For the past week, it's felt as if the whole world stopped to watch the astronauts on the Artemis II mission complete a lunar flyby, capturing photos of the far side of the Moon for the first time ever. While all of us were so invested that it was making everyone emotional, there was another group that maybe felt it more: lunar witches, aka those who have an emotional and spiritual connection to the Moon.

While some witches see their practice as separate from the scientific study of space, for others, the two fields exist alongside and even inform each other. For these witches, the Moon mission isn't just scientifically interesting, but spiritually and symbolically important, too.

"To me, the moon is not just an object; it has its own spirit, its own presence, its own energy,” says Lacey Burbage, founder of the witchy lifestyle band Naturally Modern Witch. “At the same time, it is a rhythm that I live inside of. It is a timing system, an emotional mirror, and a practical tool all at once. Seeing new images of the Moon, especially perspectives we do not usually see, makes it feel real in a different way."

A Relationship with the Moon

In some witchcraft practices as well as astrology, the Moon has a lot of significance. It's linked to emotions, energy, and witchcraft itself, and its phases provide a guideline for living your life: New Moons symbolize, well, newness, while Full Moons represent completion. For some, seeing a new side of the Moon can even be like seeing the face of a loved one from a new perspective.

"I’ve had a relationship with the Moon for as long as I can remember. When I look up and see her—I’ve always referred to our Moon as a “her”—I feel less alone and protected by her," says content creator Jordan Dwayne, who is known as @JordanTheGreyWitch to her more than 717,000 TikTok followers. "When she’s full, I always send my love up to her and thank her for her light, guidance, and protection as if she’s an actual entity and not just a rock floating in space."

As Dwayne has been following the mission, she's found herself moved to tears multiple times. "Seeing the new photos of the Moon, specifically the eclipse from the Orion spacecraft, was truly indescribable," she says. "Speechless and awe inspiring don’t even cover it. It is truly such an honor to be alive during a time like this and witness this immense accomplishment for all of humankind."

Moon remediation

Maryaam Lewis-Herbert, also known as ShawtyAstrology, has been live-posting her reactions to the Artemis II mission on X, pointing out cosmic connections to scientific phenomena. She created a chart of the launch (paying special attention to the location of the asteroid Artemis) and followed the movement through the planets in the zodiac throughout Artemis II's journey. She was particularly moved by the fact that a newly-discovered crater was named after astronaut Reid Weisman's late wife, Carroll. "Naming a crater on the moon after your wife is PEAK moon remediation and the strongest way to honor the moon," she wrote on X. "as an astrologer i’m in awe & so emotional even thinking about it."

"Moon Remediation in astrology is a practice of honoring the Moon to build a stronger connection with the Moon and heal various aspects of your life that need emotional support," Lewis-Herbert explains to Cosmo. "Moon remediation can be perfect for anyone who needs to heal a difficult emotional wound, family issues, or simply want to embark on their journey of emotional healing." She adds that anyone interested in exploring Moon remediation can do so by spending time dedicated to the Moon on Mondays, the day of the week named after the Moon (and the day of the week that the astronauts orbited the Moon). "You can leave out Moon water, have a relaxing bath in honor of the Moon, or even wear something silver, grey or white, the are colors that are associated with the Moon," she adds.

The Artemis connection

Along with the Moon, some witches are also taking an important lesson from the name of the mission. Artemis is the name of the Greek goddess of the Moon and the hunt, and she's strongly linked to women. "Any time we name something after Artemis, there is symbolism built into it, whether people consciously engage with it or not," Burbage says. "When I look at Artemis II, I am not just seeing a mission, I am seeing a symbolic story playing out." For her, seeing the Artemis II mission is a reminder to "move with instinct and precision into the unknown," emotionally and spiritually as well as physically. "Because the moon has always represented the inner world, it also reminds us that exploration is not just external, it is deeply internal," she explains.

In some traditions, the Moon is also linked to the feminine. Coupled with the fact that goddess Artemis is known as a protector of women, the lunar flyby has a strong symbolic message. "The entire Artemis mission means so very much to me. From the fact that it is named after the Goddess Artemis, protector of women and girls, and the spacecraft is named Orion after her companion (both of whom I have tattooed on my arms) is truly so poetic," Burbage says. She finds Artemis' story so meaningful that she has Artemis and Orion tattooed on her arms. Burbage points out that Christina Koch became the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit and women's prominence as NASA spokespeople. "This mission is so divinely feminine and I believe we are witnessing the rise of matriarchy," she says. "Watching this mission has truly been one of the greatest joys of my life and I cannot wait for Artemis IV (2028) when we, as humans, actually touch down on the moon once more."