Mysterious Moon
Who says there’s a “man” in the moon?
I think there’s a woman hiding out in her shadows, playing with the branches softly veiling her face.
The moon is definitely female. She waxes; she wanes. She changes with cycles. She appears huge and immense, before disappearing into the tiniest sliver of darkness and embracing emptiness.
She never stays the same. Not for an instant. She’s always appearing to lose or gain parts of herself–although in reality she never changes at all.
She’s always talking to the stars, except when she chooses silence.
They say she’s in love with the sun–who is, of course, male–because that orb rules our “doing” and daily activities.
The sun rises and sets without changing its orb-belly one bit.
Until the moon wanders by and teasingly eclipses it–and who knows what really happens in those fleeting moments of darkness when they become One?
The Anishinabe (Ojibway) of our Lake Superior area call her “The Moon of the Falling Leaves” in October.
Moon of the Falling Leaves
Leaves scatter against her face as they rustle in the wind and fall to the arms of earth.
Next time someone says, “I see the man in the moon!” you may choose to gently correct him.
“No, no,” you shall perhaps say, “It’s a woman up there. Don’t you see how her body changes? Don’t you see how she illuminates even the darkest night? Can’t you see her softly laughing?”
If your listener still disagrees, let him.
But don’t forget to wink back at the Lady in the Moon–quickly, now!–before she shifts and changes again, a chameleon in the midnight skies.
Lake Superior Spirit 
Hmm 🙂 I agree the Moon is very feminine. In any religion or spirituality that has a lunar deity, it is a Goddess. Other than the “man in the moon” phrase (and where did that come from?) it’s only in the Lord of the Rings that I’ve heard it be referred to as male.
I absolutely love this sentence:
“Until the moon wanders by and teasingly eclipses it–and who knows what really happens in those fleeting moments of darkness when they become One?”
Brilliant.
Cackles a good and gleeful witchy-type cackle!!!!
Beautiful! The last thing I saw before sleep last night was that glorious moon, and the first thing when I got up at 5 am this morning was the moon (from the opposite end of my house). Your reflection makes it even more glorious. I’d never thought of it in quite that way before. Thank you once again!
Kathy – That makes perfect sense to me 🙂 because energeticaly speaking…the left side everyone’s body is where feminine, receiving, LUNAR energy flows.
(the right side is where masculine, projecting, solar energy flows)…
Aw, this is such a beautiful blog post, and what a perfectly captured glimpse of the moon through the branches.
Did you know, Kathy, that the moon in the southern hemisphere looks different? We also have full moon round-about now, but the shadows in the moon look very different.
And did you also know that the waxing and waning crescents are the other way around down here? 🙂
As to the moon being feminine – TOTALLY agree, Kathy. And I love the poetry of the phrase “The Moon of the Falling Leaves”… so beautiful.
I have always stated it was a Woman for many of the reasons you mention. But, the women in my life are not fond of my saying so. 😀
After reading this, Kathy, I will never look at the moon in the same way again! You make such obvious points; how did we ever just assume there was a “man in the moon”? Tonight I will make a point of taking myself outside to admire her. 🙂
Kathy, I love your words…. she appears huge and immense before disappearing into the tiniest sliver of darkness and embracing emptiness. They tug at my heart and touch my soul today.
Enjoying this gorgeous October moon. It’s wonderful, the sense of connection that arises from this simple and single moment, sitting under the same moon.
Okay, you have convinced me … the moon is definitely female and the sun is male.
Love your leaf falling picture. I have been trying to get a similar shot with none good enough to share … so I admire your skill at catching it in flight.
She’s shining bright over San Fransisco too!
Lovely!
Kathy,
I have called her “sister Moon” for sometime now! There is a song from Barbra’s “Star
is Born” called a Woman in Moon!
Beautifully expressed
This is a beautiful post. I have been looking at the wonderous magnificence of the full moon as I was making my way back to where I am staying. This lovely light casts down upon water and mountains to make a glorious place magical and therefore I am convinced that she is all woman as this is all done with a ‘women’s touch’.
Love the phrase Moon of the Falling Leaves
I love reading your posts. You are a romantic. 🙂
I am glad you enjoyed pondering the full moon-lady this autumn month, both in the skies and on this blog. She’s already changing again, isn’t she? I appreciate all your visits and kind comments.
Thank you for this thought-provoking post. I’ve never considered the moon as a female but gosh it makes perfect sense! And I love the snippet about “The Moon of the falling leaves” from the Lake Superior Ojibway…beautiful!
The moon lady is already waxing away, waxing away, showing us that appearances can be deceiving. Perhaps she’s gently winking at us…
WOW! Intriguing moon picture. The moon is feminine in most cultures of the world. Even in many Western traditions, although the mainstream bias toward the male gives us a “man in the moon.” Then we sent some men to the moon. Interesting.
You know what, Martha? They sent those men to the moon on my 12th birthday! But I looked up and saw the lady winking down. 🙂