Do you ever work with the phases of the Moon, or track the lunar cycle? Working with the Goddess Selene could take your spiritual practice to the next level.

Working with any lunar deity can be a really powerful way to connect with the divine feminine and harness the energy of the Moon.

Selene has an especially gentle, compassionate, and easy-to-approach energy that makes this lunar Goddess perfect for beginners on the path.

And if you’re already an experienced Moon maven, then Selene can be a potent ally for you too – she is a multifaceted goddess who has something to offer all who call her name.

Who is Selene, Goddess of the Moon?

Selene is the Greek goddess of the Moon. In ancient Greece she wasn’t just a representation, but the personification of the Moon. 

 The word “Selene” is derived from the Greek word selas, which means “light, brightness, gleam”.

 In ancient Greek mythology, stories, and in art Selene was often depicted as a beautiful woman with a crescent moon on her forehead, riding a silver chariot drawn by two white horses across the night sky.

 It was believed that Selene was responsible for the changing phases of the Moon, and during the full Moon phase, she was at her most powerful.

What is the Goddess Selene’s connection to the Divine Feminine?

As the Greek goddess of the Moon, Selene has always been strongly associated with the divine feminine.

Selene and menstruation

The Moon has long been tied to the feminine mysteries of menstruation, conception, and childbirth. The menstrual cycles of women and the lunar cycle are mirrors of each other. Before modern living with our electrical lighting and pharmaceuticals, this rhythmic alignment was clearer, seeming to represent the cycles of life.

Selene and childbirth

Goddess Selene is sometimes associated with childbirth and motherhood. As a goddess of cycles, she was often petitioned to soothe and ease the pain of labour and help women give birth, completing the cycle of pregnancy.

Selene and water

As a lunar deity, the ancient Greeks believed Selene had the ability to control the tides.

Just as she could tug on the oceans of the world, it was known she affected our inner waters too – the bodily fluids, and also the mysterious, feminine feeling domain of the emotional waters flowing through us all.

Moon goddess Selene, therefore, had (and has) an intimate connection to this particular domain of the feminine.

Selene and the night

Selene is also associated with the night, which is often seen as a time of mystery, intuition, and psychic seeing. These are qualities, practices, and esoteric areas of study that have been traditionally associated with the feminine.

Selene and feminine archetypes

Along with Artemis, goddess of the hunt, and Hecate, crone goddess of the underworld, Selene has come to represent a triptych of archetypal feminine energies.

• Maiden – Artemis – Waxing Crescent Moon
• Mother – Selene – Full Moon
• Crone – Hecate – Waning Crescent Moon

This very neat breakdown of the female archetypes, Moon phases, and deities probably didn’t exist like this back in the Greek epoch. It’s more of a modern interpretation of the triple Goddess and is sometimes attributed to Robert Graves, and his 1984 book “The White Goddess”.

Nonetheless, for many modern pagans, Wiccans, witches, and sacred feminine seekers, Selene plays an important role in approaching the feminine through the triple Goddess.

A Goddess of love: the myth of Selene and Endymion

For many modern worshipers of Selene, she is a potent goddess of love.

This is down to her most famous story: The Myth of Selene and Endymion, which tells of the love between the Moon Goddess Selene and the mortal Endymion.

Endymion was a shepherd, a hunter, or a king, depending on the version of the myth. Selene fell in love with Endymion and visited him every night as he slept.

According to the myth, Selene asked Zeus to grant Endymion everlasting youth and eternal sleep so that he could stay with her forever.

Zeus granted her wish, and the sleeping Endymion stayed forever in a cave on Mount Latmos.

In some versions, Selene bathes Endymion in the river before he falls asleep, while in others, she simply watches him in his eternal sleep.

The story of Selene and Endymion is a rare female pursuit in Greek mythology, with the divine Selene being the one who actively pursues Endymion.

The Myth of Selene and Endymion has been interpreted in many different ways over the years. Some see it as a representation of the relationship between the Moon and the earth, whilst many others see it as a metaphor for the power of love.

