How the Moon Met the Sun

Upon setting on a closing day, the Sun caught a glimpse of the Moon from afar. Not long after, the Moon also caught a glimpse of the Sun at dawn. The Sun admired the Moon’s luminous, refreshing glow while the Moon revered the Sun’s radiant, warm brilliance. It was only during twilight that the two could see each other before they would be cruelly separated. So, day after day and night after night, only able to see one another from afar, they fell in love.

Every day the Sun watched the Earth down below as mankind tended to their crops and children played. The scorching, blinding light exhausted even the Sun who longed for some rest, but rest never came as long as he ruled the sky. He wished to be more like the Moon who watched over their peaceful slumber, accompanied by her little stars. Letting out a deep sigh, a hot breeze ran over the Earth that made the people sweat harder as they worked the land.

Again, twilight came to close the day and greet the night. The Moon slowly rose over the Earth, watching the Sun set below. As the night sky covered the Earth, the Moon watched as people below retired into their houses for sleep. The chilly, deafening silence made the Moon restless, longing to see happy children at play. She wished to be more like the Sun who brought life to everything on Earth, joined by all the mirth of mankind. Letting out a saddened sigh, a cold breeze ran over the Earth that made people shiver as they were at rest.

One night, the Moon roused her little stars from their slumber and spoke in a soft whisper, “My little stars, why is it that only the Sun is able to watch children at play? Oh, how I long to see the people of Earth awake and full of life. Why cannot I be like him with his radiant brilliance? The light I bring but pales in comparison, unable to hold off the darkness as he can.”

The little stars twinkled with confusion and said, “How can you say such a thing? It is you who brings peace to the living after a hard day of working the land. It is you who brings beautiful light over the night sky and it is you who cools the boiling Earth.”

The Moon phased into a sad, crescent smile and thanked her kind, little stars, but she could not believe them. As the dark night drove on and her little stars fell back to sleep, she reflected on her woes, yearning to be like the Sun. She continued to think in her crestfallen solitude, until an old shaman woman communed with her and broke the silence.

“Moon Spirit, I have sensed your immense sadness that has given our people many somber dreams. What ails you?” she asked, deep in her meditation underneath the lunar rays.

“I am sorrowful, because I cannot hold off the darkness as the Sun can. My light is pale, waxing and waning pitifully as the Earth waits for the Sun to bring them comfort at dawn. I long to be more like him, the one I love and the center of all life,” the Moon cried down a sprinkle of rain.

“You, envious of the Sun? You, the beautiful Mother of Stars who brings peace to all?” the old shaman woman could not understand, even with all her years. How could the Moon Spirit not see her own beauty?

“Oh, please. Do not call me beautiful, for I do not deserve it. It only pains me more. My poor light cannot keep away murderers and beasts. I cannot see happy children at play nor can I see the people hard at work, enjoying the fruits of their labor,” as she spoke, the sprinkle turned into a downpour. “If only I could see what he sees and witness his brilliance, even just once.”

For a long while, the old shaman woman did not reply. She sat deep in her meditation as she pondered the Moon Spirit’s words.

“Perhaps I can help you,” she said at long last.

“But, how is it possible for a human to help me?” the Moon asked.

“I may be able to help you meet the Sun, but it will be difficult. I will need to perform a long ritual during the day and your meeting will be very short,” the old shaman woman replied.

The Moon’s tears became but a light mist as she was filled with hope, “Is it truly possible? Can I really meet the Sun?”

“Yes, but as I say, it will be but a moment. You, the Moon Spirit, and the Sun Spirit whom you love are not meant to be one in the same, but even so, I will do it. For your sadness has touched me deeply,” her own eyes began to water. “I must go now, as the day approaches.”

“Thank you, gentle human. I shall not forget your kindness on this night,” said the Moon. The old shaman woman went away, and the Moon looked over to where the Sun would soon be rising. “How happy I shall be to meet him, to see the Earth through his eyes!” she thought.

As twilight approached, the Moon emitted a crescent smile upon seeing the rays of the Sun peek over the sacred mountains. The Sun looked back at her with all the admiration that had built over many days and many nights. Both the Sun and the Moon cherished the time between the coming day and the coming night, for it allowed them to look upon the one they loved.

The Moon descended slowly back down as she waited for the old shaman woman to fulfill her promise. Another hard day of toil drove on and the Sun watched the Earth down below with tired eyes, blinded by his own light. He looked down at the people working the land and the children at play. The Sun then became greatly puzzled when he saw the old shaman woman performing a long ritual. He watched her with curiosity as her chants rose into the firmament.

After a long while of observing her carefully, the Sun felt a presence draw near. To his astonishment, it was the Moon coming to meet him. But, how could it be possible? Were they not destined to love one another from afar?

Feeling himself in a dream for the first time, he called out, “Is it truly you, my love?”

As the Moon came closer to the Sun, she was stunned by his brilliance. Overcome with joy she replied, “Yes, it is me. The Moon who has loved you since first I saw you rise above the sacred mountains. An old shaman woman has granted my wish to witness your radiance, so I can see the Earth as you do.” The Moon kissed his warmth and for the first time, the Sun was at last relieved of his blinding light.

But before the Sun could pour out his adoration, the Moon’s pale light became suddenly threatened by his blazing fires, turning the Earth below them cold and dark. The people who had been working and the children who were at play became overcome with fear. It was as the old shaman woman had said, they were not meant to be one in the same.

Phasing into a sad, crescent smile, she kissed the Sun and cast a Great Shadow that made children cry as they pointed up to her. “Our meeting has been but a beautiful moment, my radiant Sun. I fear that we must again part after our-all-too-short embrace, for our meeting casts a Great Shadow over the Earth,” The Moon said, filled with sadness.

The Sun replied, “Though I am astonished to see your beauty from up close, my blazing fire threatens to extinguish your luminous glow. The Great Shadow has given me a brief respite from my woes, and for that I shall be forever grateful. But as you say, we must part again, for the people are afraid. Goodbye, my beautiful Mother of Stars.”

The Moon let go of the Sun’s warm embrace and kissed him one last time before being cruelly separated as they were before. Darkness lifted over the Earth, restoring peace. Tears fell onto the Earth as the Moon lamented over her purpose, forever unable to be like the Sun.

After a long time of many days and many nights yearning for one another from afar, The Sun and The Moon met once again. Each time they met, however, the Great Shadow would cast fear over the hearts of the Earth as a stark reminder that their love is not meant to be.