Silver moon, what have you seen these nights upon a lingering dream?

Of all humanity’s religious focuses over our long and storied history, I always find moon-cults fascinating and compelling. Whether it be the moon itself or that which it harbors and signals, the moon offers a great deal more mystery and interest than the sun.

Most versions of a sun-cult are in the realm of power, life, heat, strength, and the like. These are all fine, but quite uninspired. The big ball of light is representative of a bright golden man that gives life to the earth? How original.

But the moon offers us more. It isn’t a source of life, nor is it essential in any tangible way to an ancient human. We know now that it controls the tides, but to someone living 300, 400, or 1000 years ago, it could be anything. The moon offers only its silver light for travel in the night, and the idea of something changing in the ever-stolid sphere above.

I can totally understand an ancient belief that the moon harbored a god. It arises when we go to sleep, watches over us, and parts ways as we take up arms in a new day. It is reliable, though changing, and even its changes are predictable and routine. Much can be derived from tracking its movements and faces.

I would never suggest we pray to Luna, our sister in the sky, but perhaps watch her more closely. She’s been a faithful companion for tens of millenia, and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon.