Certain animals may become more agitated around the full moon – for example, the full moon is associated with wolves howling, also connecting it to beliefs about werewolves. This is also seen in old superstitions and folklore – for example, it is supposedly the full moon that causes people to change into werewolves once a month.įurthermore, the Moon doesn’t just affect the mood of humans but of animals too. This is because people though that the full moon caused people to behave more irrationally and more emotionally than usual. ![]() Words like “lunacy” and “lunatic” are derived from the Latin word for “moon”, luna. EmotionsĪs well as affecting processes such as the tides, it has long been believed that the Moon affects human emotions and moods, and some people can become more active, irritated or emotional around the time of the full moon. One of the most obvious examples of this is the way the Moon affects the tides, causing the sea to rise and fall due to the gravity it exerts.įor this reason, the Moon can symbolize invisible yet powerful influence and unseen control. ![]() Hidden influenceĪlthough we can’t see it directly, the Moon has a profound influence over all kinds of processes on Earth. Mid-Autumn Festival is a Chinese festival that celebrates the largest moon of the year, and on that day, it’s customary to eat mooncakes (月饼 yuèbing).įurthermore, the Chinese character for “month” (月 yuè) is also the same as the character for “moon”, again showing how the Moon is closely connected to the passing of time. The passing of timeĪlthough the Western calendar is based on the Sun, many cultures traditionally measure the passing of time based on the Moon.įor example, the traditional Chinese calendar is based on the Moon, and the dates of important events each year, such as the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) or the Mid-Autumn Festival, are determined by the Moon. This can be taken to mean the birth of the next generation, but for those who believe in reincarnation, it can also symbolize our rebirth into the next life. This is the inevitable process we all go through, but just as with all cycles, the end also represents rebirth. The full moon symbolizes the prime of our lives, after which we face a decline towards death. ![]() The new moon symbolizes birth, and then the waxing moon represents our progress towards adulthood. Similarly, the Moon also represents the different steps of human life. The final day of the cycle when the Moon disappears from sight is also the first day of a new cycle, and the following day, the waxing crescent Moon reappears, so with the “death” of the old moon comes the “rebirth” of a new one. The cycle of birth, aging, death and rebirth is repeated countless times in nature, and the Moon’s phases are the perfect metaphor for this.Īll animals and plants on Earth are born, mature, reproduce and then die, but when something dies, its offspring continue the cycle, so that each death is also a new beginning. Since the Moon constantly goes through a cycle that includes the new moon, the waxing moon, the full moon the waning moon and then the new moon again, it has also come to symbolize the cyclical nature of the universe. However, while it is more common for the Moon to be associated with female energy and femininity, some cultures have seen the Moon as representing the masculine, with the Sun representing the feminine instead.Īn example would be the Ancient Egyptian god Thoth, who was associated with secrets, hidden meaning and magic. Similarly, in ancient Chinese belief, a goddess named Kuan Yin who watched over pregnant women and protected them during childbirth was also connected to the Moon. In Christian symbolism, the Virgin Mary was seen as having a connection with the Moon and is often seen depicted as standing on a representation of the Moon. Hecate, the goddess of cycles, birth and intuition was also connected with the Moon. In Greek mythology, the Moon was associated with Artemis, the goddess of hunting, virginity and childbirth – and the Roman equivalent, Diana, was the goddess of woodland and women. The shape of the full moon is reminiscent of a pregnant woman’s belly, and the Moon has also been connected to various deities related to women, pregnancy and childbirth in a range of cultures. This is partly related to the fact that the Moon doesn’t produce light of its own but instead reflects the light of the Sun.Īs a result, the Moon represents traditional feminine traits such as passivity, gentleness and softness – in contrast with the Sun’s active, decisive, burning energy. One of the most commonly recurring symbolisms the Moon has had around the world is that of femininity and female energy – and in most cultures, the Sun is the opposite, representing masculinity and male energy. ![]() Various symbolisms according to different cultures.The symbolism of the different phases of the Moon.
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