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The Moon<br />

Personification of <strong>the</strong> Moon as ruler of Cancer <strong>the</strong> crab is shown in this detail from Doge’s<br />

Palace Venice. Reproduced by permission of Fortean Picture Library.<br />

tility, because <strong>the</strong>y protect women and children, and <strong>the</strong> end of life. A quick, painless<br />

death was often attributed to <strong>the</strong> blessing of <strong>the</strong> Three-faced Goddess.<br />

In Indian or Vedic mythology <strong>the</strong> Moon is known as Chandra or Soma. It is<br />

interesting that <strong>the</strong> Vedic sages considered <strong>the</strong> Moon male in gender, but represented<br />

feminine energy. The myth explaining why <strong>the</strong> Moon waxes and wanes may provide a<br />

clue. Chandra was married to Daksa’s 27 daughters. Each night he would spend with a<br />

different wife, equaling a sidereal month. But Chandra had a favorite wife known as<br />

Rohini and he stayed longer with her than with <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs. The o<strong>the</strong>r wives complained<br />

to <strong>the</strong>ir fa<strong>the</strong>r Daksa who cursed Chandra for not treating his daughters more<br />

fairly. Chandra immediately fell ill and started to waste away. When <strong>the</strong> wives saw<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir husband dying <strong>the</strong>y pleaded with <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r to undo <strong>the</strong> curse. It was not possible<br />

to completely reverse <strong>the</strong> curse, but Daksa was able to lessen <strong>the</strong> effect. That is why<br />

<strong>the</strong> Moon waxes and wanes.<br />

The Moon rules <strong>the</strong> zodiac sign of Cancer <strong>the</strong> Crab. The tides of <strong>the</strong> oceans are<br />

controlled by <strong>the</strong> Moon, and <strong>the</strong> tidal zone is <strong>the</strong> natural environment of crabs and<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r crustaceans. This is one reason why <strong>the</strong> Moon represents and governs water in<br />

THE ASTROLOGY BOOK<br />

[461]

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