The symbolism in The Moon card offers rich information through its many elements to help interpret this Major Arcana in a tarot reading.
We find at least 7 distinctive elements that provide valuable insight not only into the card itself but also into its interaction with others in a spread.
The symbolism in The Moon card
Since the number of The Moon (18) can be reduced to 9, and then to 3, it is often associated with the Triple Goddess.
The symbolism of the Great Goddess connects it with The Empress and the High Priestess, who wears a moon crown and has a crescent moon at their feet.
The fact that it’s related to the number 9 also links the card to The Hermit and all the nines of the Minor Arcana. The “nines” typically represent mental journeys and the search for meaning.
Although The Moon card represents the “life of imagination apart from the life of the spirit,” it warns us that the imaginative visionary may see things in a false light, not perceiving their true essence.
Whether the card reflects or hinders inner illumination (and encourages illusion) may depend on its position in the spread.
The Moon is a card of emergence, presenting a treacherous, winding, yet upward path between our animal nature and our more civilized side, between the realm of magic and the rational world, between inspiration and understanding—another example of the tension between opposites.
The Moon card and its archetypal roots
Jungians relate The Moon card to the “night journey” archetype, where the hero must overcome the monster. The battle symbolizes our victory over the regressive pull of the unconscious.
It is also an expression of inevitable cycles, where what is emerging may sometimes be visible and sometimes not, but we are called to honor and accept these strange ideas and have the cyclical patience to wait for understanding, if necessary.
This card symbolizes both illusion and fear, anxiety, insecurity, the subconscious, and what lies in our shadow.
It’s a time of confusion to be overcome, where past experiences are highly influential. If you don’t overcome them, renew yourself, and change, the future becomes dark and uncertain.
The Moon card is a good representation of “The Shadow” and “The Mirror,” two Jungian concepts that point to the darkness of our unconscious.
According to the famous psychiatrist, unless we bring it to light, it will continue to affect us. The Moon is a nearly dreamlike representation, and its meaning is very specific whether it appears upright or reversed in a reading.
The symbolism in The Moon card of the Rider tarot
Key associations and concepts
Upright meanings
Illusion, fear, anxiety, insecurity, the subconscious, what’s in our shadow, dreams but also nightmares, hidden things (especially enemies), mystery, falsehoods, visions, mental confusion, a dark night of the soul, a difficult period, lack of clarity, deception, secrets.
Reversed meanings
Release from fear, overcoming sadness, resolving confusion, secrets revealed, what was hidden becomes visible, strange dreams, psychic visions that can’t be understood, insomnia or unusual sleep patterns, irrational thoughts or behaviors, breakups.
Kabbalistic:
Associated with the Hebrew letter Tsadeh (צ)
Numerology:
Represents number 18 and 9 (18=1+8=9). They represent the principles of the sacred triad taken to their fullest expression.
Element:
Associated with the Water element (🜄) and the winter season.
Astrology:
Associated with Neptune (♆), representing illusions and sensitivity. Also with the sign of Pisces (♓). 
The symbolism in The Moon card explained
7 standout elements
The Moon
The moon shines with the light of the sun, but this light is dim, uncertain, and only vaguely illuminates our path on our journey to higher consciousness.
The moon emphasizes flow, cycles, liquids, the unconscious mind, dreams, emotions, and is associated with duality, confusion, reflection, and shadow.
The Moon governs the hidden, the inner self, and secrets; The Moon is connected to the ancient Triple Goddess: the feminine aspects of the maiden (waxing), the mother (full), and the crone (waning and dark phase).
The Crab
The crayfish crawling out of the water symbolizes the early stages of consciousness development.
This creature also represents the often unsettling images that arise from our inner depths and our most primitive aspects.
It also symbolizes that we are not entirely defenseless on the journey, as our shell and pincers (ego defenses) will protect us to some extent.
However, there’s always the possibility that the regressive pull of the water will “win” and we’ll retreat into our past.
Dog and Wolf
They represent the duality between our animal nature or the wild aspects of our mind and spirit (wolf) and the more civilized or domesticated side (dog).
They also signal the duality between the realm of magic and the rational world, between inspiration and understanding—another example of the tension between opposites.
They urge us to recognize both conscious and unconscious material until we find balance and appreciation for both in our lives.
It’s a journey focused on learning to survive and finding comfort along the way. Together, they represent the need to acknowledge opposites and the need to carefully navigate between our civilized nature and our untamed aspects.
Towers
Besides being phallic symbols, appealing to our primal nature, the towers also represent the traps of an easy life.
On either side of the path lies the promise of treasure, stability, security, and comfort. While these are attractive qualities, they are often illusions when we are on the path to our higher purpose.
In this card, the towers represent stagnation or tempt us to settle for something when we could have the divine gifts that are our birthright.
They are also interpreted as symbols of the limits of human understanding.
Path
The winding path represents the journey into the unconscious, and its winding nature symbolizes the cyclical (ups and downs) nature of our spiritual journey.
We must make our way toward wholeness and wisdom (usually represented by distant hills) without being emotionally killed or devoured along the way.
In other words, while we learn what we need to know on our life’s journeys, we mustn’t let our essential spirit be trampled or destroyed.
Yods
These represent the descent of life force from above into material existence.
Waite describes it as the “dew of thought,” or the “divine dew” for the alchemical action of mercury with the moon.
Lagoon
The lagoon at the bottom of the card represents the subconscious mind.
