What is the Triple Moon and Who is the Goddess Hecate?

With the present popularity of moon phases, it is easy to miss the significance and history of these symbols. The Triple moon goddess sign, which consists of a waxing crescent, full moon, and waning crescent, is frequently tossed into the mix of popular moon images, but it has deeper origins and a more complex meaning than you might assume.

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A Triple Moon Yule Calendar from Wiccan Neopaganism

 

What Is A Triple Moon?

The Triple Moon has traditionally been connected with the Divine Feminine, the Goddess, Priestesses, and Witches in Pagan and Wiccan traditions. The Triple Goddess or Triple Moon Goddess is another name for the Triple Moon.

Let’s go further into the Triple Moon symbol meaning as I explain what this strong feminine sign represents and how you may use it in your sacred practice.

 

Calm and
Unfettered in her
Natural state
Tonight.

Credit: EmpressRachyMe at AllPoetry.com

 

What Does The Triple Goddess Symbol represent?

If you’ve been wondering what it’s for, I’ll start there. I’ll explain the significance of this emblem as well as its rich, though somewhat contentious, history. The maiden, mother, and crone are the most commonly attributed meanings to the Triple Goddess emblem. Each lunar phase corresponds to a stage in a woman’s life.

Two crescent moons surround a full moon in the triple moon sign, also known as the triple moon goddess Hecate symbol. A waxing moon is on the left, a full moon is in the center, and a waning moon is on the right. The sign depicts the shifting phases of the moon, which correlate to the stages of femininity. It can also represent the never-ending cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth.

 

  • The Maiden is symbolized by the new moon. The maiden represents purity, freshness, creativity, joy, innocence, and fresh starts. The maiden urges you to go deeper into your spirituality, sensuality, and creativity.

 

  • The Full Moon represents the Mother. Love, fertility, sustenance, responsibility, patience, gratitude, power, and self-care are all embodied by the mother. The mother urges you to learn how to give and receive love.

 

  • The Crone is represented by the declining moon. The crone represents completion, wisdom, death, acceptance, and culmination. The crone asks you to recognize that there is no birth without death. Honoring and connecting with the mother, maiden, and crone is not the only method to honor and connect with this symbol.

 

Maiden, Mother, Crone

Her many phases, many names
Triple Goddess
Maiden, Mother, Crone

Daughter, Sister, Friend,
Lover, Mother, Teacher,
A part of us all

At once young and old
She is here
Maiden, Mother, Crone

Ever-young and fresh as dew
Innocent girl beginning life
Young and full of promise
She is here
Maiden, Mother, Crone

Bountiful mother giving her love
Nurturing all in her arms
Ripe and full of nourishment
She is here
Maiden, Mother, Crone

Old woman watching in the night
Knowing secrets of all souls
Old and full of experience
She is here
Maiden, Mother, Crone

One is Three
Three are One
Maiden, Mother, Crone

Call to Her, listen too
She is here
Maiden, Mother, Crone

Credit: Julie Carriker at sharedwords.net

 

History of Triple Goddess

The current Wiccan movement is oriented on Goddess worship, as opposed to the male patriarchal ideas of God that have been prominent in Christianity.

Wicca is generally traced back to Gerald B. Gardner’s (1884-1964) writings and organizational activity, which created a new polytheistic religion based on the worship of the Goddess, the most prominent deity, generally understood as either a young maiden or the Mother, and her consort, the horned God. These images dominated the movement and its early theorists, the majority of whom were males. They endorsed Witchcraft as a polytheistic fertility religion with an underlying exaltation of sexuality.

Within the movement, a belief spectrum arose that at one extreme maintained the Gardnerian emphasis on the God and Goddess (albeit the God has a slightly lesser position) and at the other established a sole concentration on the Goddess. The Goddess satisfies those aspects of life that have traditionally been deemed feminine, while also allowing women to assume conventional male tasks.

 

  • The Triple moon goddess Hecate was sculpted as three Goddesses in one in the fifth century BCE.
  • From this period until the 2nd century CE, literature referencing triads of Goddesses and different stages of life may be discovered, albeit none specifically relating them to the moon. There is mention of Demeter, Persephone, and Hecate. Writings from some of these texts can be found in Halstead’s essay on “Beyond Female Role Models: The Triple Goddess as Nature”.
  • Demeter was connected with the moon and two separate phases in the third century CE (new and full).
  • In a work by Servius from the fourth century CE, a complete link is drawn between the moon and the Triple Goddess.
triple-moon-goddess-hecate-antique-sculpture
The Triple Moon Goddess Hecate Ancient Marble Sculpture

When Did the Triple Goddess Symbol First Appear?

The philosopher Porphyry discusses the three sides of Diana (Diana as Huntress, Diana as the Moon, and Diana of the Underworld) as the three phases of the moon for the first time in the third century AD, marking the first time that this relationship was formed.

The name Triple moon goddess Hecate was popularized in the mid-twentieth century by poet Robert Graves, who claimed this triplicity to be Maiden, Mother, and Crone in his book The White Goddess (PDF here). This work gave rise to the current concept of the Triple Goddess.

 

Why Should You Wear or Use This Symbol?

Wearing the triple moon necklace design throughout the day may serve as a strong reminder of your connection to the divine feminine and all that it represents. I appreciate wearing the emblem because it represents the never-ending cycle of life, birth, death, and rebirth.

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This beautiful and simple Triple Moon Design is from Juniper Bay Metals

Using the symbol on your altar or in a holy area might assist in attracting the same energy.

 

Design Of A Triple Moon Necklace

The triple moon necklace design is a popular jewelry pattern that is frequently made into pendants, rings, and charms. It is sometimes set with a moonstone to reinforce its connection to the moon. The moonstone is thought to boost the magical abilities of individuals who believe in the power of this symbol.

triple-moon-necklace-design-druidcraft
An exotic triple moon necklace design from DruidCraft Jewelry

You don’t have to be a Wiccan or Neopagan to appreciate the triple moon emblem. It is frequently worn as a symbol of the divine feminine or as a reminder of the life cycle.

triple-moon-necklace-design-celticcrystaldesign
We found this beautiful triple moon necklace at Celtic Crystal Design Jewelry

Wrapping Up: The Triple Goddess, sometimes known simply as the Triple Moon, is an old emblem that has recently gained a resurgence in popularity. Check to visit our linked articles on triple goddess symbols, meaning, and tattoo ideas to discover more about related symbols. Thanks for reading. 

 

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