The Moon: Modern RWS Tarot Card meanings
‘KEY XVIII: The Moon’, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
The RWS Moon: Upright Meanings
Illusion, Fear, Instinct, Intuition, The Great Unknown.
Generally
Broadly, the RWS Moon card deals with things for which the causes are unknown. A situation where things are not as they seem, a period of intense and vivid dreams, a project clouded by uncertainty, facing a hidden fear. All of these things relate to the great mysteries of life that we can doubt the answers to even when we get them!
Compare this card to The High Priestess which comes at the start of the Major Arcana.
In a Love Context
Deception or misunderstanding in a relationship. A secret affair, a partner who is not being honest, a relationship based on illusion, a period of intense jealousy and insecurity.
In a Money/Career Context
A lack of clarity or deception at work. A project with a hidden flaw, a colleague who is working against you in secret, a job that is not what it was advertised to be, financial insecurity due to unknown factors.
In a Spiritual Context
A "dark night of the soul." A period of intense spiritual testing, confronting your deepest fears, a path that is shrouded in mystery and illusion, a warning against spiritual deception.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Proceed with caution. Do not trust what you see. Look for the hidden meaning. Trust your intuition to guide you through the fear.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A period of confusion and uncertainty. The truth of the matter will remain hidden. A situation will be governed by illusion.
As Obstacles
Your own fears and anxieties are blocking your progress. A hidden deception is the primary hindrance. The situation is too confusing to navigate.
As Hidden Energy
A hidden fear is the true motivation. A secret deception is at play. An unacknowledged illusion is shaping events.
As Resources/Alliances
Your intuition is your only guide. The ability to navigate a confusing situation. A dream that provides a key insight. Compare to The Hanged Man.
The Moon Reversed
Reversed Keywords
Doubt, Courage, Clarity, Faith
Generally
The release of fear, a newfound clarity. A secret is revealed, a period of confusion is ending, a long-held anxiety is finally overcome.
In a Love Context
The truth of a relationship is revealed. A secret affair is exposed, a period of misunderstanding comes to an end, a couple finally has an honest conversation.
In a Money/Career Context
A deception at work is uncovered. A project that was stalled due to confusion now moves forward, a colleague's lies are exposed, you find clarity on your true career path.
In a Spiritual Context
The end of a "dark night of the soul." A spiritual crisis is resolved, a hidden fear is overcome, you find your way back to your spiritual path with a new sense of clarity.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
It is time to face your fears. Release your anxieties. Seek the truth of the matter.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
The truth will be revealed. A period of confusion will end. A hidden fear will be overcome.
As Obstacles
A refusal to face your fears is blocking progress. A desire to remain in a state of confusion.
As Hidden Energy
A secret is about to be revealed. A hidden truth is waiting to be discovered.
As Resources/Alliances
Help comes from a moment of clarity. The truth is your greatest ally. A secret is revealed that works in your favour.
The RWS Moon in Key Card Combinations
Combinations with Major Arcana
The Moon & The Sun
The Moon (↑) & The Sun (↑): Finding clarity and joy after a period of confusion. A hidden fear that is overcome by success. A secret that is brought into the light.
The Moon (↓) & The Sun (↑): A successful outcome that reveals a hidden deception. A happy situation that has a secret dark side.
The Moon (↑) & The Sun (↓): A period of confusion that leads to a loss of vitality. A hidden fear that is preventing you from finding happiness.
The Moon (↓) & The Sun (↓): A situation where a release of fear leads to a disappointing outcome. A truth is revealed, but it does not bring joy.
The Moon & The Hermit
The Moon (↑) & The Hermit (↑): A period of solitary introspection to confront your deepest fears. A "dark night of the soul." A wise person who is navigating a confusing situation.
The Moon (↓) & The Hermit (↑): Using a period of solitude to find clarity and release your fears. A wise person who helps you see the truth.
The Moon (↑) & The Hermit (↓): A period of confusion that leads to a state of painful isolation. A fear of seeking guidance.
The Moon (↓) & The Hermit (↓): A situation where a refusal to face your fears has you trapped in a state of paranoid loneliness.
Combinations with the Suit of Swords
The Moon & The Two of Swords
The Moon (↑) & The Two of Swords (↑): A stalemate caused by fear and indecision. A refusal to face a difficult truth. A situation that is blocked by hidden anxieties.
The Moon (↓) & The Two of Swords (↑): A difficult decision that is being blocked by a fear of the truth. A stalemate that is based on a lie.
The Moon (↑) & The Two of Swords (↓): A difficult choice that is made based on fear and illusion. A decision that is clouded by confusion.
The Moon (↓) & The Two of Swords (↓): The release of fear allows you to finally make a difficult decision. A truth is revealed that ends a stalemate.
Additional Notes: The RWS Moon Card
A.E Waite’s Original ‘Moon’ Card Meanings
Upright: "Hidden enemies, danger, calumny, darkness, terror, deception, occult forces, error. Reversed: Instability, inconstancy, silence, lesser degrees of deception and error." Pictorial Key To The Tarot (1911).
The RWS ‘Moon’ Card Symbolism
A.E Waite’s Moon card depicts a large, full moon with a crescent inset, shining down on a landscape of illusion and mystery. The moon sheds drops of dew (Yods), symbolising the descent of divine influence into the material world. A crayfish, representing the most primitive levels of consciousness, emerges from a pool in the foreground. A dog and a wolf, representing the tamed and wild aspects of the mind, howl at the moon. In the distance, a path winds between two towers, suggesting a journey through the unknown towards a distant goal. The entire scene is an allegory for illusion, fear, anxiety, and the journey through the subconscious.
Question: Is The Moon a negative card?
While it often points to challenging experiences like fear and anxiety, The Moon is not necessarily "evil." It represents the necessary journey through the dark, uncertain parts of the psyche. It is a card of illusion, but also of the deep, intuitive truths that can be found when we have the courage to face the unknown.
Meditations on the RWS Moon Card
What past negative karma can I infer from my current circumstances (if any)?* How can I move from creating negative karma to fulfiling my dharma?
*Please note that the first meditation here is emphatically not meant to imply that all negative things which happen are karmically ordained. In karmic doctrine, things can either be karmically ordained or karmically permitted. This is very important to understand so that you don’t end up victim blaming yourself or others, especially in ways which may attempt to justify prejudice against specific groups.
Continue Learning RWS Meanings: Three Master Resources
Resource I: Master The 22 Major arcana [recommended for beginners]
Learn the meanings of the other Major Arcana cards in the Rider Waite Smith tarot system. New to tarot? I recommend practicing with just these 22 cards for now.
Resource II: Meanings Mastery
No shortcuts; you can master the 780+ meanings of 78 RWS tarot cards in 12-30 months. Just use the same method I did when I was in your position. It’s based on principles of modern memory science and it begins by avoiding the most common mistake that I see a lot of beginners making in their practice. Learn what this mistake is and exactly how to avoid it, by clicking the button below.
Resource III: Master All 78 Cards In The RWS Tarot System
This article is just one within the Rider Waite Smith ‘Cards In Context’ Series: a comprehensive look at modern and original RWS meanings. Begin your mastery of the full RWS tarot system by clicking the button below.
Comprehensive guide to the 22 Major Arcana cards of the Rider Waite Smith tarot system. Learn what the Major Arcana cards are and how divinatory readers have evolved their RWS Major Arcana practice in the last 100 years.