Did the Goddess Selene have other relationships?

Selene’s relationship with Zeus, the king of the gods, is also noteworthy. According to some accounts, Selene and Zeus had a romantic relationship that produced several children.

However, this relationship was not without its challenges. Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and the Moon, was also said to be in love with Endymion and jealous of Selene’s relationship with Zeus.

In addition to her relationships with mortals and immortals, Selene was also associated with the god Pan, the God of the wilderness, who was said to have fallen in love with her. This relationship was not romantic, but rather based on mutual respect and admiration.  

Selene’s symbols, associations, and correspondences

Selene is often depicted as a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair and a serene expression. The lunar goddess can often be found in paintings, sculptures, and artwork riding a silver chariot pulled by white horses.

In ancient times, oxen and bulls were often sacrificed to Selene as a way to honor her. While this practice is no longer common, you may want to incorporate images of oxen or bulls into your altar or rituals as a way to pay homage to Selene’s ancient traditions.

She’s a dynamic deity, ever moving and manifesting through different signs, symbols, and associations.

Whether you choose to build an altar to Selene (see below), practice a love ritual, or even try a little manifestation magic, you can supercharge your efforts using the corresponding ingredients.

Here are the symbols, herbs, plants, colors, and a whole lot more correspondences for the Goddess Selene…

Elements

• Water
• Air

Symbols

• Crescent Moon
• Full Moon
• Chariot
• Night sky
• Sea
• Stars

 Plants

• Moonflower
• Jasmine
• Lavender
• white roses
• lily of the valley
• gardenias
• Anything white or night-blooming

Incense

• Jasmine
• Frankincense
• Sandalwood
• Myrrh

Herbs

• Lavender
• bay leaves
• chamomile
• mint
• coriander
• thyme

Animals

• White horses
• Oxen, bulls
• Owl

Food

• Milk
• White wine
• White foods
• Mint
• Foods with mint, like mint chocolate or ice cream
• a type of cake called βοῦς (boûs, “ox”) decorated with horns to represent the full Moon

Crystals

• Moonstone
• Selenite

Colors

• Silver
• White

Also read: What’s the Symbolism, Meaning and Spiritual Significance of the Moon?

How to work with the Goddess Selene

Working with Selene can help you connect with the cycles of the Moon and tap deeply into its energy, in ways that are impossible to describe unless you do it!

Working with Selene can also help you tap into your own feminine energy and power, and importantly, heal any wounded feminine qualities and traits too.

Remember to approach Selene with respect and reverence, and always be mindful of the sacred and divine quality of the energy you’re working with.

With time and practice, you’ll develop a deep and authentic connection with Selene. At first, it may feel like you are going through the motions, and even “making it up”. That’s okay! That’s where most of us must begin. In time, your relationship will grow, and the contact you have with her grace, wisdom, and power will change your life.

Here are 20 of the BEST ways to work with the Goddess Selene…

1. Meditate with Selene under the light of the full Moon

It’s believed that Selene is at her most powerful under the full Moon phase. One of the very best ways to connect to her, and call on her power is to sit under the Full Moon and meditate.

Set an intention to call her in.

Ask her to send you a message, give you a teaching, or answer a question you may have. Then sit in full Moon meditation and receive.

2. Keep a Moon journal

As the Greek lunar deity and personification of the Moon, the Goddess Selene moves through the cycles of the Moon, offering her wisdom and presence through the changing phases.

Get yourself a specific journal and use it to track the moon’s phases and how they affect you. Consider your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

… But don’t overwhelm yourself!

It’s okay to focus on one aspect of your well-being per cycle – for example, you may want to track the days of your menstrual cycle in relation to the lunar cycle.

Or perhaps you’re embarking on a creative project? You could think about tracking your creative energy levels, and how inspired you feel to create, during the the whole Moon cycle.

