Selene The Moon Goddess

Areas of Influence: Selene was moon Goddess of the ancient Greeks and influenced the lunar cycles. She was traditionally worshipped on the full and new moon.

She was the Titan personification of the moon itself unlike the later moon Goddesses Hekate and Artemis.

Origins and Genealogy: She was daughter of the Titans Theia and Hyperion and had two siblings Helios (the sun God) and Eos (the goddess of the dawn). She had a number of lovers, most famously falling for the mortal Endymion. In this affair she is unable to come to terms with the fact that he would age and die.

A spell was cast on Endymion to grant him everlasting youth by placing him into a deep sleep. This did not prevent the Goddess from visiting him and having fifty of his children (This number represents the number of lunar months between each Olympiad).

This Goddess also had a daughter Pandeia after an affair with Zeus.

This serial seductress is also linked to Pan who gave her the Oxent that drove her chariot.

Strengths: The personification of the moon, passionate.

Weaknesses: Fears abandonment and is unable to be faithful to either men or Gods.

 Symbolism

In art this Goddess is shown with a very white face with a crescent moon crown or cloak.

She rides a silver chariot pulled by winged white horses or oxen.

The Full moon.

Sacred Plant: Selentrope.

Roman Equivalent: Lunar.

Selene's Archetype

The Lover 

Represents passion and selfless devotion to another person. It also extends to the things that make our hearts sing, like music art or nature.

The shadow aspect is obsessive passion that completely takes over and negatively impacts on your health and self esteem.

Selene is a seductress and has numerous lovers. Her obsessive love for Endymion's beauty leads her to place him into a deep sleep to preserve his youthfulness.

Please follow this link to the Archetypes page to discover which other Goddess Archetypes resonate with you.

How To Work With This Archetype

The Lover

You may be drawn to this stereotype if you are looking to attract a new lover or to re-ignite the fire in an existing relationship.

The Lover can also be a useful tool to discover what you are passionate about in life.

On the shadow side you need to ask, whether the amount of energy and time you are putting into relationships, or enthusiasm for projects is excessive? If this continues for too long you are likely to suffer from stress and physical ill health.