Love often blooms where it should not. Myths from around the world are filled with stories of humans falling for gods, spirits, or celestial beings.
These romances are passionate but often tragic, because such unions cross the boundaries between mortal and divine.
Yet the stories endure because they remind us of the power of desire, the risks of devotion, and the bittersweet beauty of forbidden love.
Let’s explore nine mythic tales where mortals and celestials met in secret, loved fiercely, and changed the world through their passion.
1. Selene and Endymion (Greek Mythology)
Selene, the goddess of the moon, fell in love with the mortal shepherd Endymion. His beauty captivated her, and she visited him every night as he slept.
To preserve their love, Zeus granted Endymion eternal sleep and youth, allowing Selene to gaze upon him forever.
This myth shows both the tenderness and the limits of forbidden love. Selene’s devotion gave her endless nights with her beloved, but it was a love frozen in time.
It reminds us that sometimes desire comes with sacrifices, and not every relationship can fully bloom.
2. Chang’e and Hou Yi (Chinese Mythology)
Hou Yi, a legendary archer, saved humanity by shooting down nine of the ten suns that scorched the earth. As a reward, he received an elixir of immortality.
But when thieves tried to steal it, his wife Chang’e drank it to keep it safe. She floated to the moon, becoming a celestial goddess separated from her husband forever.
The story of Chang’e and Hou Yi is still celebrated during the Mid-Autumn Festival, when lovers look up at the moon to honor them.
Their tale is a reminder that devotion sometimes means painful distance. Love can be eternal even when bodies are apart.
3. The Tale of Urashima Taro (Japanese Folklore)
Urashima Taro, a fisherman, rescued a turtle and was rewarded with a trip to the undersea palace of the Dragon Princess.
There he lived in joy and romance, but when he returned to the human world, he discovered that centuries had passed.
When he opened a magical box the princess gave him, he instantly aged and died. This myth blends enchantment with heartbreak.
Love with a celestial being can feel timeless, but in the human world, time always catches up. It speaks to the grounding truth that passion, no matter how magical, cannot escape mortality.
4. Psyche and Eros (Greek Mythology)
The love story of Psyche and Eros is one of the most famous in Greek lore. Eros, the god of desire, visited Psyche every night in secret, forbidding her to look upon him.
When she broke the rule, their trust was shattered. Psyche endured countless trials to win him back, and their love eventually triumphed, with Psyche becoming immortal so they could be together.
Their story shows how love between human and divine requires trust and perseverance. Forbidden love often comes with tests, but when loyalty endures, even the gods bend to its power.
5. The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl (Chinese Mythology)
One of the most beloved love stories in China tells of a humble cowherd who fell in love with the celestial Weaver Girl, a daughter of the Jade Emperor.
Their romance angered the gods, who separated them with the Milky Way. Once a year, magpies form a bridge so they can reunite, a moment celebrated in the Qixi Festival.
The myth shows that even divine rules cannot extinguish true love. Though separation is painful, the promise of reunion keeps love alive. Sometimes longing itself becomes the most powerful form of devotion.
6. Maui and the Goddess Hina (Polynesian Mythology)
The trickster hero Maui often interacted with gods, but in some Hawaiian traditions, he was deeply in love with Hina, a moon goddess.
Though their love was strong, she eventually returned to the heavens, leaving Maui behind on earth. Her glow in the night sky was said to be a reminder of their love.
This tale shows that love between mortal and celestial is often fleeting but unforgettable. Even when lovers part, their presence lingers in the world, lighting the way for those who remember them.
7. Gilgamesh and Ishtar (Mesopotamian Mythology)
The goddess Ishtar fell in love with the hero king Gilgamesh, but he rejected her because of her history of destroying her mortal lovers.
His refusal led her to unleash the Bull of Heaven, bringing devastation. While not a tender romance, this myth reflects the dangers of forbidden love when power and desire collide.
Trust is fragile when one partner holds divine strength over the other. It reminds us that love without balance can quickly turn destructive.
8. The Star Maiden and the Hunter (Ojibwe Mythology)
In Ojibwe stories, a hunter once captured a star maiden who had descended to earth. Though she eventually grew to love him, she longed for her celestial home.
One day she found her hidden star garments and returned to the sky, leaving the hunter heartbroken. This myth shows the pull between earthly love and celestial freedom.
It tells us that love cannot exist without choice, and even the deepest affection cannot cage a free spirit. True connection requires trust, not possession.
9. Orion and Artemis (Greek Mythology)
The hunter Orion and the goddess Artemis shared a forbidden bond. Different versions of the myth tell of their love, but almost all end in tragedy.
In some tales, Apollo tricked Artemis into killing Orion with her arrows. After his death, she placed him in the stars as a constellation.
Their story shows that even the gods were not free from the rules of fate. Love with a celestial being is often too powerful for the world to allow, yet it leaves lasting marks in the heavens.
Ho sempre sentito una forte connessione con il Divino fin dalla mia nascita. Come autrice e mentore, la mia missione è aiutare gli altri a trovare l'amore, la felicità e la forza interiore nei momenti più bui.