18 | The Moon
Model, Brittany Jacob
“The Moon can only fill up once it becomes empty. And it can only shine in all its glory once it’s gone through its darkest expression. It doesn’t berate its darkness or wish for it to be any other way.”
-Carl Jung
The Moon is card number 18 in the Tarot’s Major Arcana. In numerology, the number 18 carries the frequency of spiritual connection, being of service, and responsibility. As a double-digit number in numerology, it’s also most commonly reduced down further, 1 + 8 = 9, to the number 9. To learn more about 9’s meaning, check out The Hermits card here.
The Moon brings us into our subconscious mind with heightened symbolism emerging in waking life. Making for a difficult time to see things for what they truly are, and brings with it a period of illusion and uncertainty. The lesson of The Moon asks us to trust our instincts and intuition, making way for a time of potent psychic awareness. Things aren’t always what they appear to be, so think twice before making a fast decision during this time, and try not to let impulsive emotions get the better of you. By transporting us into our raw and untamed emotional side, we get to uncover what’s going on under the surface and ultimately better understand ourselves. In this dreamy state, don’t push forward too quickly and instead embrace the murky waters of this temporary topsy-turvy place of being. Let go of mental blocks and negative self-talk, and instead allow your intuition to guide you forward as you pay attention to the symbols and messages coming up right now.
General Meaning - The subconscious, hidden truths, illusion, mystery, psychic awareness & intuition.
When out of Alignment - Ungrounded energy, secrets, anxiety, confusion, self-deception, and feeling blocked.
Navigating The Moon’s archetypal energy-
The Moon delivers us into the mystery to uncover secrets stored in the depths of the deep mind. Stripping back the layers to show what’s going on under the surface that’s not being addressed. Bringing up a sense of unease, along with ungrounded energy and sensitive feelings with it. Drawing a comparison between the nature of the moon’s cycles and its influence on the water and tide draws a parallel for how it affects the water and emotions within our system. You may notice it’s harder to sleep during a full moon period, along with the dream state experienced being more vibrant, strange, and symbolic, as water has deep ties to emotions and the intuition. What’s being brought to the surface during this time is what was formerly pushed down and ignored. For instance, how often do you go about life wearing a mask of who you feel you’re supposed to be? Let your feral and animal side loose, dance out this wild energy beside a bonfire. Releasing any stored internalized inhibitions as you lose yourself in the rhythm, you may even find yourself howling at the moon!
The Moon’s Phases:
Dark moon- when the night sky is completely void of the moon, just before the new moon phase. A low-energy time when the veil is the thinnest, and good for reflection.
New moon - barely visible in the night sky. Associated with new beginnings, a time to connect with the deep mind and plant seeds of intention.
The first quarter- is illuminated, resembling a half crescent on the right side. It is a time for taking action and making decisions.
Full moon- full illumination, a time for celebration, completion, and harvest. A time of emotional intensity when things are brought to the surface by the moon’s pull.
The last quarter- looks like a half crescent to the left, opposite in appearance to the first quarter moon. A time to release what’s no longer serving you.
In this card, we see The Moon depicted in a dreamy, surreal, noir style, showcasing its connection with the divine feminine. The illusion of holding the moon, hypnotized by its beauty, allure, and magnetic energy, evokes a sense of crystal ball gazing and divination. As you take in the imagery of this card, it brings up more questions than answers, as its real job is to get you thinking about The Moon’s pull and effect it undoubtedly has on those who gaze upon it. The water in the background represents the subconscious mind and emotional state. The black, white, and grey color scheme of the card is distinct among the others in the collection, symbolic of the unclear and undefined energetic state, as it transports you to a dreamy and hazy place, even if just for a little while. Take note of how this image makes you feel and allow your mind to wander…
Next up, experiencing bliss and sweet times with The Sun. Stay tuned for the next card release in The Green Mountain Major Arcana’s journey! Just 3 more cards to go before we complete our storytelling adventure of deep life-altering transformation.
With love,
Megan Gonzalez
