, psychotherapy (being the divine “lunatics” that we are!), psychic readings, sleep and dreamwork, meditation, vacations (with no set plans), mind-altering journeys (my personal favorite), howling at the moon (another favorite), activities that honor our creative, psychic selves. Basically, any activity that is detached from outcomes or expectations.
Allow Selene to be naked in your life and honor this true MOON TIME with her.
Most importantly, revel in being WOMAN and shine with her. This is our birthright.
Blessings on your MOON TIME!
xo Kimberly
SEE OUR ATTUNE TO THE MOON PAGE FOR MORE MOON RESOURCES
MotherHouse’s monthly New Moon and Full Moon astrology updates
Goddess Planner 2020 with astrology, monthly horoscopes, and lunar calendars
RESOURCES FOR THE MOON
Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood by Merlin Stone
Everyday Moon Magic by Dorothy Morrison
Full Moon Feast by Jessica Prentice
Grandmother Moon by Z Budapest
Lunar Abundance by Ezzie Spencer
Lunar Abundance Reflective Journal by Ezzie Spencer
Moon Magic and Sea Priestess by Dion Fortune (Esoteric fiction & awesome!)
Moon Magic by Diane Ahlquist
Moonology Oracle Cards by Yasmin Boland
Moonology website and book: Moonology: Working with the Magic of Lunar Cyclesby Yasmin Boland
Moon Spells by Diane Ahlquist
Moon Time: Harness the Ever-Changing Energy of Your Menstrual Cycle by Lucy Pearce
Moon Time: The Art of Harmony with Nature and Lunar Cycles by Johanna Paungger
Mysteries of the Dark Moon by Demetra George
Rise Sister Rise by Rebecca Campbell
The Goddess Guide by Priestess Brandi Auset (great for choosing Goddesses!)
The Moon Oracle by Caroline Smith
You Are Woman You Are Divine by Renee Starr
GODDESS VENDORS WE LOVE!
- DaughtersOfIsis.com with Gwen Barry – Magical Essential Oil Blends & Incense
- GailJessenDesigns.com with Gail Jessen – Sacred Jewelry Design
- MurphysEssentials.com with Kim Murphy – Healing & Magical Essential Oil Blends & CBD
- Red Priestess with Brandi Auset – Goddess Sprays and Crystals
- SacredWell.com with Yeshe Matthews – Crystal and Treasure Shop
GODDESS SPIRITUALITY RESOURCES
MOTHERHOUSE GODDESS TEMPLE – Goddess Calendar & Free Community Events
© 2020 – 2021 Kimberly F. Moore – MotherHouse of the Goddess. All rights reserved. No part of this course may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief, cited quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact us.
