The Moon: Modern RWS Tarot Card meanings
RWS Cards In Context › Major Arcana › KEY XVIII: The Moon
‘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.
RWS The Moon Card: Paired Combinations
The Moon With Major Arcana Cards
The Moon & The Magician
The Moon (↑) & The Magician (↑): Imagination guided into form. Dreams translate into tangible results through creative skill and intuition. Vision and craft align for powerful manifestation.
The Moon (↓) & The Magician (↑): Inspiration unfocused or misdirected. Ideas drift without structure until confidence restores control of method.
The Moon (↑) & The Magician (↓): Illusion disguised as expertise. Promises sound convincing but lack foundation. Discernment exposes where talent has been overstated.
The Moon (↓) & The Magician (↓): Deception and confusion. Plans falter through hidden motives or flawed execution. Truth emerges after reflection and correction.
The Moon With Minor Arcana Cards
The Moon & Seven of Swords
The Moon (↑) & The Seven of Swords (↑): Quiet investigation and careful movement. Secrets handled with prudence yield protection or advantage. Subtle understanding overcomes uncertainty.
The Moon (↓) & The Seven of Swords (↑): Misdirection uncovered. Hidden intentions come to light, revealing what intuition already sensed.
The Moon (↑) & The Seven of Swords (↓): Rash exposure of plans. Confidence replaces necessary caution, leading to temporary loss or embarrassment.
The Moon (↓) & The Seven of Swords (↓): Falsehood defeated by its own weight. Concealment fails and confession clears the way for renewal.
The Moon & Nine of Cups
The Moon (↑) & The Nine of Cups (↑): Contentment tempered by wonder. Hidden fulfilments surface and private wishes find expression in reality. Gratitude deepens emotional peace.
The Moon (↓) & The Nine of Cups (↑): Pleasure clouded by uncertainty. Contentment feels incomplete until honesty restores confidence.
The Moon (↑) & The Nine of Cups (↓): Satisfaction pursued through illusion. Comfort or indulgence masks deeper need. Awareness restores balance between dream and actuality.
The Moon (↓) & The Nine of Cups (↓): False assurance and emotional weariness. Joy fades as promises prove hollow. Renewal follows once appearance gives way to truth.
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.”
Additional Notes: The RWS Moon Card
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: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.
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