The Moon: Tarot Card Meaning

The Moon is the eighteenth card of the Major Arcana and stands for illusion, intuition and the unconscious. In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck a full moon shines over a winding path between two towers, with a dog and a wolf howling at it and a crayfish crawling out of a pool. It is a landscape of dreams and half-seen shapes where nothing is quite as it appears.

Upright meaning

Upright, The Moon warns that things are not clear. Fear, confusion, hidden information or your own imagination may be distorting the picture. Move slowly, trust your intuition and avoid big decisions until you see more. Pay attention to your dreams and feelings, and be honest about what you are afraid of, since fear often looks bigger in the dark.

Reversed meaning

Reversed, the fog is beginning to lift. Hidden truths come to light, anxiety eases and you see the situation more clearly. It can also warn that you are repressing something, or that a confusion is being used against you. Face what you have been avoiding, and let the facts, rather than your fears, guide your next move.

In love

In love, The Moon suggests uncertainty, mixed signals or feelings that are hard to read, in yourself or in someone else. Do not assume. Reversed, it points to the truth surfacing, misunderstandings clearing and insecurities easing.

In career

At work, it warns of unclear information, hidden agendas or a situation that is not as it seems. Check the details before you commit. Reversed, it suggests that the confusion is clearing and you can see the real picture.

As a yes or no answer

As a yes or no answer, The Moon leans no, because things are unclear and it is not the time to commit. Reversed, it is also a no for now, though the situation is beginning to clear.