“Existence flows past us like a river: the ‘what’ is in constant flux, the ‘why’ has a thousand variations…”.
–Marcus Aurelius

Intuition, illusion, subconscious, in flux, uncertainty, emotional navigation

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Overview

A situation in flux.

There is a place shroud in darkness and illusion, the only light is seeping in from the moon through the broken windows. The desolate skeleton of a house creaks, groans. The Darkness in the corners is thick playing tricks on your eyes as the shadows dash back and forth. The only thing more unsettling than the sound of dripping water despite the lack of sinks, is stepping in warm viscous liquid. There’s no use worrying about it now, just drift through the night and wait until morning, the sun reveals al truths.

Symbolism

Two pillars stand with a moon between them against a blue sky and a churning mountain range in the distance. A gold path lead to a pond all the way from the horizon through the mountains. The eyes of moon are closed, face tilted down. In its shape you can depict all its phases. Before the two pillars are dogs, howling at the moon. One is lighter than the other, and before them in a small pond a lobster crests the shore to greet the light.

Meaning

Not yet set in stone

A situation that is in flux is the mystery behind The Moon. The new endeavor you are on will not establish a foundation until all other possibilities have been cleared from the board. An assessment of skills, perseverance, compatibility or knowledge hangs in the balance between success and failure. Proving you possess the necessary qualities, and applying them in action is the only way to prove your value.

No Control

Any attempts to control this situation will only reveal your lack of sovereignty. Nothing is certain here; you’re lost, it’s dark and you can’t see your compass in the pitch. You’re not about to turn on your flashlight because you’re more comfortable with not drawing attention to yourself, and not knowing what’s around.

High Risk situation

There’s a lot on the line; hearts, wallet, time, reputations. If you sit back and enjoy this exciting game, you may gain some experience from it. After all, no one goes to a haunted house because they know what’s inside, it’s because they don’t.

Influence on Suites

During a reading, pay attention to the majority of the cards that are present. Depending on the number of Tarot cards of each suite, the meaning of the card can take a different shape.

With a majority of the suit of cups in a spread withThe Moon: An emotional situation full of disillusionment at your expense. Your intuition is turned west, thoughts are turned east, your drive is down south and emotions way up north. Anxieties are rampant and the only way to regain control is to take a step back; try to see the bigger picture,

If wands overwhelm the reading: Trust your instincts in this situation and balance it with your will; this can help you find your way through the night faster than the day can break.

With Pentacles omnipresent in the reading: There are financial decisions in balance; a loan pending, business contract. Make informed decisions and wait for clarity before jumping into something.

If swords surround the spread: Use your intuition over your logic. Someone maybe successfully pulling the wool over your eyes. There is no logic to be had here, you can’t fight something you can’t see.

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The Moon Reversed

It’s always darkest before the dawn, hold on.

““There may come a time when you believe you have reached the end of the road in the darkest night. That will be the moment when a dazzling new day dawns on your horizon.”

Anthony St. Marteen

Clarity, emergence, fear dissolving

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In the Reversed position, you can turn the meaning of The Moon upside down and inside out, or it can be perceived as something else. Reversed cards can be read a few different ways. If you want to know the source of the concept of why this card is defined the way it is, check out the article “Reading Reversals” in Chapter 6 of this knowledge base.

If you simply want to know the reason and not the method of deciphering, here are some possible ways to read the card in reversed.

Meaning

The Moon reversed can be chalked down to something being obscured.

Saving face

There maybe something impacting your current situation that is kept under wraps for a reason. Perhaps there is far too much at stakes for you to know the truth. This speaks of a situation where multiple parties are saving face from exposure.

If the Death Card and Seven of Swords also appears in this reading, this can indicate that the truth likely will never be revealed and that all parties have a mutual agreement to take it to the grave. You’ll have to wait and see if loose lips sink ships, in the end, but as things currently stand, on the current path the truth will never come to light.

Obscured information or feelings

Detrimental Pessimism

Things aren’t as bad as you’re making them out to be, you’ve just been in the dark for so long that you forgot what it was like to see the light. In its own way, it’s refusing to see the see the truth. You are choosing to see the worst of something to save your feelings, keep yourself safe, or continue to meet a narrative you’ve spun about a situation in your head.

If this pessimism comes from traversing calamity, just know you have already worked past the worst of it. Minor hiccups could still occur, but for the most part you’re out of the woods.

If the Three of Cups/Pentacles reversed, The Hierophant reversed, Judgement reversed, or The Seven of Swords appear in the reading it’s a strong indicator that there are hidden enemies who are sabotaging your work, love, social, or personal life. Seven of Swords would indicate that someone is lying on your name.

If Seven of Swords Reversed and Justice appear, this will end up backfiring on the party that is speaking ill on your name. Things will be made right, just ignore the situation. The more you show your stress, the guiltier you look. Daylight is breaking the horizon, the worst is over.

Plot Twist

Have you been stuck in a gaslight? Or maybe someone has put you in a position that raises the hair on your neck? Your intuition is firing on all cylinders telling you that there are hidden motives, you’re probably right. After all, if the math isn’t mathing— then there’s probably another variable in the equation.

Have you been offered a business acquisition that just seems too beneficial for you and not the other party? Or a friend or partner’s excuse of something doesn’t match the timeline? Don’t fret and don’t push it. In due time you’ll be presented with the missing piece; straight from the horses mouth, from a third party, or evidence that fills the gap. What ever was covered will be revealed allowing you to make informed decisions moving forward.

Feeling unworthy

There’s a level of impostor syndrome haunting you. It feels like you’re not deserving of something. The Moon reversed in this notion is telling you “If you did not deserve it, the universe would not have offered it to you”.

What seemed like your darkest hour was never that dark. There are more opportunities around you now than have ever been before. The problem is, you don’t think you’re good enough for them. With a lot of pentacles, it’s likely you’re avoiding taking on a new role or title.

Chaos clouding clarity

Have you ever shook a “Magic 8 Ball” and got the response “Answer is unclear, please try again later”? That’s one connotation of the Moon reversed. What ever you’ve asked the oracle, was not clear and concise. Alternatively, the variables are too great to properly poise the response. The moon upright is a situation in flux, but this is the flux you’re asking about.

A need to be more direct with others

If you are extremely direct and cut out the extra fluff in your communications, people will stop misunderstanding your wants and needs. It’s time to start finding your leg to stand on in life. No more “maybes’ or “what if”. Be certain of what you mean and speak it. Don’t let your sentences run off, just stop when you’ve said your peace. Do not apologize for it either, you are not too much, you are allowed to take up space.