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Triple Goddess
When worshipped the Moon goddess was honored as a triad, for the
three phases: waxing, full, and waning. Or, as pertains to Naoko's story, Sailor Moon,
the maiden, mother, and crone. The obvious symbolism comes with the
three generations of the matriarchy, from Queen Serenity to her daughter,
Serenity, to Small Lady. Also, the cats can be seen as a triad since they
are three and all based on goddesses who one time or another represented
the Moon.
The maiden aspect is represented in the new moon and crescent. This
phase is youth and adolescence. Her color is white, and she denotes new
beginnings and enchantment.
The young princess we are introduced to is pure and innocent. And
during the series, she at times represents a new beginning for everyone.
After defeating Beryl, for instance, it is the strength of her love for
everyone that allows them to be reborn and begin anew. Once Chibi Usa
arrives, she becomes the maiden. She is the heir of Neo-Queen Serenity
and the charge of a slowly maturing Usagi. In the final chapter of
Takeuchi's epic, Chibi Chibi represents the maiden in a triad concerning
Usagi alone. She holds the key to everyone's hope and future as a child
star seed of Sailor Cosmos.
The mother aspect is represented in the full moon. She represents
power, stability, she nurtures, but also fights to the death to protect those
she loves.
Both Queen Serenity and Neo-Queen Serenity from Sailor Moon fit this description. It is
Queen Serenity who sacrifices her life in order that her daughter and court
maybe reborn. As we watch Usagi grow through the course of the series,
we see her lose her klutziness and fear and become a young woman ready
to protect her loved ones. Her changing of phases is represented in the
gradual maturing she goes through while with Chibi Usa. While many
times as immature as her future daughter, through time she becomes both
nurturing and protective. Finally, truly embodying the mother aspect as
Neo-Queen Serenity and as nurturer of Chibi Chibi.
The crone aspect is represented in the waning moon. Her phase can
represent sleep or death. Her color is black. Yet, she is also wisdom and
the guide to rebirth.
In the first season, Queen Beryl of the Dark Kingdom acts as the dark
side of the trilogy, opposite the Queen and Princess. Black Lady is a
second incarnation, as the black crescent moon of Nemesis can be
representative of the third phase (with the maiden side of Chibi Usa and
Usagi/Neo-Queen Serenity rounding out the triad). Neherenia is a third.
The Dead Moon Circus deals with dreams, a reference to both the death
and sleep aspects. She calls Sailor Moon the reincarnation of the white
moon queen, refering to the first Serenity's reign. Then, Neherenia
dwelled on the dark side of the Moon (another allusion). Of course, both
Sailor and Chibi Moon complete this trilogy. In the manga, in the
flashback to the Princess' infancy and Neherenia's entrapment, the triad is
completed with Queen Serenity and the baby Princess. The last is seen
with Sailor Cosmos (wisdom) who is the final incarnation of Sailor Moon.
She completes a triad of herself, with Chibi Chibi and Usagi.