Moon card in Rider Waite Deck

[koolchick]

I am currently coloring the cards in the Rider Waite Deck and notice on the moon card there is little specks of yellow like rain or something does this have a reason of being there and what is it.

[sweet_intuition]

Those are actually numerous figures representing the Hebrew letter Yod representing the life force from above.

[Moonbow]

Hello,

As this is specific to the WCS deck I will move this thread to that forum.

[Baccus93]

And also the folklore of dew being dropped from the Moon at night onto the trees and grass, here symbolising the Unconscious Mind's ability to nourish the soil of life.

[Teheuti]

According to de Gébelin the Yods on the Moon are “Isis' tears which caused the Nile to overflow its banks each year, thereby making the land of Egypt fertile. Dew is usually seen as a regenerative grace or blessing - especially in dry lands. It can indicate the divine marriage of heaven and earth.

They relate to all the alchemical uses of dew and also distillation.

Mary

[Dulcimer]

There is an alternative view (isn't there always?) which has it that the 'yods' are not in fact falling from the moon into the mouths of the dog and wolf, etc., but are actually rising from the earth. The dog and wolf are likewise attracted by the influence of the moon, as is the crustacean, drawn from the depths. Thus the tamed, wild, and deepest natures of the psyche are drawn to the orb (but not so human Spirit/Intelligence which is nowhere represented here but appears in The Sun).

Consider also that the moon was often seen as the place of the dead in many cultures which believe in reincarnation, such as Celt and Pythagorian, because the moon was believed to draw the soul to it after death (where the soul is cleansed before returning to material incarceration).

Theoretically the RWS 'yods' may therefore be a reworking of the original idea that the drops of light are souls ascending to the Isles of the Blessed.

[BodhiSeed]

Originally Posted by Dulcimer

There is an alternative view (isn't there always?) which has it that the 'yods' are not in fact falling from the moon into the mouths of the dog and wolf, etc., but are actually rising from the earth. The dog and wolf are likewise attracted by the influence of the moon, as is the crustacean, drawn from the depths. Thus the tamed, wild, and deepest natures of the psyche are drawn to the orb (but not so human Spirit/Intelligence which is nowhere represented here but appears in The Sun).

Consider also that the moon was often seen as the place of the dead in many cultures which believe in reincarnation, such as Celt and Pythagorian, because the moon was believed to draw the soul to it after death (where the soul is cleansed before returning to material incarceration).

Theoretically the RWS 'yods' may therefore be a reworking of the original idea that the drops of light are souls ascending to the Isles of the Blessed.

Thank you for sharing this Dulcimer; this is a different but very interesting idea about this card!

Bodhran

[Baccus93]

Originally Posted by Dulcimer

There is an alternative view (isn't there always?) which has it that the 'yods' are not in fact falling from the moon into the mouths of the dog and wolf, etc., but are actually rising from the earth. The dog and wolf are likewise attracted by the influence of the moon, as is the crustacean, drawn from the depths. Thus the tamed, wild, and deepest natures of the psyche are drawn to the orb (but not so human Spirit/Intelligence which is nowhere represented here but appears in The Sun).

Consider also that the moon was often seen as the place of the dead in many cultures which believe in reincarnation, such as Celt and Pythagorian, because the moon was believed to draw the soul to it after death (where the soul is cleansed before returning to material incarceration).

Theoretically the RWS 'yods' may therefore be a reworking of the original idea that the drops of light are souls ascending to the Isles of the Blessed.

What a trip! Just after my last post I was staring at the card and they suddenly looked like they were indeed floating upwards.