We have all read and heard many myths and stories about the Moon. We even know many archetypes associated with her, Gods and Goddeses of East and West that also represent deeper parts and meanings of our individual and collective psyche (Artemis, Kali, Hecate, all the Dark Goddesses, Chandra, etc.).
We also know how the Moon relates to time, to cycles, to transformation, to birth and death, and rebirth and resurrection. We know of her presence and power through the movement of our oceans, of our tides, waning and waxing through eternity. She is the matron of all sea creatures, and as Queen of the Night, she is also matron of night creatures.
She is the other side of the pendulum. In one side the Sun, light, and in the other the Moon, darkness, balancing existence. Reflecting the light back at us.
She relates to our own physical cycles, especially with women and menstruation. In yoga and other ancient philosophies she is associated with energy channels in our subtle bodies: pingala (sun) and ida (moon) channels. The dance of polarities always maintaining balance: masculine/feminine, yang/yin, shiva/shakti.
In more practical terms, the moon represents fertility, resurrection, occult power, immortality and intuition.
Traditionally, the alchemy planet symbols were depicted as seven in number. This is significant as this number corresponds to the seven major organs of the human body, the seven energy centers of the body (chakras), and most interestingly, the seven major metals in alchemy.
In this case, the moon represents one of those metals: Silver, Lesser Work. It reaches its stronger potential when joined with the sun, or Gold in the Greater Work. The moon is a feminine property and alchemists would incorporate it with the sun (gold) to assure balance and equilibrium.
In alchemy, the moon is a facet of silver and silver is symbolic of clarity, purity, and brilliance. Silver is one of the three foundational metals of the Prima Materia and so the silver-personified moon is prominently placed upon the triune throne of transformation.
Silver holds philosophical traits of the feminine persuasion as well as attributes of intuition, inner wisdom, and contemplation.
Silver is a symbol for clarity and strength because this metal withstands abuse, weathering, and even heat. Nevertheless, it can still be molded into desired forms.
Silver had feminine names or was associated with feminine Goddesses: Nanna for the Chaldeans, Artemis (Greek mythology) for the Rosicrucian alchemists, Diana (Roman mythology) for the Reinassance alchemists and the Arabic alchemists called it Manat when working with silver as an alchemical symbol.
In essence, the moon and silver are the representation of feminine energy, intuition, inner wisdom, reflection, cycles, clarity, strength, the occult, mystery, transformation and balance. Fluid energy, ever changing, ever transformed.
Happy last New Moon of this 2017. May we all plant the seeds of future transformation with awareness and love.
Journey To The Self 