Excerpt
Chapter 1: Dreaming of the Moon
Ancient myths about the Moon
In ancient China, people believed in a goddess named Chang’e who lived on the Moon. According to the story, she once lived on Earth with her husband, Hou Yi, a hero known for shooting down nine extra suns that were scorching the land. One day, Hou Yi received a special potion that would grant immortality. However, Chang’e ended up drinking the potion herself, and instead of staying on Earth, she floated up, up, up until she reached the Moon. There, she became the Moon Goddess. When Chinese people see the full Moon today, they sometimes imagine Chang’e still up there, watching over them. There’s even a festival every year called the Mid-Autumn Festival, where people gather to celebrate the Moon, and, if they’re lucky, they catch a glimpse of Chang’e’s shadow on its surface.
In many Native American tribes, the Moon was seen as a protector. Some tribes believed that it was the older brother of the Sun, while others thought of it as a gentle, guiding light in the darkness. For the Inuit people in the Arctic, the Moon was represented by a figure named Anningan. According to Inuit stories, Anningan was constantly chasing his sister, Malina, the Sun, across the sky. This chase is why the Moon seems to appear and disappear throughout the month. It’s a reminder of Anningan’s eternal pursuit, always appearing, getting closer, then fading away again.
In ancient Greece, the Moon was personified by a beautiful goddess named Selene. Selene was often depicted riding a chariot pulled by white horses, her soft light casting a glow over the Earth as she traveled across the night sky. Her brother, Helios, was the Sun, and her job was to bring light to the world during the dark hours. The Greeks saw Selene as powerful yet gentle, watching over the world from her high perch. They believed that when she fell in love with a mortal man, Endymion, she used her powers to grant him eternal sleep so she could visit him whenever she wished, keeping him forever young.
The ancient Egyptians had their own take on the Moon. To them, the Moon was associated with Thoth, the god of wisdom, writing, and knowledge. Thoth was a key figure in Egyptian mythology, and they believed he played an important role in keeping order in the universe. They saw the Moon’s different phases as symbols of Thoth’s constant work to bring balance to life and death. Egyptians noticed how the Moon changed from full to crescent and back to full again, and they linked these changes with their own beliefs about rebirth and the afterlife. The phases of the Moon were a reminder that life was a cycle, always moving and changing.
In South America, the ancient Inca civilization held the Moon in high regard as well. The Moon was seen as the goddess Mama Quilla, who was said to be the wife of Inti, the Sun god. Mama Quilla was a protector of women and children, and her light was considered especially important in guiding people at night. The Inca believed that lunar eclipses happened when a great snake or mountain lion attacked the Moon. During an eclipse, they would try to scare away the creature by making as much noise as possible, banging drums, shouting, and even setting off small explosions. It was their way of protecting Mama Quilla and helping her return to her full, bright self.
Each of these stories gave people a way to understand what they saw in the night sky, long before they could know the scientific explanations we have today. It’s amazing to think that people all over the world looked up at the same Moon and came up with different ideas about what it was and who might live there. These stories weren’t just fun to tell; they connected people to something bigger than themselves. The Moon became a symbol of mystery, power, and sometimes even protection.
What’s even more fascinating is that these stories helped ancient people keep track of time. The Moon’s phases — the way it changes shape in the sky from full to new and back again — became a kind of clock. People used these phases to mark the passing of days and months. Some cultures even based their entire calendars on the Moon. The idea of “months” actually comes from the Moon’s cycle! Without realizing it, these early civilizations were already starting to explore the Moon, in a way, by watching how it changed over time.
Just imagine being a child in one of those ancient cultures, listening to stories about the Moon from your parents or grandparents. They might have pointed out the dark spots on the Moon, called maria (which we now know are plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions), and told you they were shadows of creatures or goddesses living there. You might have looked up in wonder, picturing a whole world hidden on the Moon’s surface, just waiting to be discovered.
Today, we know that there aren’t gods or goddesses on the Moon, and we understand why it changes shape in the sky. But these stories still carry a special kind of magic. They show us how creative humans can be and how we’ve always been curious about the universe. The Moon has been a canvas for our imaginations for centuries, inspiring myths, legends, and dreams of exploration. And while our understanding of the Moon has grown, the mystery that first captured those ancient storytellers still lingers, inviting us to look up and wonder.
