Symbolizing: The Moon

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Jun 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Thirteen	06 Jun 2004
Onto the final four in our examination of the symbolism of the Majors. What you like and what you don't. What you feel ought to be there...or not. For this thread, The Moon. Just answer one or more of the following: 1) What elements from any Moon card from any deck do you feel BEST symbolize the Moon? (Example: "It's gotta have that lobster. It's not the Moon card without the lobster.") 2) What elements common to most Moon cards in most decks do you really feel are all WRONG for the Moon? (Example: "I'm sick and tired of the darn lobster!") 3) What symbol have you always felt was right for the Moon Card, but you've yet to see it? (Example: "I'd like to see an Apollo 11 Astronaut."). You don't have to answer all the above, but do offer some "why's?" as to what you answer. Why don't you/do you like the lobster? What does this symbol in Moon cards mean that it feels/doesn't feel like the Moon card to you?

Marion	06 Jun 2004
1) What elements from any Moon card from any deck do you feel BEST symbolize the Moon? The Moon, to me, is the Water Card. And hence, having no water in my horoscope, the one that challenges me deeply. The Moon cards that strike me the most are cards like this one: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/project/1/xviii_moon_folieyolen.shtml with its element of unconscious attack, or attack from the unconscious. Things coming at you from your blind side. But, of course, being me, I am prepared to see this card other ways as well. The classic RWS moon lady, which MeeWah uses as her sig, suggests guidance, as do the heavanly yods falling. Cards like the first example have no real hint of that. I think that symbolizes the positive side of getting touch with that which is submerged and comes up covered with muck, but can be the best gift that you ever got. For all that, I don't see this as a card of madness, the High Priestess can keep that. Fear yes, coming to terms with the dark side yes, even irrationality that leads us forward, yes. To me, not madness though. 2) What elements common to most Moon cards in most decks do you really feel are all WRONG for the Moon? The landscape should not be pristine, almost barren, as in Clive Barrett's Ancient Egyptian. The landscape looks almost sanitized, like the approach to a really clean and neat temple. This card is the temporary defeat of the logical mind and the comming up the other parts of the mind. Anything that suggest actual werewolves and uncontrolled cravings. Nope, don't think so, that's The Devil, and some of the minors. 3) What symbol have you always felt was right for the Moon Card, but you've yet to see it? I always thought that joya's The Star, captured an aspect of The Moon that I would like to see. http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/project/1/xvii_star_joy.shtml It is the aspect of hiding your eyes from what you need to see.

Sillanza	07 Jun 2004
Best Symbolize: The crayfish is one of the few beings that can impregnate itself ... so it works for me. The often seen profile in the moon is a concise and appropriate image. I like the figure used in the Rhorig moon (woman with her gaze turned to the side), but not much else of that one. I do like the Spiral moon. Not Right: Like Marion, I don't associate the canine/wolfen "baying at the ..." aspect with the moon. Right, But Not Seen: I haven't seen all that many decks, so I'm sure there is one out there that contains a veiled or somewhat masked (as opposed to hooded) figure.

Luminessence	11 Jun 2004
1) What elements from any Moon card from any deck do you feel BEST symbolize the Moon? Definitely water. It needs to have that pool of water - preferably a big pool, instead of a tiny pond. I also like the wolves - to me it seems like they're being drawn to howl at the moon almost against their own volition, and like they're not even entirely sure why they're doing it. I read a description somewhere (I forget where... I'm sorry) of this card which said that you can eitherjoin the wolves and run wild and howl at the moon, or you can stay centered and grounded while you experience the energy of this card, and since then the wolves have seemed like an important part of the card to me (although I don't think they're completely necessary - a Moon card doesn't need to have them to be a good Moon card). 2) What elements common to most Moon cards in most decks do you really feel are all WRONG for the Moon? In some decks, I seem to recall, this card looks like it's practically daylight. I think darkness is integral to the Moon card. Also, in my Robin Wood deck, the pool of water looks like a puddle. I think it should at least look somewhat imposing. The Moon card should have that same air of solemn and daunting mystery that the High Priestess has, in my opinion, and I just don't think that works with a small pool of water or a bright atmosphere. 3) What symbol have you always felt was right for the Moon Card, but you've yet to see it? I'd really like to see a Moon card from an underwater perspective, where you see a distorted version of the moon looking up through the water. I think this would effectively express the messages of the card - being lost in an unfamiliar environment (your own psyche), letting the energy embrace you and take you over completely (but, underwater, if you do this to excess, you'll drown, and I think that's a good aspect to add), not seeing things as they really are, and having those two choices - to swim for the safer world of the surface, or to swim deeper and explore this new world and risk drowning.

