Understanding the Hidden Mysteries of the Orphic Hymn to the Moon, Pt 1
This Commentary on the Hymn is where all the good, juicy esoteric details are found! It's long, but it's oh-so-good, and I hope to have an audio version soon.
How to Read this Commentary
This is structured so it can be read alongside my translation of the Hymn to Selene—it starts at the very beginning, with notes on the type of incense recommended and finishes (in Part 2, which I’ll release later this week) with the final stanza of the poem.
As you’ll see, there is SO MUCH hidden content in this Hymn that illuminates (pun intended) the different faces of the Moon. From astrology to cosmology to the hidden depths of the Ancient Mysteries—each time I re-read this in the Greek I find new meanings to uncover and contemplate.
A practical note: I’ve labeled each section so it’s easy to match them to the particular lines in the English translation of the Hymn. (Academic commentaries usually are linked either to footnote numbers or line numbers from the Greek edition, but that doesn’t seem practical in this online substack format.)
That’s it. Read away! Please lmk in the comments how this resonates for you, because it represents literally hundreds of hours of work on my part, and it’s helpful to know how it’s impacting you irl—in your thinking, relationship to the Moon, or your devotional practice.
I can’t wait for you to discover the hidden depths of this beautiful Hymn to Selene!