The Moon - Diana

  Lunae, Tymiana aromata

Audi dea regina, lucifera, diva Luna

Tauricornis Mene, noctu currens, aerivaga,

nocturna, facitenens, puella, bene stellata, Luna,

quae crecis et decrecis, foeminaque et mas,

fulgens, equorum amatrix, temporis mater, fructifera,

electris, iracunda, splendoris causa nocturna,

omnispica, vigilarum amatrix, pulchris syderibus abundans,

quiete gaudens et delectatione beatifica,

lucida, laetitiae datrix, perfectrix nocis oblectamentum,

astritenens, latipeple, vagi cursus, sapietissima puella:

venias beata, benevola, pulchristella, lumine tuo

micans, conservans tuos supplices, proba puella

Through these words, Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499) donated us this beautiful Orphic Hymn. Ficino, a man of the Renaissance and great expert of Ars Regia, of course doesn't describe the Moon as Earth's satellite or astronomical object but rather as metaphysical entity having great symbolic and religious importance and value.

As I have already superficially mentioned with regards to the Sun, the same it can be said about the Moon for which exists an antique theology and theurgy. While July is entirely biased on the Sun (Apollo), August is totally focused on the Moon (Diana) and on her extremely complex and deep symbology and meaning. It's very difficult to provide here adequate explanations about this Lunar theology and theurgy (and after all I have a rather limited knowledge about it), but in my opinion some brief indications (even if very superficial) can be useful to better understand on the one hand the role of the Moon in the Traditional Roman Religion and on the other hand some implications, meaning and value of the Cult of Diana, focus of this important month in the sacred calendar. I believe that a Cultor/Cultrix should have even a minimal knowledge about this complex issue as well as that related to the Sun: any further detail can be obtained contacting an Augur (who by definition has a sound expertize about these topics - surely better than mine).

The Moon is part of the Foundamental Duality (Sun - Moon) deriving from the Original Matter (Chaos, the Unity, Uroboros). The Moon Force embraces and embodies the Female Energy, the Water, the Dragon. This is a Transformation Energy, the Change, the Continuing Mutation, a Wild and Savage Force. While the Solar Dimension is the Dimension of "Being", the sub-lunar one is the Dimension of "Becoming".
At this level, the Sun expresses the Red, the Fire (but as flamma non urens).

The Moon, at the same level, expresses the White, the Light, the Knowledge.

The symbolic planets' structure (which has nothing in common with the modern astronomical order) is as follows (please note the role of the number 7 - the spiral of the sacred snake):

Saturn: lead

Jupiter: bronze

Mars: iron

Sun: gold

Venus: copper

Mercury: mercury

Moon: silver 

 

The triad of the Male Deities is placed above (Uranian) and symmetrically in opposition to the Female Triad (below, ctonia, infera) having at the centre the Sun. The result is a spiral path (upward-downward) moving from Saturn and arriving in the Sun and viceversa. Thus the Moon is the first step in the infernal stage of the cosmic cycle as wild dissolving force (solve) freeing energy. In the Commentarium in Somnium Scipionis Macrobius describes how Saturn (ratiocinatio) is dissolved in the Moon or how the logic conscience sinks in the vital energy.

Being the Moon "Magical Light" ("Shining Light in the middle of the Night" according to Apuleius), she is a Light "giving Life": she is White, blossom, Life (just note the importance of the Moon in agriculture...). For these features, the Moon is symbolized by a Virgin being in the same time "Mother" because she gives and turns to Life. She is also a "tide", a "Stream" but, above all, "The Flowing Flow"

The Moon is represented by a White Stone (resurrection) named Diana becoming Silver - the Living Silver (The White Rose).

As the Sun corresponds to the Solar Tree (The Tree of Knowledge), similarly the Moon corresponds to the Lunar Tree (The Tree of Life)

This symbology (extremely briefly and superficially described above) is completely translated into the Divine Dimension of Diana (in particular Diana Nemorensis and the ritual of the Rex Nemorensis). Diana is a virgo ("force not blocked by constrains"); she is a wild energy in fast and continuos movement (she is "always distant"). She gives life and death. Diana is symbolized by a white hind and by a deer whose antlers with 7 branches represent the Lunar Tree/The Tree of Life. Diana is also symbolized by the Bow representing the Crescent Moon.

The fact that Diana can embrace a so complex symbology (as all the Deities) should help us in understanding how in the past these issues were well known and shared. A greater part of this knowledge (as co-shared community heritage) has been lost and today it is likely to be preserved by just few individuals. At the same time, it shows how complex the Traditional Roman Religion can be, going beyond some simpler rites, and how articulated (in ritual and symbolic terms) the traditional Pantheon can be. It means that a deep and continuing study represents an essential step in the religious practice. Being a cultor/cultrix is not just burning some incense sticks or wearing historical clothes.  

There's something more and maybe something more difficult. The Traditional Roman Religion is a Via and thanks to an adequate study, the ritual practicing, the Virtus and personal discipline, martial arts and meditation can be possible to master the Via following the Ancestors' example.