You’re walking home late at night. You come to a block where the streetlights are out, shrouding you in darkness. The dim light of the moon is your own only guide. In the distance you see a shadowy figure walking towards you. Are they an enemy? Or a stranger heading home? Do you cross to the other side of street? Does your breath catch in your chest the moment you walk by them?
This is energy of the moon tarot card. I’m going to be brutally honest with you today. The moon is about confusion and people are confused as hell about what it means.
Many well meaning spiritualists have taken the dreamy, divine feminine, idea of the moon and projected it over this tarot card. However in your tarot deck, the intuitive divine feminine energy is already taken by the High Priestess. The Moon card does something no other card does, it questions you.
So let’s uncover the mysteries of the moon. Because understanding this major arcana tarot card will take you from a fumbling newbie to a confident, skilled tarot reader.
The Moon Upright Card Keywords : shadow, hidden truth, subconscious, illusion, secrets, confusion, uncertainty, mystery
The Moon Reversed Card Keywords : exposure, missing information, fear, deception, misinterpretation, misunderstanding, anxiety
Depiction & Art Meaning of The Moon Tarot Card
To understand the moon tarot card it’s important to know the meaning of its artwork.
The main symbol is of course the moon itself, representing the unconscious, and subconscious mind. Its dim light only slightly illuminates the path to higher consciousness.
The face on the moon is the light of reason. A.E. Waite, co-creator of the rider-waite tarot deck, wrote: “The intellectual light is a reflection and beyond it is the unknown mystery which it cannot shew forth.”
Meaning that while we can know fragments of truth through intuition and reason. The full picture lies deep in the subconscious. Ultimately the truth is often unknown.
A crayfish emerges from the small pool in the foreground. a symbol of something rising from the watery subconscious mind. A dog and a wolf howl into the night sky. Signifying tamed vs wild instincts.
In the background, framing the winding path are two towers. Also seen in the death card. The towers are the forces of good and evil, it’s difficult to distinguish the difference in dim moonlight. The path shows a journey through uncertainty and illusion.
The element of the moon tarot card is water. Its zodiac sign is Pisces. To learn about the zodiac’s connection to tarot read this article.
Roman numeral 18
Upright Moon Card Meaning
If your imagination is running a way from you, showing you images of terror, or hidden enemies in the darkness. This is due to painful emotions from your past that you avoid, coming to the surface. When you push your emotions down, they don’t disappear, they wait deep in your subconscious mind. This situation is triggering those emotions. You’re projecting your fears, created from those past pains into your present and future.
The actions you’re taking from this space are dangerous. Leading to self sabotage or a collapse. Your shadow is in the driver’s seat.
When the moon is drawn nothing is as it seems. You’re seeing disharmony where there is harmony. Or truth, where there is illusion.
In the darkness your view is murky. A rope on the floor could be a snake. If you see the High priestess (intuition), Queen or King of Swords (intellectual reason) in your reading, trust your instincts. Without those cards present, you need to question yourself. You may be way off base.
Why are you asking the cards your question? What are your motivations? Are you acting with a clear mind?
Feel into the situation instead of using your head. There could be hidden enemies, half truths, or deception in the dark.
Not everything is meant to be known immediately. This card is asking you to get comfortable with the uncertainty. Answers will come in time.
With so much illusion surrounding you, be careful making quick decisions. It’s a good idea to wait. Even letting a full moon cycle (28 days from new moon to full) pass before taking action. Look to your dreams, which are messages from your subconscious mind for clarity.
The Moon Tarot Card Reversed Meaning
Upside down the moon arrives to shake your foundations. You need to get to the heart of why you’re asking your question. Limiting beliefs are clouding your judgement. Now is the time to face your subconscious head on.
What underlying feelings are you repressing? What personal truth is hiding in your shadows?
You’re misunderstanding something important about your situation. There is inconsistency and confusion here. Work through your fears and anxiety to decrease their impact.
Be careful making decisions, because right now you’re missing information. Instability and uncertainty lurks beneath the surface.
In time, secrets will be revealed, deceptions exposed and illusions cleared.
Anxiety is keeping you in your comfort zone. Afraid of stepping beyond your safe boundaries. This is not the time to push through fear. Instead, seek to understand it.
Listen to your inner voice, or your higher power for guidance. If you’re struggling to understand your intuitive messages, dreams or psychic downloads, that’s okay. Slow down. Give it time. Even waiting a full moon cycle ( 28 days from new to full moon) for clarity.
