The Meaning of The Moon in Tarot

The Moon, card XVIII of the Major Arcana, represents one of the most mysterious and enigmatic cards in the tarot deck. It invites us into the realm of the unconscious, where illusion and reality blend, and where our deepest fears and intuitions reside. As the penultimate card before the completion of the Major Arcana journey with The Sun, The Moon serves as a crucial threshold between darkness and light.

This card often appears when we are navigating uncertain territory, where things are not as they seem. Unlike the clarity provided by The Sun, The Moon illuminates our path with partial light, casting shadows and creating an atmosphere where intuition becomes more reliable than logic. The Moon encourages us to trust our inner knowing, to acknowledge our fears, and to recognize the hidden aspects of ourselves and our situations.

In the Major Arcana sequence, The Moon follows The Star, suggesting that after a period of hope and guidance, we must face our deepest fears and illusions before emerging into the full light of awareness. This positioning emphasizes The Moon's role as a card of transition and psychological development.

Upright Meaning: Illusion, Intuition, and Subconscious

When The Moon appears upright in a reading, it signals a time of heightened intuition and psychic receptivity. The querent may be experiencing confusing circumstances where facts are obscured, and nothing is quite as it appears. This is a period where dreams, illusions, and subconscious influences play a significant role in shaping one's perception of reality.

The upright Moon invites us to trust our intuition and inner guidance, especially when the path ahead seems unclear. It suggests that there are forces at work beneath the surface of consciousness that need to be acknowledged and integrated. This could manifest as prophetic dreams, strong gut feelings, or an inexplicable sense of knowing that defies rational explanation.

However, this card also carries a warning about deception – either self-deception or being misled by others. The partial light of the moon creates shadows where anxieties and fears can hide, sometimes growing larger than their actual size. The querent might be projecting their fears onto a situation, creating illusions that distort their understanding.

The Moon upright encourages us to dive deep into our subconscious, to face our fears rather than avoid them, and to recognize that what seems threatening in the moonlight may appear quite different when viewed in full daylight.

Reversed Meaning: Confusion, Repression, and False Perceptions

The Moon reversed often signals that hidden information is coming to light, bringing clarity to a previously confusing situation. However, this revelation can initially create more chaos as we struggle to integrate new knowledge with our existing understanding.

In its reversed position, The Moon may indicate that someone is actively repressing their intuition or refusing to acknowledge subconscious material that is trying to surface. This repression can manifest as increased anxiety, disturbing dreams, or emotional outbursts that seem to come from nowhere.

The reversed Moon can also point to a gradual dispersal of confusion and fear. What once seemed overwhelming in the darkness is beginning to make sense as dawn approaches. The querent may be emerging from a period of delusion or finally seeing clearly through deception that had previously ensnared them.

This card in reverse often appears when we need to distinguish between genuine intuition and paranoia or fantasy. It asks us to question our perceptions and to look for objective evidence before drawing conclusions based solely on feelings or impressions.

Symbolism in Tarot de Marseille

In the Tarot de Marseille tradition, The Moon (La Lune) is depicted with striking simplicity yet profound symbolism. The card typically shows a large moon face at the top, sometimes with droplets falling from it that resemble tears or dew. Below the moon are two towers or pillars, creating a gateway or threshold symbol. A path winds between them into the distance.

In the foreground, we often see a crayfish or lobster emerging from a pool of water, symbolizing unconscious content rising to consciousness. Two canines – sometimes depicted as dogs or wolves – stand on either side of the path, appearing to howl at the moon. They represent our domesticated and wild natures, both affected by lunar influences.

The Tarot de Marseille Moon emphasizes the influence of cycles and tides on human consciousness. The moon itself is shown as a concrete entity with a face, suggesting personification of this celestial body as something that watches over earthly affairs with an enigmatic expression.

The lack of human figures in this card underscores its connection to primal, instinctual forces that operate beyond human control or comprehension. The entire scene suggests a landscape of the psyche rather than a physical location.

Symbolism in Rider-Waite-Smith Tradition

In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, The Moon retains many classical elements while adding rich detail and psychological depth. The card shows a full moon in the night sky with a human face, from which fifteen yods or droplets fall, representing divine influence descending into the material world.

Below the moon are two towers or pylons, creating a gateway through which a path winds into the distance toward mountains. The path begins at a pool of water from which a crayfish or lobster emerges, symbolizing the first stages of consciousness arising from the unconscious depths.

Two canines – a dog and a wolf – stand on either side of the path, howling at the moon. They represent the domesticated and wild aspects of our nature, both influenced by lunar forces. The dog symbolizes our trained, socialized mind, while the wolf represents our more primal, instinctual drives.

