Oracle: Goddess Selene

Selene, Zeus, and Endymion

Myth

There are many goddesses connected to the moon in Greek mythology, but Selene is distinct in that she’s described as actually being the moon herself. In ancient depictions, she rides across the night sky on a pair of winged horses, the lunar crescent shining on her head.

Selene has but one great love in her life: the beautiful shepherd boy Endymion. Endymion is so beloved of the goddess that when Zeus gives him the option of growing old and dying or remaining immortal and young with Selene but forever asleep, he chooses the latter. Maybe he wasn’t much of a talker anyway? His sleeping body is placed in a cave in Mount Latmos, where the moon goddess visits him nightly.

There’s a really interesting bit in the Greek epic Argonautica, in which Selene sees the witch Medea fawning over her love Jason and kind of snickers to herself. Apparently, Medea had used her powers dozens of times to cover up the moon so she could practice her witchcraft at night in secret, inadvertently keeping Selene from visiting Endymion. But now Selene sees that Medea is as lovesick as herself and cautions her:

“Well, go your own way; but clever as you are, steel yourself now to face a life of sighs and misery.”

It really doesn’t sound like the women in Greek myths can catch a break when it comes to love.

Message for August 29, 2025

Selene is a beautiful, powerful, and important goddess who seems to have lost herself in an unnecessary and unhealthy relationship, based solely on looks and the memory of old happiness. She may be a reminder that dwelling on the past only leads to bitterness and misery. Everything passes, even feelings of happiness, allow feelings and relationships to come and go and remain focused on what’s here in the present.

Blessings, love, and light. Always.