The Moon Tarot Yes or No Meaning
In a yes or no reading the moon is a no. Find the yes or no meaning of every tarot card here.
Timing of the Moon Card
The moon as timing is 2-3 months. A trick you can use if you pull the moon card is to draw another card as clarification. For example if you draw the death card, it means “In 2–3 months when the moon is in Scorpio.”
Go to this page to find the astrological meaning of every tarot card. Or this page for a guide on predicting timelines.
As Feelings
The moon tarot card as feelings show self-doubt and uncertainty clouding this person’s judgement. They are fearful, and hiding their true feelings from you. Eventually the truth will come to light.
Don’t jump to conclusions here, when you pull the moon there is always an element of not knowing. If they’re holding back, it might be for the best. You’re missing key information about this person.
Outcome Meaning
Drawing the moon as an outcome card is an unclear sign. Often this means you need to find a way to get comfortable with uncertainty. This is your tarot deck’s way of saying some things are better left unknown. Maybe you’re not supposed to see the future right now.
Upright Moon Tarot Card Meaning : Love
If your single and you pull the moon upright in a love reading, reevaluate your subconscious view of love. Your shadow beliefs about love are making it easy for you to fall for illusions. While we all put our best food forward in dating. You don’t want to end up completely duped by someone’s persona.
You’ve been stuck in repeating negative patterns in your love life. Pause and work through your deepest emotions, before diving into a relationship.
Drawing the upright moon in a relationship reading shows that you’re missing connection with your partner. You’re not seeing them clearly because of your underlying emotions. You need an honest conversation.
The sacrifice’s you’re making are damaging to your relationship. You think you’re doing something for them, when really you’re sacrificing to be seen as good partner. This will lead to imbalance, and resentment. Feel the truth of your feelings, and be honest about what works for you.
Reversed Meaning of The Moon in Love and Relationships
In a relationship the upside down moon card shows you’re misunderstanding your partner. You both are misinterpreting each other’s words and actions. It’s getting exhausting! Focus on putting energy into your own satisfaction. Because it will make it easier to be more loving towards your partner.
If you’re single, anxiety and fear from past relationships is keeping you from enjoying dating. You might not be putting yourself out there at all. If you are, are you hiding parts of yourself from potential romantic interests? This is a form of deception. You’d don’t have to reveal everything about yourself at once. Yet, being inauthentic will lead to relationships that are incompatible and unsatisfying.
The Moon Tarot Card Friendship
In friendship relationships, the moon shows there are unresolved feelings under the surface. Hiding your emotions leads to confusion for both of you. To have a good friendship with this person, you need to be more authentic. Clear the air. Say what’s been unsaid.
Reversed, the moon shows a misunderstanding is affecting your friendship. If you’re feeling anxious about this relationship, it’s because you’re misinterpreting each other’s words and actions!
If you’re scared this person is deceiving you, wait, all will be revealed soon.
Career Meaning of The Moon Card
Upright Meaning
Upright the moon shows that there are illusions in your workplace. Maybe your boss has hidden expectations, they aren’t communicating with you. Or perhaps you’re being strung along with empty promises to keep you performing. Trust your instincts and keep your ears open. You may need to read between the lines to know what’s actually going on.
Reverse Meaning
In a career reading the reversed moon shows you are deceiving yourself in some way. Maybe you’re expecting more from your job. Are you actually putting in the energy and effort to achieve it?
Watch out for missing information in work assignments or projects. This is your sign to double check everything.
Context : Job Offer
The moon tarot card as it relates to a job offer means you need to listen to your intuition. It’s important to understand what it is telling you about this company. Check contracts carefully for hidden clauses, expectations or fees.
If you’re waiting to hear back about a job, unfortunately the moon tells you to get comfortable with uncertainty.
Context : Business
The moon tarot card meaning in business is a sign to be careful of hidden financial risks. This is not the right time to over commit yourself. With money, energy, or time. Don’t let yourself feel like you know everything. There’s a lot more for you to learn if you want to succeed.
Financial Context
Upright the moon indicates uncertainty in financial markets. If you’re considering an investment, business, or big purchase this is not the ideal time. There are things you don’t know that will affect your financial success. Pay close attention to hidden risks, or fees, with any money moves you are making.
Drawing the moon in reverse the moon shows you’re lacking in financial knowledge. This is the biggest source of any money problems you are having. You have only a surface understanding. Clear financial confusion by educating yourself. If you have anxiety about your finances, increase your knowledge. Face financial matters head on. This will make you more confident.
