Aurora's Light: Dawn and Renewal in Wicca

Aurora: the Latin word for daybreak and the name of the Roman goddess of dawn. Known as Eos to the Ancient Greeks, she’s the sister of Sol, the sun, and Luna, the moon.

Aurora brought light and life by gently pushing back the night, letting people go about daily life with ease. Without daylight, nothing would flourish, crops couldn’t grow, and humankind wouldn’t survive.

While not one of the prime Roman goddesses, Aurora was a significant one. Access to sunlight was the splendid gift she bestowed on the world daily, and the people loved her for that compassionate kindness.

Her name lives on in the aurora borealis, and she’s associated with Ostara, the Wiccan Sabbat celebrating the spring equinox.

We’ll take a closer look at Aurora’s history, mythology, and correspondences.

History

We must imagine life in the ancient world to truly appreciate why Aurora was so loved and esteemed.

At sunset, the world became shrouded in darkness. Even a clear night at full moon was dark. Torches and oil lamps shed little light, and fires burned out. Frequently, danger and evil lurked in the darkness, and the rising sun eased fears. At night, most activities ceased, and people retired indoors to sleep and wait for dawn.

In the ancient world, with little understanding of the wonders of nature, the miracle of a consistent sunrise could only come from a Divine source—a beautiful, caring goddess.

Her link to the sun is also why the Northern Lights or aurora borealis were named after her. Galileo Galilei mistakenly believed that the lights in the sky were caused by the sun’s reflection on the earth’s atmosphere. So, in the early 1600s, he named the phenomena after the goddess of the dawn.

Aurora’s grace and ability to gently usher night to day made her a firm favorite of poets, as well. From ancient Roman writers to Shakespeare and modern-day poets, Aurora exudes eternal appeal.

Mythology

Many cultures from different continents had a goddess of the dawn. Although known by various names, their existence shows how humankind appreciated and respected the daily sunrise.

In Roman mythology, Aurora was the daughter of the Titans, Pallas and Theia, and sister to the sun god, Helios, and moon goddess, Selene. The siblings were responsible for different stages of day and night, with Aurora facilitating the transition from night to day.

Aurora never aged because the ever-young goddess was the first to awaken each morning, mount her chariot, and ride across the sky to herald the sun’s arrival.

One of Aurora’s many lovers was Prince Tithonus of Troy. She loved him dearly, but their love was doomed because, as a mortal man, he aged while she remained youthful. Aurora feared his death, abducted him, and went to Zeus, asking him to grant Tithonus eternal life. Zeus did, but sadly, she didn’t ask for eternal youth. Tithonus continued to age and ultimately suffered. Eventually, Aurora turned Tithonus into a cicada to end his suffering.

Tithonus and Aurora had two children, Emathion and Memnon. The latter became a great Ethiopian king who was killed by Achilles, the great Greek warrior. An event that wounded Aurora deeply.

According to myth, Venus’s lover, Mars, the god of war, was attracted to Aurora’s youthful beauty, which made Venus jealous. Venus punished Aurora by making her fall deeply in love with Tithonus.

Aurora’s relationship with Astraeus, father of the stars, resulted in the birth of the Anemoi, the four gods of the wind. Named Boreas (north), Eurus (east), Notus (south), and Zephyrus (west), each was ascribed a cardinal wind direction and a season.

Correspondences

Unsurprisingly, the cicada is a symbol of Aurora, depicting her deep love for Tithonus and her ultimate sacrifice to let go and free him from suffering. Cicadas themselves symbolize immortality, resurrection, and spiritual realization.

She’s represented by the colors of the early morning sky too. Shades of yellow and orange, red and pink, as well as blue and violet, are associated with Aurora.

As the gracious, beautiful goddess proclaiming the return of light means, Aurora embodies new beginnings and change for the better.

Morning dew is said to symbolize the many tears cried by Aurora for the hurt, pain, and losses she suffered.

Clear quartz is best suited to working with Aurora. However, crystals in the hues of the dawn sky and even moonstone and lapis lazuli can be used.

Summing up Aurora

There are many facets to the beautiful goddess of the dawn.

She brings light after darkness, loves deeply, is a mother, has overcome adversity, and wept many tears.

In truth, she could describe anyone who’s surmounted personal tragedy and pain and yet, risen time and again to light up the lives of others.

This is why Aurora is still so relevant today.