Soma, the Moon, and the Art of Moving Slowly

By Dr. Justine Lemos, edited for Öko Living

In yoga and Ayurveda, the Moon has always symbolized reflection, intuition, and the gentle rhythms of renewal. Its phases mirror the natural pulse of our energy: a steady cycle of creation, fullness, release, and rest. When we align with these rhythms, we rediscover a sense of balance and nourishment that modern life often strips away.

At its core, this wisdom centers on an ancient Vedic concept: Soma. To understand the meaning of Soma in yoga is to glimpse how lunar energy nourishes the body, mind, and spirit — the subtle elixir that links us to the divine.

The meaning of Soma in yoga mythology

Originally, Soma was an ancient ritual drink. It was pressed, filtered, and offered in Vedic fire ceremonies by priests. It carried potent qualities: healing, ecstasy, and immortality.  In myth, the gods drank Soma to stay vibrant, awake, and connected to higher realms. The exact ingredients and preparation of this ritual drink have been lost over time. We no longer possess the ancient recipe for Soma, and scholars debate whether it could have been ephedra, Amanita muscaria, or another potent plant.

Later, Soma became mythologized as the moon itself — the cup of immortality in the sky, ever filling and emptying. In the Rig Veda, over 120 hymns are dedicated to Soma. In Tantrik texts, Soma is described as an internal elixir that drips from the crown of the head into the body of the tantrik yogi, nourishing subtle channels.

Soma is myth, medicine, and metaphor. It is the lunar energy within us that replenishes what fire consumes. When our inner Soma flows, we feel luminous without striving, full without excess, rested without dullness. Just as Soma nourishes the gods, our inner light must be fed. We rest, receive, and replenish. The Moon does not generate light; it reflects the Sun. Like the Moon, we receive, internalize, and mirror what nourishes us. As the Moon wanes and grows, Soma cycles through invisibility and fullness. In our practice, too, we allow phases of retreat and emergence.

Soma, the body, and Ayurveda

As yogis, we learn to live in rhythm with the Moon — to embody her quiet, reflective nature. When we align with her phases, we open to subtle energies, allowing our bodies to become vessels that can taste the nectar of stillness.

In Ayurveda, the Moon is the mirror of our inner tides, waxing and waning in harmony with our cycles of energy, emotion, and rest. Her phases reflect the movement of Soma, the cooling, rejuvenating essence that nourishes both body and mind. Within the body, this same essence is known as Ojas — our deepest reserve of vitality and immunity. It’s what gives the skin its glow, the eyes their softness, and the heart its steadiness. When Soma or Ojas is abundant, we feel luminous without striving, full without excess, rested without dullness.

Ayurveda teaches that Ojas is built not through intensity but through rhythm — by honoring the natural cycles of effort and ease. We build Soma through sleep that follows the night, meals that follow the sun, and practices that follow the breath.

Just as the Moon does not create her own light but reflects the Sun’s, we too cultivate vitality not by constant doing but by receiving, through stillness, receptivity, and nourishment.

Soma and the phases of the moon

Just as the Moon waxes and wanes, so too does our Soma. The lunar cycle governs not only tides, but the subtle waters within us — our hormones, sleep cycles, moods, and emotional states.

• The Waxing Moon brings growth and building. Estrogen, thyroid activity, and creative energy rise. It’s a time for expansion and learning.

• The Full Moon is Soma’s peak — when vitality and connection overflow. It’s a moment to celebrate, express, and release.

• The Waning Moon invites cooling and introspection. The body turns inward to restore; melatonin and progesterone guide rest and emotional digestion.

• The New Moon is the time of stillness. The body asks for simplicity and silence so that Soma can distill inwardly and Ojas can rebuild.

When we live aligned with these rhythms, our vitality deepens. When we resist them — staying up under artificial light, pushing when we should rest — our Soma depletes. We run on effort instead of essence.

Ayurvedic practices to restore Soma and Ojas

Ayurveda teaches that Soma cannot be forced — it flows when we live in harmony with the rhythms of nature. These simple, time-honored rituals help restore the lunar essence within. Each of these rituals is a quiet offering to your inner Moon — a way of saying, “I am ready to receive.”

1. Abhyanga (Oil Massage)

A daily act of lunar devotion that nourishes the skin, calms the nerves, and builds Ojas.

2. Lunar Fasting or Light Meals on New Moons

Allow digestion to rest so Soma can rebuild, replenishing subtle energy.

3. Moon Bathing

Sitting in moonlight cools pitta (heat) and restores fluid balance — an ancient Ayurvedic remedy for emotional and physical inflammation.

4. Restorative Yoga on Natural Fiber Rugs

Practicing on organic cotton or linen rugs — like Öko Living’s Ayurvastra-dyed designs — helps ground prana and invite Soma to settle into the body.

Curious to try one for yourself?

Öko Living has generously partnered with me to offer rugs that align with the values I hold dear—rooted, ritualistic, and radiant. You can explore the collection here and bring one into your own sacred space.

5. Herbal Allies

Adaptogens like shatavari, ashwagandha, and licorice root support hormonal balance and the fluid essence of Ojas.

The Moon teaches us that rest is sacred, that softness is strength, and that true light arises from reflection. Soma reminds us that divinity isn’t something to attain—it’s the sweetness that returns when we live in rhythm with the cosmos.

When you step onto your yoga rug under moonlight, breathe as if you are sipping from that ancient elixir. Let every movement become a way of collecting Soma—drop by drop—until your whole being shines with quiet radiance.