Sun and Moon

No discussion of magic is complete without mention of the luminaries: the sun and moon. Characterized respectively as yang and yin, revealing and deceiving, powerful and beautiful, masculine and feminine (though not without exception; for instance in most Nordic mythology the sun is She and the moon He, a custom adapted by J.R.R. Tolkien in his fictional mythologies), they represent a concept of polarity, or opposites, found in all magic systems. 

Above: Luminaries Amulet. Citrine, amethyst, silver and gold. For knowledge and inner illumination.

The moon is in the sky during the day as often as during the night, but she is so overshadowed by the sun’s light that she has come to symbolize nighttime, as though alone - in the absence of her husband - she reveals her secret female powers. The moon symbolizes both positive and negative female aspects. She is invoked in initiations to awaken or enhance hidden knowledge, astral sight, and other psychic and intuitive powers. She is a goddess of healing – many rituals of healing and purification are held in the light of the full moon, and “drinking down the moon” is an ancient custom for charging the drinker with magic power. The feminine trio of water, moon, and darkness is uniquely bewitching, as any of us who has swum in the moonlight knows. 

Above: Standing Stones Amulet. Lava rock, amethyst and pearl. For initiations and the creation of ritual space.

In Jyotish astrology the moon is called Chandra and represents the emotional mind. Chandra is nourishing and compassionate in nature and possessed of motherly qualities. Exquisitely detailed Jyotish moon description on Barbara Pijan’s website here: 

The location and disposition of one’s moon sign is thought to determine one’s lifetime emotional outlook, and the seven-year passage of harsh Saturn across one’s moon sign and those immediately adjacent is thought to offer us our most difficult or intense experiences. The star group or Nakshatra (using different divisions than the signs of the zodiac) in which the moon is located at our time of birth, is said to be a strong indicator of personality. Here is a fun nakshatra calculator if you want to test this theory.

Back to Ms. Pijan for elegant nakshatra descriptions.

The sun is a king or warrior figure, who destroys or burns up demons and enemies, but is also the source of life as a symbol of male fertility. As his power visibly wanes during the winter months in higher latitudes, he can be said to be aging or defeated; he is unable to “impregnate” the earth. At the Winter Solstice (or in spring) he returns to life (Horus, Mithras, Jesus) and to power, and the earth flowers. 

Here is his description in Vedic astrology.

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He is said to represent the ego, the self, and the will of each individual – the animating spark of life and consciousness within each of us.

Above: Light of Life Amulet. Green aventurine and citrine. For vitality, joy, and enlightenment.

A little Hafiz:

Faithful Lover

The moon came to me last night

With a sweet question.

She said,

"The sun has been my faithful lover

For millions of years.

Whenever I offer my body to him

Brilliant light pours from his heart.

Thousands then notice my happiness

And delight in pointing

Toward my beauty.

Hafiz,

Is it true that our destiny

Is to turn into Light

Itself?"

And I replied,

Dear moon,

Now that your love is maturing,

We need to sit together

Close like this more often

So I might instruct you

How to become

Who you

Are!

See my magic amulets and learn about their qualities at my Etsy shop!