1937—Leonora Carrington
Esoterically, the Moon is know as the Treasure House of Images. Being an artist with a vivid imagination, I’ve always been fascinated by this. I used a painting by the surrealist artist, Leonora Carrington above because she seemed to be well attuned to the Mansions of the Moon, and her white horse symbolism could have sprung from the influence of that sphere.
There are 28 mansions. This poem begins with #27 to correspond with the entry of the sun into Aries, the first light of spring. and first sign of the zodiac. You will see tarot images in this poem and images familiar to witchcraft. The Egyptian imagery may indicate the age of this system, and it has stayed alive longest in Spain where a fusion of philosophical, mystical and magical thought gave rise to documents of far-reaching influence. I am posting this ancient piece so that you may be inspired to meditate on these images and open your imagination to the deep energies operating therein.
Let me know in the comments what happens if you try this experiment.
Enjoy!
Mansions of the Moon
The threefold Lady, Maiden Moon, the Bride, the wise old Mother,
Across the living deeps of night, the bright pavilions of the Gods.
XXVII.
Two signs begin the passing year: we see the horse’s head and mane,
But yet of him who guides, appear no tokens but the garment’s train.
XXVIII.
The Moon is borne through caverned cloud: shall night prevail against her beams?
Shall this Saturnian gloom enshroud the brightness of immortal dreams?
- O Blade of Fire that cleaves the skies! O mystic flash that wakes to life!
The Moon in splendor shall arise supreme above the tempest’s strife.
- The Red Deer seeks the Huntress now, the novice seeks Dictynna’s net;
Her altar witnesses his vow, and never doth the Moon forget!
III. Upon the Stag’s proud brow there stands a shining Moon-spot silver white,
Showing the woods and meadow-lands the blazon of the Queen of Night.
- Out from the Moon-mists luminous three drops distill, afar from Earth,
To fall into the deep, and thus a pearl is brought to gleaming birth.
- Her shrines are set in sea and land, her signature in fruit and flower,
And in the tides we see her hand, and in the seasons find her power.
The threefold Lady, Maiden Moon, the Bride, the wise old Mother, moves
Across the living deeps of night, the bright pavilions of the Gods.
- But seek no rest beneath her will, for change and chance to her belong;
The cradle on the arrow’s tip is swaying, and the night is long!
VII. As with a lion’s burning gaze through ever-living willow boughs,
She bids the heavens with earth embrace, life’s wheel with perfect form endows.
VIII. The Moon upon a window bright graces the dwelling from afar:
Ah splendor, if the soul’s own light upon the forehead sets a star!
IX. Yet, mortal, if thy head should rest in sloth upon thy pillowed bed,
Her bow is turned against thy breast; up, haste, before the shaft be sped!
X. But lust she bans not, with its train of changing pleasures fiery sweet—-
If thou wouldst forge thyself a chain, to bind thy head beneath her feet.
XI. See where across the dappled skies quest wide the hounds of Hecate!
The wild goose from their coming flies, the lurking owl cries sobbingly.
XII. But he who gives her homage meet, yet is not bowed in servile fear,
Shall have a staff to guide his feet, and on his paths a lantern clear.
The threefold Lady, Maiden Moon, the Bride, the wise old Mother, moves
Across the living deeps of night, the bright pavilions of the Gods.
XIII. Let strength and skill thy shield afford, let thine own thought thy head bedeck:
Even a bead may turn a sword upraised to strike the wearer’s neck!
XIV. Not at the sculptured gateway pause whose mocking forms eclipse the stars:
The bear has only carven claws, the gate has only shadow bars.
XV. She wears the crescent as a crown, above the mountain ridge to roam,
And radiant she gazes down, leading the victor to his home.
XVI. She measures week and month and year, an age is but a little part,
And like jewel at her ear trembles awhile thy beating heart!
XVII. The Lion’s might is all unfeigned: even his tail-tip bears a tooth:
So say not when the Moon has waned. Her power is gone. ‘Tis there, in truth!
XVIII. Swift, swift and dauntless shall she rise, from all the mesh of darkness freed,
Bearing her sickle through the skies, unconquerable ivory!
XIX. So calls the men to rise beyond the measure of their common state,
From abject Earth to loose their bond, their vision’s worth to vindicate.
The threefold Lady, Maiden Moon, the Bride, the wise old Mother, moves
Across the living deeps of night, the bright pavilions of the Gods.
XX. Behold the great signs magical which gave the Gods their victory
To overcome the demons all, the Nut whose shell has summits three!
XXI. Again behold the peaceful land: the Moon doth bless each growing thing
And Ocean knows her ruling hand, its cargoes safe in homecoming.
XXII. And hail to those upon whose birth she smiles! Their fortune’s early found:
But has their triumph lasting worth? The hollow drum gives joyful sound!
XXIII. But those who seek a hidden gem, who shun no perils on their way,
Those wise ones, the elect of Khem, her power shall aid them as it may.
XXIV. Before their blessed feet she pours divine the bounty of her light;
Their house from discord she assumes, their rest she guards throughout the night.
XXV. Before their blessed feet she flings her store of dreams most wonderful
That they across those gleaming things may pass to Truth invisible.
XXVI. And when the darkness swallows them, as once the Seer of Nineveh,
Their brows receive her diadem, to be reborn to victory.