Artemis, Goddess of the Healing Moon

Artemis is one of the best-known goddesses and, as it turns out, is one of the most needed as she is a healing divinity. She is the Greek goddess of the moon. In her Roman form, Diana, she is the deity to whom Dianic witches and priestesses are devoted. She is a bringer of luck, the goddess of the hunt, and a powerful deity for magic and spellwork. As the huntress, she can help you search out anything you are looking for, whether it is tangible or intangible. As a lunar deity, she can illuminate you. Invoke Artemis when you want to practice moon magic, by saying aloud “I call upon you, beloved Artemis.” I suggest you study her mythology further to design original lunar ceremonies. Enshrine her by dedicating an altar or sacred space to her to bring about any of her marvelous qualities and to bring about healing.

Spring Fertility Symbols

Easter has become more and more a secular holiday, with families celebrating with chocolates, eggs, and rabbits. The symbol of the egg inspires us with the knowledge that new life will be born. The rabbit as a symbol of fertility arises not only from its incredible powers of reproduction, but from its ancient association with the lunar goddess of fertility and transformation. Folklore tells of the eggs of spring being laid by a bird until Oestre, a Teutonic goddess associated with the spring season, changed the bird into a hare that laid eggs.

Many of us engaged in Easter egg hunts as children. You can create a ritual for adults designed to recapture that joyous celebratory event and incorporating the various symbols associated with rebirth and fertility to bless new endeavors.

Full Moon

When the moon is full, that means Mother Moon is at her zenith, parading in all her glory across the night sky. Rituals that transform and call forth your personal power and psychic awareness are called for at this time. The full moon is powerful and promotes strength and supremacy. Her luminous glow surrounds us, and now is the time to clean our ritual tools, scrying mirrors, tarot decks, and crystals. Take time to honor the moon goddess during this phase. Wiccans have a tradition of “drawing down the moon,” which is a way of invoking the moon’s power into your body, thereby embodying the lunar goddess.

Lunar Goddesses of the World

Alkmene is the mortal mother of legendary Greek hero Hercules. Her name means “might of the moon.”

Candrea is the Indonesian deity from a love story about princess Candra Kirana of Kediri. Candra was the incarnation of Dewi Ratih, goddess of love, and her name means “glowing like the moon.”

Io, this Greek word for “the moon,” comes from the mythological story of the priestess of Hera, who was loved by Zeus. Fittingly, the moon of Jupiter was named for her.

Luna is the Roman name for a moon goddess and means “moon.” 

Marama is a mythic Polynesian lunar goddess whose name has
come to mean moon.

Selena is the Latinate form of the Greek name Selene, meaning “moon,” and also refers to the mythic moon goddess.