Woman's Mysteries by Esther Harding

Author:Esther Harding
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala

1 M. E. Harding, The Way of All Women (New York, 1933).

2 Harding, op. cit., “The Ghostly Lover”.

10

PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES OF THE MOON

The religious practices observed in the service of the moon deity range all the way from magical customs of primitive and savage people to elaborate rituals, carried out with all the dignity and solemnity that antique civilizations could muster. Obviously these religious practices cannot all be dealt with here. We must content ourselves with considering a few of the outstanding rites which seem to have particular significance for the present investigation.

We have already spoken of the rituals which are observed in certain tribes at the first appearance of the new moon, where all the people or in some cases selected individuals, cry to the king, moonman on earth, “Your life has been renewed.” Others, as the Hottentots do, go out at the new moon and at the full moon and throw clay balls into the air as rain charms.

The persons who are entrusted with these services can hardly be called priests or priestesses but in other tribes, rather more advanced, certain women are definitely set apart as priestesses of the moon. It is a significant fact that everywhere the moon is served by women, although as we shall see later, men also played a part in her service but in a very different capacity. These women have charge of the magical practices intended to foster the fertilizing power of the moon. The most important of these functions are the care of the water supply and the tending of a sacred flame, or sacred fire representing the light of the moon, which must not be allowed to die. In addition, in many places these priestesses receive the fertilizing energy of the deity in their own persons, as women, a function which is performed for the benefit of the whole tribe.

The making of rain and the magical control of the weather are perhaps the most important functions of the magician of primitive tribes. This function is closely related to the moon and is almost invariably in the hands of women. Even where a man, the chief, or the man magician, is officially the rain maker, further inquiry usually reveals the fact that he holds his office by virtue of his relation or marriage to a woman who is the real medium of the magic power. For instance, in Africa rain making is generally the function of a sacred king, a moonman, but his powers are usually dependent on the help of certain women, who gather the necessary herbs or pour the water used as a charm, or clean out the springs or water holes as part of the ritual. In many tribes, however, rain making is carried out entirely by the women and these ceremonies must not even be seen by a male. The women taking part in the rites are usually naked. They visit the water springs and clean them out, then draw fresh water and throw it over themselves.

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