Major Arcana cards：XVIII The Moon

Card Interpretation

This is a card symbolizing confusion and unease. Under the moonlight, a crayfish crawls out of the water and heads toward the Goddess of the Moon. It must choose the correct one of the two distant towers—for that tower is the only path to an audience with the Goddess of the Moon.

The wolf and the hound on the shore, equally enchanted by the Goddess of the Moon, fail for the moment to notice the crayfish close at hand. The hound represents the crayfish’s attachment to the old world, while the wolf stands for its fears. The moon serves as a bridge to the spiritual realm; its waxing and waning symbolize transformation. When the full moon appears, people know it will soon begin to wane, and a sense of unease wells up in their hearts. The brighter and fuller the moon, the closer it is to fading away. The fear that misfortune may follow happiness keeps people from ever letting their guard down. The moon is also a symbol of femininity and emotion; in career terms, it refers to artistic or creative endeavors, and it also hints at deception. The key to interpreting this card lies in the concept of confusion.

The moon hangs high in the night sky, its shape in constant flux between fullness and crescent. A vaguely sorrowful face is discernible within the moon, casting a melancholic and unsettling aura over the scene. Below, two dogs (or some say one wolf and one dog) look up at the moon and howl softly, as if sharing the moon’s sorrow in sympathy, or perhaps questioning it. The crayfish in the pool seems to yearn for the moon’s palace; it struggles to climb out of the water, ready to follow the winding yellow path to the place it has long desired. Except for the moon and the crayfish, the entire card features a nearly symmetrical composition, divided by a meandering path. This path is said to represent the two planes of human existence—ideal and reality. To realize its dream, the crayfish must navigate the line between these two realms; the slightest deviation will make it difficult to achieve its goal. The sorrowful, restless face in the moon seems to mirror the inner turmoil of the crayfish as it ventures forward.

Upright Position

When drawn upright, the card signifies: Unease, confusion, hesitation, lies, deception, being misled, turbulent love, and a love triangle. In your career, you may feel somewhat unfulfilled, eager to unleash all your inner potential—and thus you start craving more time to pursue your ambitions after hours. Emotionally, you are sensitive and afraid of being hurt. Despite your partner’s promises, you still waver in doubt, and even entertain thoughts of running away.

Reversed Position

When drawn reversed, the card signifies: Escaping a scam, resolving misunderstandings, an improvement in circumstances, foreseeing danger, patience, and confronting the rifts in a relationship head-on. In your career, external pressures have caused you to hold back, and you begin to doubt the goals you once set for yourself. Emotionally, the problems between you and your partner have started to surface. Though facing them is painful, confronting the difficulties together will already resolve half the battle.

Pisces

Pisces corresponds to the Moon card in Tarot.

They are deeply attuned to the moon, shifting and changing in tandem with its waxing and waning phases.