The path itself is significant in the Rider-Waite-Smith version, as it winds through the entire scene and disappears into the distance between two mountains. This symbolizes the journey through the unconscious that we must undertake, facing both our conditioned responses (the dog) and our wild instincts (the wolf) before reaching higher consciousness.

The color palette in this version – deep blues, purples, and yellows – creates an atmosphere of mystery and otherworldliness, reinforcing the card's association with the realm of dreams and the unconscious.

Contextual Interpretations: Love, Career, and Finance

In love readings, The Moon upright often suggests a relationship clouded by confusion or deception. There may be aspects of the partnership that remain hidden or misunderstood. This card can indicate projection, where we see in our partner what we wish to see rather than who they truly are. It may also point to a relationship that exists primarily in the realm of fantasy or idealization.

When reversed in love contexts, The Moon suggests that illusions are dissolving, which can either strengthen the relationship as it moves toward greater authenticity or lead to disillusionment if the fantasy was the primary attraction. It can also indicate the emergence of previously hidden information about a partner.

In career readings, The Moon upright warns against making decisions based on incomplete information. The workplace environment may be characterized by politics, gossip, or situations where things are not as they appear. This card encourages listening to your intuition about colleagues and opportunities, while also verifying facts before taking action.

The Moon reversed in career contexts often indicates that confusion in the workplace is clearing up. Hidden agendas may be exposed, or the querent may be gaining clarity about their professional path after a period of uncertainty. It can also suggest emerging from a creatively challenging period with new insights.

Regarding finances, The Moon upright suggests caution, as financial situations may not be as they seem. There could be hidden costs or unclear terms in contracts and agreements. This card advises against making investments based on speculation or emotional reactions.

When reversed in financial readings, The Moon indicates either the clearing of financial confusion or the revelation of previously hidden financial issues that need addressing. It may also represent the end of a period of financial anxiety or uncertainty.

Astrological and Numerological Associations

Astrologically, The Moon card is associated with the zodiac sign of Pisces, the final sign of the zodiacal wheel. This connection reinforces the card's themes of intuition, dreams, and the dissolution of boundaries between conscious and unconscious realms. Pisces is ruled by Neptune, the planet of illusion, spirituality, and transcendence, further emphasizing The Moon's connection to the mysterious and the hidden.

The Moon is also linked to Cancer in some traditions, as Cancer is ruled by the literal moon in astrology. This connection highlights themes of emotions, security, and the influence of cycles on our psychological states.

Numerologically, The Moon carries the vibration of the number 18, which reduces to 9 (1+8=9). Nine represents completion, culmination, and the final stage before a new cycle begins. This reinforces The Moon's position near the end of the Major Arcana journey, suggesting that we must integrate the unconscious aspects of ourselves before achieving wholeness.

The number 18 itself combines the pioneering energy of 1 with the infinity and balance of 8, creating a number that speaks to navigating infinite possibilities with individual will and discernment – an apt description of the journey through the unconscious realm that The Moon represents.

Practical Guidance: Application in Readings and Advice for Querents

When The Moon appears in a reading, it's essential to help the querent understand that they may not have all the information they need to make clear decisions. This card often suggests waiting for greater clarity before taking definitive action, especially in situations where emotions are running high or where there seems to be confusion or deception.

For practical guidance, The Moon encourages practices that connect us with our intuition and subconscious mind. Recommend journaling, especially dream journaling, as dreams may contain important insights during Moon phases. Meditation and quiet reflection can also help the querent distinguish between intuitive knowing and fear-based projections.

When advising querents who receive The Moon, emphasize the importance of honesty – both with themselves and others. This card often appears when self-deception or denial is at play, and acknowledging uncomfortable truths is the first step toward clarity.

For querents struggling with anxiety or fear, The Moon suggests identifying the source of these emotions rather than being controlled by them. Often what seems terrifying in the moonlight becomes manageable when examined closely. Encourage the querent to name their fears specifically rather than allowing them to remain as vague, looming threats.

If The Moon appears reversed, advise the querent to pay attention to new information that may be emerging, as this could be the clarity they've been waiting for. However, caution them that initial clarity may lead to temporary confusion as they integrate new understandings with previous perceptions.

In both upright and reversed positions, remind the querent that The Moon phase is temporary – just as the literal moon waxes and wanes, periods of confusion and uncertainty eventually give way to greater understanding. The key is to remain patient and attentive during the darker phases, trusting that illumination will come.

The Moon invites us to develop a relationship with uncertainty itself, to become comfortable navigating by partial light, and to trust our inner compass when external landmarks are obscured. By embracing rather than fearing the lunar landscape of our psyche, we develop the intuitive skills necessary for the final stages of our spiritual journey through the Major Arcana.

Check out highly detailed Tarot de Marseille Interpretation Guide