Lilith and the Moon

by Margi B.
2004-2005

from LilithGate Website

Lilith’s connection with the Moon is found mostly in the Zohar, which contributed much to expand her myths. Further references to Lilith being associated with heavenly bodies can be found in my other essay concerning astrology.

It is no surprise that Lilith is associated with the Moon, as the Moon seems to be a universal representation of the Feminine in spirituality. Lilith, though, seems more associated with a specific phases of the moon; which expresses mythical quality about the influence of the Lunar cycle.

 

Lilith’s specific influence seems to govern the waxing and waning phases.

Quoting Zohar 1:19b -

"And she roams in the world, and finds children liable to punishment, and caresses them, and kills them. And all this is because of the diminishing of the moon which reduced its light.... When Cain was born, she could not attach herself to him. But later she approached him and bore spirits and winged demons. For 130 years Adam had intercourse with female spirits, until Naamah came. Because of her beauty the sons of God went astray after her, ’Ussa and ’Azael, and she bore from them, and from her spread evil. spirits and demons in the world....

(Patai81:454f)

And she goes and roams the world at night, and makes sport with men and causes them to emit seed. And wherever men are found sleeping alone in a house, they [these spirits] descend upon them and get hold of them and adhere to them and take desire from them and bear from them. And they also afflict them with disease, and the men do not know it. And all this is because of the diminishing of the moon.

(Patai81:461) "

Lilith’s more sexual and predatory aspects seem to be associated with the waxing phase of the Moon:

Quoting Zohar 3:76b-77a -

"At times it happens that Naamah goes forth into the world to become hot from the sons of man, and a man finds himself in a connection of lust with her, and he awakens from his sleep and takes hold of his wife and lies with her. And this desire comes from that lust which he had in his dream.

 

Then the child that she begets comes from the side of Naamah, for the man was driven by his lust for her. And when Lilith comes and sees that child, she knows what happened, and she ties herself to him and brings him up like all those other sons of Naamah. And she is with him many times, but does not kill him.

 

This is the man who becomes blemished on every New Moon, for she never gives him up. For month after month, when the moon becomes renewed in the world Lilith comes forth and visits all those whom she brings up, and makes sport with them, and therefore that person is blemished at that time.

(Patai81:457f)"

Quoting Zohar 2:267b -

"And that spirit which is called Asirta becomes stirred up...and goes to the female who is beneath all females. And she is Lilith the mother of demons. And a man may become stirred up by that evil spirit called Asirta, which attaches himself to that man and ties himself to him permanently. And on every New Moon that spirit of evil appearance becomes stirred up by Lilith, and at time that man suffers harm from the spirit, and falls to the ground and cannot get up, or even dies.

(Patai81:462)"

Quoting Bacharach, ’Emeq haMelekh, 84b, 84c, 84d -

"And this is the secret of the children laughing in their sleep when they are small: it is from Lilith who plays with them. And I heard that when a small child laughs during the Sabbath night or the night of the New Moon, it is because Lilith is playing with him, and it is well that his father or mother or anyone who sees him laugh should tap his nose with his finger and say: "Go from here, you accursed one, for you have no resting place here!" Let him say this three times, and each time he recites this incantation let him tap the child’s nose. "

 http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sumer_anunnaki/esp_sumer_annunaki15b.htm#Lilith%20and%20the%20Moon