The Moon in brief
In the Rider-Waite tradition, The Moon stands for illusion, intuition and uncertainty, a time when the path is lit only by reflected light. Modern readers often take it as a sign that not everything is as it seems and that intuition is the better guide, while the reversed card points to confusion lifting, or to emotions pushed out of sight.
The card represents life of the imagination apart from life of the spirit. The moon itself is a symbol of intuition, dreams and the unconscious.
The card’s picture
The moon is increasing on what is called the side of mercy, to the right of the observer, with sixteen chief and sixteen secondary rays. In older packs, the scene beneath the moon shows two towers with a path winding between them to the edge of the horizon, two dogs or a wolf and a dog baying at the moon, and water in the foreground through which a crayfish moves toward the land. The moon sheds the moisture of fertilizing dew in great drops.
The path between the towers represents the issue into the unknown, and the dog and wolf represent the fears of the natural mind when only reflected light is there to guide it. The creature rising from the water represents the lowest part of the animal nature, which strives to come up but usually sinks back. Above it all, the face of the mind looks calmly on the unrest below, and the message is “Peace, be still.”
Modern guides read the same scene. The pool represents the watery, subconscious mind and the crayfish crawling out of it represents the early stages of consciousness unfolding. The dog and the wolf represent the tamed and the wild sides of the mind. The twin towers represent forces whose likeness makes them hard to tell apart.
Upright meaning
The divinatory meanings of the upright Moon are hidden enemies, danger, calumny, darkness, terror, deception, occult forces and error.
The upright card represents an imagination getting the better of a person who is walking a path that is unclear in the dark. The upright card also calls for letting intuition be the guide, and for noticing what is causing fear or worry so it can be released. The card can point to illusion, a hidden truth still waiting to be found.
The Moon represents fears and illusions, often old emotions from the past that surface again in the present. The Moon also represents a time of uncertainty when it is wise not to make fast decisions, since only half the information may be at hand. The card asks a person to trust intuition, to feel into situations rather than reason them out, and to pay attention to dreams and the lunar cycle.
Reversed meaning
The reversed Moon represents instability, inconstancy, silence, and lesser degrees of deception and error.
The reversed card represents confusion and unhappiness, a wish to move forward without knowing the right step. The reversed card also represents the forces of confusion starting to fade, with fear and worry being managed and a more positive side coming into view.
The reversed Moon represents the influence of fear and illusion subsiding, a freeing experience. The reversed Moon also represents emotions being buried deeper rather than faced, and intuitive messages that are hard to understand, with the advice to trust one’s own inner voice.
The Moon in love
In love, the upright Moon represents complicated emotions and an atmosphere of misunderstanding. The card also prompts a look at old beliefs or past relationships that may be clouding judgment about love.
Reversed, the card represents confusion and possible deception in a relationship, with intuition needed to find the truth. Hiding the truth, even out of kindness, is never sustainable.
The Moon in career
For work, the upright Moon represents uncertainty about one’s career path or goals, or a tense workplace clouded by confusion. The upright Moon also represents a time to communicate clearly and to seek out the facts before making decisions.
Reversed, the card represents either confusion at work clearing up, or misunderstandings growing into deception. Fear about colleagues can make everyone more defensive.
The Moon and money
The upright Moon in money questions represents a time when the information at hand is incomplete, a prompt to dig deep and ask questions.
Reversed, the card represents clarity about one’s situation and goals at best, and possible deception at worst. The reversed card is a prompt to listen to instinct while separating fear from intuition.
The Moon as feelings
As feelings, the upright Moon represents confusion and uncertainty: someone is drawn to another person but held back by fears and insecurities. The upright Moon also represents one’s own intuitive but uneasy state.
Reversed, the Moon represents a cloud of confusion, with someone struggling to see a relationship clearly. The reversed card also represents one’s own insecurity and lack of clarity about what is wanted.
Questions to reflect on
- What in this situation might not be what it seems?
- Is a worry based on the present, or on an old memory?
- What does intuition say when the mind goes quiet?
- What information is still missing before a decision is made?