3. Track your sacred blood cycle

One area where Selene’s influence is particularly strong is in the cycles of women’s bodies.

The menstrual cycle is intimately tied to the phases of the moon, so working with the rhythm of menstruation and the blood mysteries is a great way to work with Selene.

By paying attention to your own cycle and aligning it with the phases of the Moon, you can tap into the power of Selene and use it to enhance your fertility, ease menstrual pain, and promote overall reproductive health.

4. Create a Moon altar

To work effectively with a goddess like Selene, setting up an altar or a dedicated space on your existing altar can be highly beneficial. It will give you a focal point for your work, and serve as a liminal space for her to enter in.

Include a representation of Selene, such as a painting or photo of the Moon, a small statue of the lunar goddess, or a piece of jewelry or silverwork.

Add a few pieces of moonstone or selenite, some white flowers, and other objects or decorations in silver or white.

You could even create a Moon-inspired altar cloth or tapestry, with images or symbols that represent Selene and her energy.

Once you’ve set up your altar space, ritually dedicate it to Selene and let her know that it was built in her honour. It’s also important to regularly cleanse your altar, especially during the Full Moon.

Altars are living things, so you must treat yours with reverence. Don’t forget about it, and let it get tired. The state that it’s in, is a symbol for your relationship with the Goddess.

5. Make offerings to Selene

When working with any god or goddess, it’s really important to leave offerings.

Give something.

Be generous, and be specific.

Use the list of associations above, and make relevant offerings to Selene – these are specific things that resonate with her frequency, things that carry the same magic and medicine as she does.

Leave offerings on your altar at the full Moon. Or if you live near the sea, you could offer them into the water (biodegradable offerings only, of course!)

6. Invoke Selene during rituals or spells (use chanting, invocation, and prayer)

If you have a regular magical practice, consider invoking the Goddess to aid in your spell work, especially work you’re doing that involves intuition, receiving guidance, dreamwork, or lunar manifestation.

Chanting, invocation, and prayer are all powerful ways to connect with Selene. You can recite her name or chant her hymns. Prayer can be a simple yet powerful way to connect with Selene and express your gratitude for her guidance and support.

7. Perform a moonlit ritual

Just like invoking the Goddess Selene to supercharge your spell work, performing ritual under the light of the Moon is another powerful way to work with this lunar deity. Whether or not you intentionally call her in, simply bathing your ritual work in lunar light will infuse it with her frequency.

Using moonstone or selenite crystals in your ritual work will also serve to connect to the energy of Selene, and amplify the intention for your work.

8. Use Moon magic to manifest your desires

One of the most popular ways to work with the Moon Goddess Selene is through Moon magic.

At its simplest, this means working your magic in alignment with the phases of the Moon.

Begin by setting intentions during the new Moon, and working to build and cultivate them during the waxing Moon phases.

Then at the Full Moon, give gratitude for what has manifested. During the waning Moon phases, work on releasing whatever blocks arose, and what no longer serves you.

Also read: How the Moon Phases Affect Your Magic

9. Make Moon water

The act of making Moon water can be both an act of devotion to the lunar Goddess, AND a way to harness her power and energy in a really practical, tangible way.

To make Moon water, you can simply a jar of water outside under the light of the full Moon, allowing it to infuse with the energy of the Moon overnight.

Then the infused water can be used for cleansing or ritual purposes.

10. Practice Moon gazing

Similar to a Moon meditation, Moon gazing is also a meditative practice. It involves sitting outside and allowing your eyes to gently gaze at the Moon. In this way, her light and energy can fill you with peace, tranquility, and magnetism.

11. Take a ritual Moon bath

Connect with lunar Goddess Selene by having a go at this beautiful, relaxing ritual. It involves soaking in a tub filled with herbs and essential oils, under the Full Moon… Yum!

Allow Selene’s energy to cleanse and rejuvenate you.

12. Create Moon-inspired visual artworks

Like all cycles, the Moon is related to the cycles of creativity.

