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Moon

Alternative names: Dusk, Darkness, Eclipse Category: Major Arcana, sphere of being Position: 18 Zodiac sign: Pisces ♓

The Moon infuses the tarot interpretation with an aura of mystery and concealment. Under its influence, the world becomes a place full of enigmas and veiled meanings. It is like opening a chest that, besides precious treasures, may hold dangerous secrets. The Moon can attract the eye with its subtle glow, yet it can just as easily plunge one into disorientation or fear. In the reversed position, tension mounts, and falsehood and deceit pervade the space. Where, among the night sky, there might have been depth and inspiration, chaos and distrust emerge. In the realm of the Moon, there is no single, objective truth, and the line between imagination and reality is exceptionally thin.

Symbolism and Key Ideas of the Moon

In classic decks, including Rider-Waite, the card shows no human figures. Instead, we see a dog, a wolf, and a crab set against a nocturnal landscape. Two towers, a lake, green meadows, and distant hills create a scene full of symbols. The animals depicted – the dog and the wolf – represent the contrast between the tame and the wild, while the crab emerging from the water evokes a backward movement or the surfacing of repressed content. The yods rising in the air evoke an energy that soars beyond logic. The lunar twilight favors intuitive perception while at the same time feeding fears and anxieties.

The Meaning of the Moon Card in the Upright Position

Key aspects:

Mystery and hidden motives
Hints, instincts, subconscious feelings
Unclear paths, misleading trails, fluctuations
Emotional sensitivity and susceptibility to influence

The upright Moon indicates a moment of suspension and uncertainty. Not everything is clear at the moment. It is a time to listen to your inner feelings, yet without falling into paranoia. The card may signify a desire for discretion—a way of protecting one’s plans or personal matters from prying eyes. We may draw on the mysterious energies of the night, but we must remember that in the darkness it is easy to lose one’s way.

Love and Relationships (Upright Position)

Confrontation with hidden emotions, suspicions, or jealousy
Unspoken issues and subtle tensions
Reluctance to full honesty in a relationship
For singles: an emotional blockage hindering intimacy

In the realm of feelings, the Moon reveals the difficulty of establishing clear communication. Misunderstandings may arise, breeding doubts and generating unease. There is a risk that partners will avoid openness, opting for silence or ambiguous signals.

Work and Finances (Upright Position)

An unclear professional situation, lacking clear guidelines
Behind-the-scenes actions, avoiding the disclosure of true earnings
The need for creativity and intuition to cope with unstable conditions
Income and expenses kept in secrecy

In the material sphere, the Moon points to the concealment of information, perhaps even the avoidance of taxation or reluctance to share work results. This card suggests the necessity of ingenuity and patience to effectively navigate an unclear reality.

Health and Psyche (Upright Position)

Susceptibility to infections or a weaker physical condition
Heightened sensitivity, emotionality, and an elevated intuition
Potential manifestation of clairvoyant abilities
The need to maintain balance between body and spirit

The Moon underscores the fragility of the body and the need for gentle care regarding one’s health. Psychologically, it may imply a greater susceptibility to fears and anxieties, while also opening one up to inspiration stemming from inner impulses.

Situations and Questions (Upright Position)

A lack of complete transparency in current events
The need for time to understand the true picture of a situation
A creative approach to problems, making intuitive decisions
The ability to keep secrets and act with discretion

The Moon signals that the best way to handle dilemmas is to accept uncertainty. Follow your inner compass without expecting immediate answers. Mystery can become an ally if you learn how to harness it.

Spirituality and Karma (Upright Position)

Immersion into the deep layers of the psyche, exploring the subconscious
A tendency toward magical, parapsychic, or religious practices
Karmic lessons related to accepting ambiguity
An attempt to find meaning in that which is elusive

On a spiritual level, the Moon signifies a journey into a realm of symbols, dreams, and archetypes. Higher wisdom may lurk in the shadows, and spiritual development requires overcoming the fear of the unknown.

The Reversed Meaning of the Moon Card

Key issues:

A lack of control over the situation, ineffective deceptions
Blockages from the past and difficulty adapting
Disappointment and being lost in illusions
The exposure of lies and falsehoods

In the reversed position, the Moon removes the mask of mystery, revealing deceit in all its splendor. Where there might have been depth, chaotic confusion appears. False promises or dubious ideas are exposed, and one can no longer pretend that everything is alright.

Love and Relationships (Reversed)

Empty declarations, lacking prospects for a shared future
Transparent lies that have come to light
A time to accept the truth about the relationship and its shortcomings
For singles: recurring disappointments and a lack of stability

The reversed Moon in matters of the heart signals that illusory dreams have crumbled. It calls for facing the facts and making a decision: to leave or to stay, knowing that everything is different from what it once appeared to be.

Work and Finances (Reversed)

The revelation of dishonest practices within a company
The pursuit of fictitious projects that yield no profit
Difficulty in stabilizing the financial situation
The necessity of abandoning unrealistic plans in favor of concrete actions

The reversed Moon in the work and finance sphere signals that it is time to stop deluding oneself with empty ideas. A lack of consistency in actions results in losses and chaos. The only remedy is to face reality honestly.

Health and Psyche (Reversed)

A slower recovery, requiring more decisive measures
A deepening of anxiety or depressive states if actions are not taken
A fear that necessitates therapy or support
A sense of despondency and difficulty emerging from inertia

The reversed Moon indicates that serious steps must be taken to care for both physical health and psychological balance. Abandoning passivity and accepting external help may be the only path to improvement.

Situations and Questions (Reversed)

A clarification of murky matters, even if it is painful
The end of excuses for one’s own shortcomings
The need to establish a concrete plan of action
Avoiding falsehood at every turn

The reversed Moon suggests that further ignoring the facts is not an option. It is necessary to honestly acknowledge mistakes and make corrections in one’s thinking and behavior.

Spirituality and Karma (Reversed)

Self-deception regarding one’s spiritual development
Fantasies and illusions without a solid practice
Being stuck in a karmic impasse due to a lack of courage and truth
The need to abandon illusions that do not foster growth

The reversed Moon calls upon the seeker to be honest about their own spiritual experiences. Illusions cannot serve as a guide without genuine self-work behind them.

The Moon as a Person’s Significator

In the upright position, the Moon indicates people who are exceptionally sensitive, endowed with intuition, and prone to delving into subtle emotional and spiritual states. They cherish secrets and do not wish to share them with the world.

The reversed Moon portrays individuals wandering amid their own false impressions. They might embellish stories about their talents or experiences, yet they lack the determination and reliability to prove anything concrete.

Advice and Warnings of the Moon Card

Upright Position: It is worthwhile to trust your gut feelings while remaining cautious. The Moon advises not to fear the shadowy aspects of your own nature. However, it warns against succumbing to irrational fears and urges you to maintain a balance between fantasy and reality.

Reversed Position: Now it is time to drop the mask and face the facts. The reversed Moon calls for a courageous confrontation with the truth, even if it is painful. It warns that further lies and self-deception will only deepen feelings of frustration and helplessness.

Moon: The Card of the Day

Upright Position: Today you may feel heightened sensitivity and a propensity for reflection. Allow yourself to listen to your intuition without trying to rationalize everything. Caution in your interactions with others might prove valuable, and a moment of creative inspiration could be a pleasant surprise.

Reversed Position: Today, the consequences of ignoring reality will begin to emerge. The time will come to break free from illusory visions and accept the facts. It is better to abandon fruitless dreams and focus on concrete actions rather than succumbing to disappointment.