Tarot Card Advice From The Moon
Slow down. Be watchful and resist jumping to conclusions. This is a good time to stick to the basics. You’re trying to create what you from a place of dissatisfaction. This can lead you to falling for an illusion. Nothing is what it seems in the dim moonlight.
The Moon’s Connection to Fertility and Pregnancy
The Moon is about the subconscious and emotional aspects of fertility. It’s a sign of becoming pregnant after a long time of waiting or trying.
If you’re tired of waiting, look into your subconscious beliefs around childbearing. Is there an underlying feeling holding you back?
Learn more about fertility and pregnancy readings here.
Health Meaning of the Moon
Pulling the moon in a health reading shows that there is something going on under the surface. Make sure to speak to your doctor about small symptoms, to be sure they aren’t something more. Or don’t become worse down the road.
Alternatively your subconscious thoughts and emotions are converting into symptoms in your body. If you’ve been in a positive mood and thinking constructively, woohoo! Health and well-being will follow. If you’ve been letting negative spirals get the best of you, holding on to, or shoving down painful emotion. Soon you’ll notice psychical symptoms in your body that reflect this state.
In reverse the moon traditionally meant madness or delusions of the mind. Make sure you’re caring for your mental health. What makes you you feel grounded in reality? Do more of that.
Spiritual Meaning
The Moon is a deeply spiritual tarot card. It shows you are going through a period of psychic development. Fine tuning your intuition. Pay close attention to your dreams right now they’re full of messages from your subconscious and spiritual guides. Your consciousness is ascending to new heights.
This is a great time for you to engage in shadow work. Often people think there are only negative traits in the shadow self. Actually, the shadow holds anything you’re not consciously aware of. This means hidden talents and latent parts of yourself are emerging.
Upside down the moon is a spiritual warning. Beware of false guides, and shady gurus. Check spiritual teachers against your gut instincts. Many people are talented speakers that can use spiritual ideas to sound enlightened. Just because someone looks or acts the part doesn’t mean they’re benefiting you. Instead they could be helping you maintain a comfortable illusion.
Ask yourself, are you more or less connected to the people around you? Are you engaged with life, or in a spiritual bubble?
Alternatively, You’re be using spirituality as a way to deceive yourself. Is there a truth about yourself or your life that you’re refusing to acknowledge?
The Moon And the Hermit Together
Seeing the moon and the hermit in a tarot reading show you’re embarking on an inner journey. You’re searching for a deeper meaning in the situation. Introspection and intuition are your most powerful allies. Other people’s explanations, opinions and guidance will be unsatisfying. This is a time where you’ll have to trust your instincts and inner voice above all else.
Try inward practices such as journaling or mediation for more insight.
The combination of these two major arcana cards indicates a journey alone and facing the unknown. So it can indicate something like solo travel! Or in a career context, a need to work for yourself.
The Moon and The Lovers Tarot Card
When you draw the lovers and the moon together it’s because you’re stepping into the unknown. Now is the time to listen to your inner voice even if it’s scary. Your soul’s purpose is guiding you. If you’re fearful to take this next step because it feels like a risk, drawing these cards it’s a great sign. You’re headed somewhere beautiful. There’s a higher purpose behind what your intuition is telling you to do.
In a love reading, these two major arcana cards signify a connection that goes far beyond the surface level. You share a deep emotional and spiritual bond. There’s real trust and understanding here. Even if it doesn’t always make sense to others.
The Moon and The Six of Cups
The combined meaning of the moon and the 6 of cups are a warning against clinging to the past. Memories are resurfacing from your subconscious. It’s time to let go of old emotional bonds and longing for what was.
No matter how beautiful your memories are, living in them, instead of reality will bring you pain. Find a way to say goodbye to the past. A releasing ritual would benefit you.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Moon card
Why do I keep getting the moon tarot card?
You’re outsourcing your intuition to your tarot cards. Rather than using them as a tool. You’re expecting your cards to give you all the answers. If you are doing this to feel a sense of safety and control, you’re creating an illusion. Some answers you’re not meant to know. Uncertainty can be good for you even if it’s scary
Examine your motivations behind the questions you are asking. Are you acting with a clear mind?
What does the moon tarot card stand for?
The Moon tarot card stands for uncertainty and illusions. It asks you to question what you’re seeing and dig deeper to find clarity and truth.
Is the moon tarot card bad?
No, the moon is not a bad card. It does connect to uncertainty and our subconscious minds, which often feels unsettling. The moon card is not a bad sign in and of itself.
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