Silver Rays - Moon in Cancer

“Bright Selene having bathed her lovely body in the waters of Ocean, and donned her far-gleaming raiment, and yoked her strong-necked, shining team, drives on her long-maned horses at full speed, at eventime in the mid-month: then her great orbit is full and then her beams shine brightest as she increases […] Hail, white-armed goddess, bright Selene, mild, bright-tressed queen!” - Homeric Hymn to Selene

You stand on a beach, your feet buried in the wet sand as the Sun slowly sets on a spring day. The air is salty, your body feels relaxed as you watch the waves break on the shore; you lift your head up and suddenly, she appears: pale, translucent, the late-afternoon Moon culminates in the sky in all her glory. Timid and mysterious, the light she borrows from the setting Sun feels ancient, eloquent, as if a thousand secrets were about to spill from her silver rays. You close your eyes and, as the night falls, welcome Selene with a quiet prayer.

In astrology, the Moon is the mother of all things: the Creatrix, the Mediatrix, the Originatrix. The Thema Mundi, the purported chart of the origin of the World, has a Cancer Ascendant — inferring that the origin of all things can be traced back to the Moon. Whatever situation or heavens you wish you examine, you must first assess the condition of the Moon. But why is Selene, goddess with a light not her own, borrowed from the Sun, considered with this much importance? Why should the magician decide to work with her?

Out of the 7 traditional “planets”, the Moon is the closest to us. Archetypally, this means that she brings down the influence of all other planets and things unto us (you will sometimes hear that we are in the “sublunar” realm.) This means that all things we experience, all things that come to pass are necessarily filtered through the light of the Moon. Represented as a bull-horned goddess riding through the night in her silver chariot, Selene brings down the influence of the heavenly spheres unto us. As such, she brings not only her own powers, but those of all other planets — and this is why we must be particularly vigilant when selecting an appropriate election to work with her. Renaissance mage Cornelius Agrippa says that a talisman created under the benefic influence of the Moon makes its wearer “grateful, amiable, pleasant, cheerfull, honored, removing all malice, and ill will. It causeth security in a journey, increase of riches, and health of body, drives away enemies and other evil things from what place thou pleaseth.”

In other words, a Moon talisman makes the wearer happy, well-liked of others, and contributes to good health and fortune. After all, the Moon represents the body: a talisman made under her can therefore be used to keep the body safe (from illness, enchantments and other peril), and to promote healthy bodily functions: good sleep, appetite and easy digestion, physical effort that makes the body stronger, etc. Used in conjunction with other materia benefica, the Moon can enhance and boost certain characteristics (ex: make a Venus talisman even more potent, make visions, dreams and intuitions stronger, etc.). It is therefore in this spirit that I selected the Moon election I’m going to talk about today, and under which the 18th collection from Hélo Astro was made: Silver Rays, the Moon in Cancer collection.

Set to be created on May 2, 2025, Silver Rays hosts a stunning Moon culminating on the Midheaven in her own sign of Cancer, and during her own hour. Waxing (increasing in light) and having just separated from a sextile to the Sun, this Moon makes no hard aspect to any planets and applies to a wide trine to Saturn in Pisces. At the peak of her nurturing capacity, this Moon is grounded by an aspect to Saturn and is therefore supportive of the natives who are otherwise anxious about experiencing a raw, unfiltered Moon — her powers are wide and great, but the basic intentions of the talismanic objects created under this beautiful election are the following:

• To support growth and the increase of joy, happiness and good fortune

• To promote good health and the wellness of basic bodily functions: good sleep, appetite and digestion

• To protect the native against enemies and ill will

• To support the native during travel and other wandering

• To increase intuition and psychic abilities when desired

Made of materials dear to the Moon such as pearls, moonstone and silver, the talismans offered for this collection embody the peak of lunar powers. The basic tenet of this collection is that it is made to make you feel good: embodied, happy with your material circumstances, trusting of life, others and your ability to grow and expand. This collection is for those who wish to savour their (everyday) lives to the fullest: find beauty in a conversation or a meal; wake up energised after a good night’s sleep; notice the little details that makes the world around them beautiful. In other words, this collection is an enhancer! While it may certainly bring you good fortune and make things go your way, it is most powerful in helping you appreciate things around you that make life real, tangible, palpable. These lunar talismans are intended to help you work on your relationship to your body, what you possess and what you can have gratitude for. With the gentle, benevolent spirit of the Moon to help you navigate the path forward, you are sure to see things differently, and perhaps more vibrantly.

If the Moon reflects all things onto us, we also reflect all kinds of things onto her: she acts as a mirror. And mirrors aren’t always a perfect reflection of reality, sometimes leading us into strange, wandering paths. If you suffer from delusion, anxiety or are prone to breaks with reality or other forms of mental afflictions, Moon work isn’t necessarily recommended as it can in some cases increase delusions or encourage a disconnect from reality. While I only work with benefic, angelic spirits and manifestations of the Moon meant to ground and appease, it is important to note that lunar work isn’t suited to everyone — particularly if your Moon is afflicted. If in doubt, I strongly recommend performing divination or contacting me to perform it if you’re prone to the things listed above to determine whether Moon talismanic products are suited for you — and to stay safe if that is the case. Above all, magic is always uncertain, effects are not guaranteed and HéloAstro cannot be held liable for anything resulting from work or engagement with the magical advice we offer or products we sell. Keep this in mind and if you aren’t sure — stay on the safer side!