tmgrl2	11 Jun 2004
The Gilded Tarot: http://www.ciromarchetti.com/gilded_tarot/index.html Added link in case anyone wants to click on the card to see it... I love the overall blue tone of the card...the water below, and the serenee white (alchemical purity) face within the circle above. In the GT, the two animals...(dogs? wolves?) baying at the moon, remind me of my animal nature and of fear and anxiety...the piece of machinery with all of the cogs represent to me the "organized chaos" of our earthly plane, while the creature from the deep symbolizes that which is deepest within us or which may be coming up from the Underworld... I also love the two pillars on either side that are a "gateway to imagination and peaceful meditation and dreaminess." It's lovely how at the top of each pillar, there is a bright red gem? from which raditates a shaft of bright light up to either side of the moon. My most favorite element in this card in this deck is that the moon looks as though it is some sort of glass..magnifying? mirror? globe? that can be spun around since it is held within a golden semicircle on a stand....I picture myself spinning this glass around, just as the moon has its phases and moves through them .... What I like least about this card? I have to get used to the "mechanical parts of machinery." I absolutely love them in The Wheel in this deck and am just beginning to study it. I suppose here, it could symbolize that man wants organized, structured answers to help us understand "how things work" (the machine) but that we often need to focus our gaze higher in order to let the Lunar phases rule us at times...To spin the globe and let the moon speak to us of wild imaginings and possible serenity. What's missing? I'm fine with this card...I know others have green ....something of nature...That's what I missed at first, but I think this card is designed to speak to us of our darker side, our fearful side, our desire for clarity and structure, and it leads the way through the pillars. This is a wonderful set of threads, Thirteen...I have only been involved in a few...because of time...but may go back and revisit in the future. terri

Moongold	11 Jun 2004
What elements do I think BEST symbolize the Moon? Well the Moon itself should be prominent and its power should be evident. And there should be water as well. I think there is lots of room for creativity around how the Moon is depicted. I love the Marguerite Petersen version here and the Ancestral Path version here. What I like about the Ancestral Path version is the fact that there is a woman in the picture interacting with the Moon. We are there, not just the creatures! I think Marguerite Petersen incororates all the traditional elements plus some new ones - the human beings in their seemingly crystal blocks. As others have said, I don't like the light in the RWS Moon. I think it should be darker.

Pook	12 Jun 2004
I agree that the RWS moon should be darker....to delve into the subconscious is often a very dark journey. The only other thing I have to add is that I would like to see a moon card with more than one moon. (There are planets out there with more than one orbiting them.) There is more more than one path to the higher self and we should be open to everything that the moon(s) are trying to tell us. If the moon reflects the sun's light, even in the dark of night, there will be a shadow....if there are two moons.... or three or four...there will be more shadows, but you can more easily find the center of the center is a good place to start trying to unravel the mysteries of your unconscious .... You know, this may only make sense in my head...sorry if it sound rambly!

tmgrl2	12 Jun 2004
OOHH... MoonDreamR...I love the idea of more than one moon, with the reflections...many sci fi novels love using "home" planets with multiple moons.. terri

The Symbolizing: The Moon thread was originally posted on 06 Jun 2004 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.