The Moon
Symbolic Attributes
- Element:Pisces
- Arcana:Major Arcana
- Suit:Trump
- Archetype:The Holy Feminine/The Crone
- Numerology:18 = 1 + 8 = 9 (fullness, readiness, ripeness)
- Hebrew Alphabet:Koph/Back of the Head/100
Keywords
Description
The Moon is one of the most atmospheric and psychologically complex cards in the Tarot deck. It represents the realm of the subconscious, illusion, and the "dark night of the soul." To stand within The Moon is to feel a sense of profound eeriness. The air is thick with the smell of damp earth and salt. The silence is broken only by the rhythmic lapping of the pool and the distant, mournful howls. It is a place of liminality—the "in-between" space where the veil between worlds is thinnest. "The Moon does not light the way; it only reveals the shadows we must learn to walk through."
Light Meaning
- Enjoying healthy fantasies and daydreams
- Using your imagination
- Practicing magic or celebrating the magic of everyday life
- Attuning yourself to the cycles of nature
- Embracing the unknown
Shadow Meaning
- Becoming unable to separate fantasy from reality
- Suffering from delusions
- Losing your appreciation for the fantastic or magical
- Adopting a ruthlessly logical mindset
- Failing to appreciate life's mysteries
Questions to Ask Yourself
- •How can I face my fears and move forward?
- •What helpers can serve me as guides through my personal darkness?
- •How can I deal with the unknown in healthy ways?
Personal Meaning
Open yourself to mystery. Explore your dreams and visions for truth that will help you live to the fullest and find answers you seek. Welcome enchantment and imagination into your life to break up dreariness and monotony. Embrace the shadows for in them you will find great treasure.
You have been exploring your dreams and visions for truth that would help you live to the fullest and find answers you seek. You found great treasure in the shadows.
Open yourself to mystery. Explore your dreams and visions for truth that will help you live to the fullest and find answers you seek. Welcome enchantment and imagination into your life to break up dreariness and monotony. Embrace the shadows for in them you will find great treasure.
Personal Reversed Meaning
Do not allow fear and anxiety to overtake you. Avoid false ideas that will have you wandering aimlessly through life. Recognize when your fear is based on deception and illusion. Face your fears, explore your dreams and instincts and move on.
You allowed fear and anxiety to overtake you. You have been deceived by false ideasthat had you wandering aimlessly through life. Your fears were based on deception and illusion.
You have allowed fear and anxiety to overtake you. You might be deceived by false ideas or might be lost and wandering aimlessly through life. Recognize your bewilderment, and realize that your fear is based on deception and illusion. It is time to step into the healing light of the full moon. Face your fears, explore your dreams and instincts and move on.
Fortune Telling
- •Watch for problems at the end of the month
- •Someone you know needs to howl at the moon more often
- •Someone is about to change his or her mind about an important decision
Mythical / Spiritual Context
Kali, the dark-skinned divine mother associated with time, the eternal night, and the female principle. Hecate, goddess of night and darkness, who, like Anubis, assists others in their travels to the underworld.
How to Interpret This Card in a Reading
A guide to deepening your understanding of Tarot symbolism.
Context is Key
No Tarot card exists in a vacuum. While the meanings above provide a foundation, the true significance of this card depends on where it lands in your spread. Is it in the past position, indicating a phase you are moving away from? Or is it in the outcome position, suggesting a potential future? Always consider the neighboring cards — they often tell a story that modifies or amplifies the message.
Trust Your Intuition
Traditional meanings are the starting point, but your intuition is the compass. When you look at the card imagery, what draws your eye first? A specific color, a symbol, or a facial expression might trigger a personal memory or feeling. That immediate reaction is often the most relevant message for your current situation, even if it differs from the standard definition.
Understanding Reversals
If this card appears reversed (upside down), don't fear it. Reversals often suggest an internalizing of the card's energy, a delay, or a need to revisit the lesson before moving forward. It can also indicate that the "shadow" aspects described above are currently more active, inviting you to bring them into the light for healing.
Connecting with the Element
Remember the suit this card belongs to. Wands speak to passion and action (Fire). Cups dive into emotions and relationships (Water). Swords navigate the mind and conflicts (Air). Pentacles ground us in the material world and resources (Earth). The Major Arcana represents larger life themes and soul lessons. Filtering the card's meaning through its elemental lens will give you a grounded, practical way to apply its wisdom to your life.