Triple Moon Symbol
Triple Moon Symbol
Spiritually there are many images we become accustomed to seeing but rarely do we ever find the meaning behind these images. Over the past few months I have been studying Moonology which made me ponder how the Triple Moon image came to be. This image is very popular in mythology, spiritual traditions, Wicca & Neopagan religions. This symbol is often referred to as the Triple Goddess symbol, displaying a waxing crescent connected to a full moon & a waning crescent representing the changing phases of the moon.
Who is the Triple Goddess?
The Triple Goddess dates as far back as the 3rd century AD. Goddesses were depicted in groupings of 3 to be viewed as a single divine being. In mythology Diana is considered a triple deity who appears alongside Hecate and Selene.
Diana is viewed as having distinct facets of a single divine being known as "Diana as huntress, Diana as the moon, Diana of the underworld.” Diana was the goddess of fertility, women would pray for her aid in conceiving. She is depicted in statues with a bow and quiver, crescent moon, deer and hunting dogs.
In the early to mid 20th century poet and novelist Robert Graves was influenced by modern Neopagan concepts and included the Triple Goddess into his writings. Graves claimed this triplicity to be the Maiden, the Mother & the Crone. The tri unity of the 3 figures present them united as one being. In Graves' writing Hecete was the most prominent triple goddess. She is regarded as the chief goddess of witchcraft, guardian of crossroads and a goddess of transitions. She is often shown holding torches, snakes, or a key while being accompanied by dogs.
Selene also known as Luna is the goddess of the moon whose personification was of the Moon itself. Often depicted with a crescent moon crown she is described as riding a white chariot of the moon across the sky each night. Her power consists of the ability to give sleep and to light the night. Selene fell in love with a mortal shepherd herder named Endymion. He was granted eternal youth in the form of eternal sleep so he could sleep under Selenes' evening glow. Selene visited Endymion in his dreams to make love to him. She gave birth to fifty daughters who some say represent the 50 lunar months of the Olympiad.
Triple Moon Universal Meanings:
♀️Divine Femanine Power:
Intuition. Creative Energy. Wisdom.
👧🏽🤰🏽👵🏽Life stages of womanhood:
Maiden. Mother. Crone.
🌒🌕🌘Endless cycles:
Birth. Life. Death. Rebirth.
Moon Phases:
Waxing moon represents the Maiden. This moon has a Yang flux. It’s the phase after a new moon and before a full moon. The waxing moon grows bringing new beginnings, courage, birth, youth, expansion & the sense of moving forward. During this phase of the moon if there is something you want, go after it! Don’t give up or be afraid of failure.
Full moon represents the Mother. The second phase of a woman's life. Symbolizing fertility, power, life. During this phase of the moon calls us to show gratitude, forgiveness, and release anything that no longer serves us. When we forgive we release karma. Let go and move on! Surrender to the Divine’s plan meant for you.
Waning moon represents the Crone. This moon has a Yin flux, opposite of the waxing moon. The waning moon is getting smaller until it disappears at the new moon. This phase of the moon embodies maturity, healing, wisdom & endings. It's the final stage of a woman's life cycle, the Crone is depicted as an old wise woman who lived her life to the fullest. During this time we are being called to surrender & let go as things are falling away in preparation for the new moon.
Fun Fact! This familiar symbol gets reversed in the Southern Hemisphere! In the North the First Quarter moon looks like the letter D that is getting bigger while in the South it looks like a growing letter C. The Last Quarter moon in the North looks like a C while the South looks like a D.