tility, because they protect women and children, and the end of life. A quick, painless
death was often attributed to the blessing of the Three-faced Goddess.
In Indian or Vedic mythology the Moon is known as Chandra or Soma. It is
interesting that the Vedic sages considered the Moon male in gender, but represented
feminine energy. The myth explaining why the Moon waxes and wanes may provide a
clue. Chandra was married to Daksa’s 27 daughters. Each night he would spend with a
different wife, equaling a sidereal month. But Chandra had a favorite wife known as
Rohini and he stayed longer with her than with the others. The other wives com-
plained to their father Daksa who cursed Chandra for not treating his daughters more
fairly. Chandra immediately fell ill and started to waste away. When the wives saw
their husband dying they pleaded with the father to undo the curse. It was not possible
to completely reverse the curse, but Daksa was able to lessen the effect. That is why
the Moon waxes and wanes.
The Moon rules the zodiac sign of Cancer the Crab. The tides of the oceans are
controlled by the Moon, and the tidal zone is the natural environment of crabs and
other crustaceans. This is one reason why the Moon represents and governs water in
THEASTROLOGYBOOK [461]
The MoonPersonification of the Moon as ruler of Cancer the crab is shown in this detail from Doge’s
Palace Venice. Reproduced by permission of Fortean Picture Library.