Use art and creativity to express your desires, your dreams, your longings, and your gratitude to Selene, for her guidance and wisdom.

Make a drawing, painting, print, or etching.

This could be an especially good practice for you, if you’ve never thought of yourself as creative, or you feel resistance to being creative.

Set aside an hour, or perhaps incorporate it into a monthly ritual, to simply experiment. Try to frame it as a devotional act.

13. Write a poem or song in honor of Selene

Maybe words are more your thing?

Another kind of offering, express your love and devotion through poetry or singing. If you’re feeling brave, post it on your social media.

14. Take a Moonlit medicine walk or hike

A sacred medicine walk is a really beautiful way to work with any Goddess of God. Yet by incorporating the light of the Moon, it enters another dimension. It’s also really fun!

Here’s how to do it –

• As you step out of the door/gateway, ask a question. Do this silently, inside your own head, OR say it out loud.
• As you walk into nature (even a cityscape is full of nature if you look) what do you notice? It could be the way the weeds grow through a crack in the pavement, or the sound made as the wind blows through the leaves of a birch tree.
• Take your time, allow this new way of perceiving to develop.

What you notice is a metaphor, it is Mother Nature responding to your question.

• As you walk, don’t try to “figure it out”. Simply notice, let the details settle into your body.
• When you return, write down what you experienced and any associations, memories or thoughts that rose up as you walked.
• Be sure to thank the Goddess Selene for her inspiration and guidance on your path.

15. Practice dreamwork

There are many, many forms of dreamwork, from intentional and lucid dreaming, to astral projection.

To work with Selene through your dreams, you can simply set an intention before you fall asleep, to seek guidance from Selene, or have her answer a question.

Upon waking, be sure to have a notebook and pen close by so you can write down the contents of your dream.

Remember that the information in dreams comes through metaphor. Don’t take your dream literally, and don’t try to “figure it out” (much like with your medicine walk). Simply allow any associations to form, symbols to be revealed, and meaning to rise.

16. Practice divination or tarot readings under the light of the Moon

If you already read cards or do other forms of divination, practicing under the light on the Moon will add another dimension to your craft.

Before you begin, set an intention to call upon Selene’s guidance and wisdom. And as you work, allow your cards or sacred objects to soak up the moonlight.

17. Host a Moon-themed dinner party

The Full Moon is a celebratory time, so why not host a Moon party with your friends and fellow Moon mavens?!

Serve food and drinks that are associated with Selene and the Moon (see the chart above for some ideas). Bake lunar-shaped desserts, and serve white Russian cocktails! Let your hair down – worshiping the Goddess needn’t be a serious affair!

18. Host a Moon circle or women’s circle

Selene has long been a symbol of feminine power and sisterhood. Closely connected to the women’s mysteries of menstruation, pregnancy, intuition, divination, and the Goddess, she will hold, guide and protect and women’s circles you hold.

At the Full Moon, gather together with other like-minded individuals to honor Selene and share your experiences of womanhood.

(Maybe leave the milk cocktails and serve herbal tea at this one!)

19. Create a Moon-inspired playlist

Sound is a powerful tool. Invoke the Moon Goddess with songs that remind you of her energy and help you connect with her wisdom.

20. Read books or articles about Selene and her mythology

Deepening your understanding of her stories, energy, and symbolism by familiarising yourself with how she appears in ancient Greek texts and myths.

Read her poems in Hesiod’s Theogony. Look up the Homeric Hymn to Selene. Read how other authors have interpreted her tales, and then read some more. Go and look at paintings, sculptures and art in museums or online.

As well as cognitive understanding, try to soak up the information about her through your body – what feels true to you? What doesn’t?

Whether you are drawn to Selene as a lunar deity, a chthonic goddess, or simply as a powerful force of transformation, working with her can help you unlock your full potential as a witch and a woman.

By incorporating Selene into your life, you can tap into the power of the Moon and harness its energy to manifest your desires and transform your life.