Tarot card 18: The Moon. A combination of sun and moon, eyes closed, overlooks a scene that is anchored by two towers. In the center of the scene are two dogs, one appearing domesticated and one appearing more wild or fierce. The two dogs are on either side of a path that leads off in the distance towards the hills. In the foreground is a body of water, with a crustacean (Lobster, crab, crayfish?) that is just setting foot on the path that leads between the two dogs.
The Moon

The moon will guide you through the night with her brightness, but she will always dwell in the darkness, in order to be seen

Shannon L. Alder

Overview and Common Meanings of the Moon Tarot Card

When The Moon Tarot card shows up, it is a time to listen to your dreams, intuition, and inner guidance to move forward to a more positive future.  There is always a bit of magic and chaos with the moon energy (think how unsettled you feel on full moon nights) and it can leave you feeling off balance.    It likely indicates that there is an aspect of your life that you are struggling with and not getting a handle on, because you don’t yet have all of the information.  More will be revealed in the fullness of time, but it is important to be patient and let it unfold. Alternative meanings in varying decks are Illusion, Luna, Perception, Werewolf.

Common Meanings

The Moon represents fears and illusions and often shows up when you are projecting fear based on past experience into your future or reacting from a crisis of trust and time of emotional vulnerability.  It is the invitation to lean into those things that scare us and realize that they are not the large monsters that we create in our minds. The moon also is an indication that you are – or need to be – more in touch with your intuitive nature.  If you are focusing on home for the reading, it could indicate disillusionment with current living situation.  In relationships there is a lack of trust leading to new relationship decisions…just be careful that you are not so in love with the idea of love that you are plunging into something that your intuition tells you is not right.  It can also unearth hidden secrets in long term relationships.  For career and money readings, there can be that hollow feeling of goals that you worked so hard to meet are less satisfying than you had expected.  In any event, things in your work environment are not always as they seem, so trust your gut. Be careful of hidden agendas that could impact your finances.

The Many Faces of The Moon

The shadow side – or reversal – of The Moon card can indicate Inner confusion and the need to listen to your own intuition and trust it to guide you.   Avoiding difficult situations or confrontation.  Needs unexpressed so not being met.  Stuck in old emotional patterns that will continue to repeat until you deal with the old trauma.

The Journey of The Moon

We are still working in the third septenary of the fool’s journey through the Major Arcana, which as you will recall is about the spiritual world and attainment of enlightenment.  It is about transcendence and religious, spiritual, and mystical understanding. After we faced our demons with the Devil, shattered ego with The Tower, and began to see faith, hope, and inspiration with The Star, now we turn inwards to trust and listen to our intuition in a purer way with absence of ego; the goal being deeper understanding and enlightenment.

Description of the Moon Tarot Card

A combination of sun and moon, eyes closed, overlooks a scene that is anchored by two towers.  In the center of the scene are two dogs, one appearing domesticated and one appearing more wild or fierce.  The two dogs are on either side of a path that leads off in the distance towards the hills.  In the foreground is a body of water, with a crustacean (Lobster, crab, crayfish?) that is just setting foot on the path that leads between the two dogs. 

Themes of The Moon 

  • Anxiety
  • Crisis
  • Dreams
  • Fears
  • Illusion
  • Restlessness
  • Uncertainty
  • Unconscious/subconscious messages and wisdom
  • Visions

The Number 18

The number 18 represents freedom, philanthropic labor, and creating things that last. This is compassionate and friendly in nature.

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

  • Crawfish – primal consciousness striving to surface
  • Sun/Moon – moon is subconscious and governs how we behave in the conscious light of day
  • Towers – watchtowers, boundary between unconscious and conscious
  • Water/Pool – subliminal thinking; the unconscious
  • Winding Path – the unknown future
  • Wolf and dog – fear of the unknown, guardians of experience, rites of passage; duality that lives within all of us – wild, and tame

Herbs for The Moon

  • Frankincense – link to the divine; grounding, calming; used in spiritual practices for thousands of years
  • Poppy – fertility, psychic awareness, prophetic dreams, and spirituality.
  • Sandalwood – Inner consciousness, meditation, spiritual practice, prayer, peace
  • Star Anise – burn as incense to tap into spiritual awareness
  • White willow – divination, interpreting dreams; calming frights and worries. 

Questions that The Moon asks us

  • How have you been ignoring your inner voice, and what can you do to remedy that?
  • How can you tap into your intuition and see beyond the obvious in your life?

So that is the Moon Tarot card; a little intuitive and a little chaotic.  Wishing you a week in which you find a time to channel the moon’s watery intuition.  As always, please leave comments, ask questions, or reach out for a personal reading.  Please Join me next week for The Sun!