Ancient myths about the Moon
In ancient China, people believed in a goddess named Chang’e who lived on the Moon. According to the story, she once lived on Earth with her husband, Hou Yi, a hero known for shooting down nine extra suns that were scorching the land. One day, Hou Yi received a special potion that would grant immortality. However, Chang’e ended up drinking the potion herself, and instead of staying on Earth, she floated up, up, up until she reached the Moon. There, she became the Moon Goddess. When Chinese people see the full Moon today, they sometimes imagine Chang’e still up there, watching over them. There’s even a festival every year called the Mid-Autumn Festival, where people gather to celebrate the Moon, and, if they’re lucky, they catch a glimpse of Chang’e’s shadow on its surface.
In many Native American tribes, the Moon was seen as a protector. Some tribes believed that it was the older brother of the Sun, while others thought of it as a gentle, guiding light in the darkness. For the Inuit people in the Arctic, the Moon was represented by a figure named Anningan. According to Inuit stories, Anningan was constantly chasing his sister, Malina, the Sun, across the sky. This chase is why the Moon seems to appear and disappear throughout the month. It’s a reminder of Anningan’s eternal pursuit, always appearing, getting closer, then fading away again.
In ancient Greece, the Moon was personified by a beautiful goddess named Selene. Selene was often depicted riding a chariot pulled by white horses, her soft light casting a glow over the Earth as she traveled across the night sky. Her brother, Helios, was the Sun, and her job was to bring light to the world during the dark hours. The Greeks saw Selene as powerful yet gentle, watching over the world from her high perch. They believed that when she fell in love with a mortal man, Endymion, she used her powers to grant him eternal sleep so she could visit him whenever she wished, keeping him forever young.
The ancient Egyptians had their own take on the Moon. To them, the Moon was associated with Thoth, the god of wisdom, writing, and knowledge. Thoth was a key figure in Egyptian mythology, and they believed he played an important role in keeping order in the universe. They saw the Moon’s different phases as symbols of Thoth’s constant work to bring balance to life and death. Egyptians noticed how the Moon changed from full to crescent and back to full again, and they linked these changes with their own beliefs about rebirth and the afterlife. The phases of the Moon were a reminder that life was a cycle, always moving and changing.
In South America, the ancient Inca civilization held the Moon in high regard as well. The Moon was seen as the goddess Mama Quilla, who was said to be the wife of Inti, the Sun god. Mama Quilla was a protector of women and children, and her light was considered especially important in guiding people at night. The Inca believed that lunar eclipses happened when a great snake or mountain lion attacked the Moon. During an eclipse, they would try to scare away the creature by making as much noise as possible, banging drums, shouting, and even setting off small explosions. It was their way of protecting Mama Quilla and helping her return to her full, bright self.
Each of these stories gave people a way to understand what they saw in the night sky, long before they could know the scientific explanations we have today. It’s amazing to think that people all over the world looked up at the same Moon and came up with different ideas about what it was and who might live there. These stories weren’t just fun to tell; they connected people to something bigger than themselves. The Moon became a symbol of mystery, power, and sometimes even protection.
What’s even more fascinating is that these stories helped ancient people keep track of time. The Moon’s phases — the way it changes shape in the sky from full to new and back again — became a kind of clock. People used these phases to mark the passing of days and months. Some cultures even based their entire calendars on the Moon. The idea of “months” actually comes from the Moon’s cycle! Without realizing it, these early civilizations were already starting to explore the Moon, in a way, by watching how it changed over time.
Just imagine being a child in one of those ancient cultures, listening to stories about the Moon from your parents or grandparents. They might have pointed out the dark spots on the Moon, called maria (which we now know are plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions), and told you they were shadows of creatures or goddesses living there. You might have looked up in wonder, picturing a whole world hidden on the Moon’s surface, just waiting to be discovered.
Today, we know that there aren’t gods or goddesses on the Moon, and we understand why it changes shape in the sky. But these stories still carry a special kind of magic. They show us how creative humans can be and how we’ve always been curious about the universe. The Moon has been a canvas for our imaginations for centuries, inspiring myths, legends, and dreams of exploration. And while our understanding of the Moon has grown, the mystery that first captured those ancient storytellers still lingers, inviting us to look up and wonder.