Each tarot card has its own unique meaning that is full of divine mystery. From The Hanged Man to The Fool, truly no two cards are the same. However, the most powerful and meaningful cards always seems to lie in the Major Arcana of the deck. But the most significant in this portion of the deck is the moon tarot card.
In everyday life, the moon is a mysterious symbol in the sky, shining light down in the darkness of night when nocturnal creatures wander. You may be surprised to learn the card has a much different meaning than you think. And, actually, it may even point to the darkness within yourself you may be unaware of. Now, we’re going to go over the moon tarot card, what it is, and it’s upright and reversed meaning in a reading.
The Moon Tarot Card Overview
To start, the moon card is part of the Major Arcana of the deck, making it a more significant piece in a reading. Although this card has many different meanings, it’s symbolism always seems to tie back into our inner self and our intuition.
The Moon Tarot Card Art
When it comes to the art presented on the card, although each deck is unique, it is most often shown with the moon high in the sky with a dog and wolf on each side of it on the ground. On the left and right side of the card, there are two towers. Below them, in the bottom center of the card, there is a crawfish in the water that connects to a stream that seems to disappear into the night sky. When we look at the card without knowing it’s meaning, there are a few potential correspondences that can be seen. For example:
- The water flowing to the sky could represent the subconscious, emotions, or intuition. Because water is directly connected with our subconscious, this is a powerful symbol of our intimate connection to the moon.
- The dog and the wolf on each side of the moon could symbolize the different aspects of our subconscious. One could be seen as tamed and calm; the other could be wild and free. This could represent the balance of our minds with intuition.
- The two towers could symbolize the positive and negative aspects of the mind and intuition.
- The crawfish could be symbol of a new journey. This is seen as he gazes ahead at the stream in front of him that disappears into an unknown. It could also tie in with uncertainty and trusting your intuition when the path ahead is not clear.
Analyzing the art and symbolism of the card is always key to understanding it’s full meaning. And while there may be other meanings, these were the most readily apparent upon first studying the card.
The Moon Tarot Card Upright Meaning:
- Fear
- Illusion
- Intuition
Moving on to the card’s meaning, the upright meaning of the moon tarot card generally points to fears and illusions. A lot of times, this is to tell you that you are projecting fears from a past situation into a present one. In return, this can limit you from experiencing life in the present. This may signify that you need to deal with your emotions better and not let the past hold you back.
On the other hand, you are also being advised to delve inward now and trust your instincts. Because the moon is connected directly to our intuition and our feelings, it’s time to analyze how we feel on the inside and trust that. Your intuition is your inner wisdom, your inner self, and the part of you who sees people and situations for exactly as they are. The moon is here to remind you that your gut feelings are something that you should never overlook. If you feel off about a person or a situation, trust that because your intuition never lies. Take the time to look within yourself to understand this, and you will learn the secrets that lie directly in front of you.
Alternatively, if you received The Sun card in a reading, you may have the opposite meaning of The Moon card. Check out our article, “The Sun Tarot Card Meaning” for more information.
The Moon Tarot Card Reversed Meaning:
- Intuitive confusion
- Release of fear
- Transformation
Next, if you received the reversed moon card, you may be overcoming fears, doubts, and anxiety. This is a card all about transforming your mind, body, and spirit into a place of serenity. You are becoming stronger and freeing yourself of this negative hold. However, this could also point to running further from your problems than before. You may be transforming into a darker version of yourself simply because you won’t deal with the problems that lie before you. If you feel you are in a depressed or dark state, you are being asked to look within and overcome. Once you do, the outcome will be truly magical.
On the other hand, the reversed moon tarot may also mean you are being sent intuitive messages but are not open to receiving them. For this reason, you are being told to trust yourself and become more open these divine signs. Take a leap of faith, meditate, or take time to connect with the world around you. If you do this, you will be vastly rewarded.
Now, if you’re curious about delving deeper into the Moon cards reversed meaning, check out labrinthos’ article, “The Moon Meaning” for additional insight.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the moon tarot card is a very powerful card of transformation, divinity, and freedom. However, the most important message to pull from this card is faith. Therefore, if you receive this card in a reading, trust the feelings you get from it. While it may not seem like it, this card has your best interest in store, so it’s time to listen. Trust us; once you learn to trust your intuition, you will never be steered wrong.
For more inside looks into tarot card meanings, be sure to check out our article, “The Secret Meaning of ‘The Fool’ Card” for more information.
