Although the Moon appears in the east every day and we can see it rise over the course of the hours, it still generates the deepest feelings in those who look up to observe it. But there are some people who feel more strongly attracted to it and for whom everyday life has no effect of boredom. Selenophilia is a mental state in which the connection with the Moon becomes even more significant and contemplation of the orb becomes an inexplicable experience.
Selenophilia finds its etymology in the Greek words Selene, which in Greek culture was the name of the titan daughter of Hyperion and Thea, who personified the Moon; and philia, which refers to brotherly love. Together they make up the term selenophilia which is used to describe a fascination with the Moon. Although it could be confused with a concept derived from paraphilic behaviors, it is actually more of a mental experience that lies between the poetic and the sublime, than a mental disorder of another order.
The attraction felt by people who call themselves under this concept is based on artistic and intellectual aesthetics, even on the curiosity generated by observing the celestial vault and encountering an orb illuminated by solar rays, which reveals a cosmic story. through its valleys, oceans and seas.
An exercise in self-reflection
But the love for the Moon is not only situated in the scientific curiosities that can be revealed through its contemplation, but also in the mystical questions it represents. Since ancient times, the lunar phases have been associated with the rhythms of the Earth, the germination of seeds and the harvest are highly linked to the behavior of the Moon. And not only that, the high tides and the circadian cycles of living beings are governed by it, it would not be strange if it also had an impact on the emotional cycles of humans.
Whether you want to find the explanations for these phenomena in the interactions of the gravitational fields between the Moon and the Earth, or in mystical reasons, the truth is that they are eternally connected. Perhaps this is why the Moon captivates those who experience selenophilia to the point of fascination, since it breaks the mental structure by placing itself before the existence of an object that has been there since time immemorial and that will remain there once we leave this plane.
In part, living selenophilia is an exercise in self-reflection that makes us aware of the ephemerality of life, but at the same time, of how eternal existence can be when being part of this Universe. The Moon is our closest window to the unknown that lies out there and therefore, it comes to fascinate us to the degree of love understood as philos, which has inspired thousands of artists throughout time.