The Moon Tarot Card Meaning

I've been drawn to the moon since I was a young child. My son has always been the same way. The moon's powerful energy is like a magnet to us, which makes The Moon tarot card one of my favorites, naturally. But I feel like I say that about almost every card at this point lol so let's dig into what The Moon card means and the messages it has for you!

As you know, I talk about tarot in relation to business, money, financial success, and manifestation. Health and relationships are not my favorite topics, so I leave those to the other card slingers out there. I hope you can appreciate this clarity as much as I do! 🙂

TL;DR The Moon card advises you to trust your gut feelings and to be open to signals and signs that can guide you. It symbolizes emotional layers of your situation. And it also warns you to be cautious and not take everything at face value. It's a time for heightened awareness, not for blindly charging ahead.

vibrant watercolor illustration of the moon and a tree

The Moon Keywords

Upright: intuition, subconscious mind, illusion

Reversed: releasing fear, confusion

The Moon Tarot Card Meaning

The Moon card in tarot represents the realm of intuition, dreams, and the unconscious mind.

Imagine you're walking through a landscape lit only by the moon—you're not seeing everything clearly, but you're guided by a light: your instincts and gut feelings. You know you're on the right path… because you just know.

The Moon card refers to a time of uncertainty or confusion and urges you to trust your intuition to navigate through it.

I know this can be scary, but you've gotta trust your cards – and yourself!

I make sooooo many decisions in life based on tarot cards and gut feelings, people sometimes think I'm crazy. And, maybe I am, but my cards have never steered me wrong.

When I see the Moon card pop up, I know I need to take some time to make those decisions instead of jumping right in, though. Often times I make decisions too quickly, only to find out later that I only saw half of the picture. I was left feeling blindsided, which would not have happened if I had taken a moment to pause before jumping in.

When you pull this card, think of it as a reminder that not everything is as it seems, and sometimes, you have to feel your way through the fog.

The Moon Tarot Card Reversed Meaning

When the Moon card shows up reversed, it often points to a breakthrough in understanding or clarity coming out of a period of confusion, uncertainty, or deception. The card is telling you to listen to your inner voice rather than those around you. Journaling can help you hear your inner voice in a clearer way.

The fog is lifting, and you're starting to see things more clearly… finally.

The Moon reversed can also indicate that you're beginning to trust your intuition more (yayyy!!) or that you're confronting fears and anxieties that have been holding you back.

It's time to stop ignoring or doubting your inner wisdom and to start trusting yourself.

This card can also hint that you might be ignoring red flags — so make sure to ground yourself in reality as you navigate forward.

The Moon Imagery

Depending on the deck you're using, the Moon card will have different imagery. For example, the deck on the far left in the image above is based on the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.

You will notice:

A Full Moon: Occupying the top center of the card, with a face on it, symbolizing intuition, dreams, and the subconscious.
Two Towers: Positioned on either side of the card, representing safety, comfort, and the boundaries between the wild unknown and the safe familiar.
A Winding Path: Leads between the two towers into the distance and disappears into the horizon, symbolizing the journey through the unknown.
Water: A pool or a stream occupies the foreground, symbolizing the depths of the subconscious and the flow of emotions.
A Crayfish: Emerging from the water, representing the early stages of consciousness unfolding into reality.
A Dog and a Wolf: On either side of the path, representing the tamed and the wild aspects of our minds.
Yods: Falling from the moon, resembling teardrops or flames, symbolizing the descent of grace or divine will.

The next image over is very similar. But, if you look at the next one over, the Moon card with the woman under water, it's very different but also includes the basics like the full moon, a dog and a wolf, and water. And then you look at the card on the far right, and the wolf and dog are replaced by women, and the towers are replaced by mountains.

It's important to choose a deck that you resonate with, that you are drawn to, and that you can use your intuition with. I use the Lightseers deck most often, followed by the Modern Witch deck. You can see my favorite tarot decks and books here.

vibrant watercolor image of a sleepy full moon, very colorful with pinks purples blues and golds

The Moon Tarot Card Meaning in Business

In a business context, the Moon card often indicates a period of uncertainty, ambiguity, or complexity. That's pretty vague, right? Isn't that every day in business? LOL

Not everything is as it appears to be, trust your instincts and pay attention to nuances. The Moon card can point to situations where you might be dealing with incomplete or misleading information, so due diligence and deeper inquiry are recommended. If you're joining or dissolving a business partnership, if you're signing a contract, any of those types of things… make sure you're paying attention to the fine print.

Decision Making: You may need to rely more on your intuition than on hard facts. Traditional business analysis might not provide all the answers at this time.

I do this often; most of my GOOD business decisions have been made via tarot cards, coin flipping, or instincts. The numbers on paper don't always tell a full story.

Strategic Planning: You need to remain flexible while planning long-term, as not all variables are known or controllable. Don't get upset when pivots and changes need to be made; just roll with it. 🙂

Team Dynamics: Be aware of undercurrents or unspoken issues within your team or organization that could impact performance or morale.

Client Relationships: If the Moon card appears, double-check contracts, communications, and even the intentions of clients or partners. Some things may be hidden or not fully disclosed.

I had the Moon card show up during a time I was reviewing a contract for the sale of a business. There was a pretty big change made to the contract without my knowledge; but I wouldn't have noticed it had the Moon not said “hey, look again.”

Innovation and Creativity: This could be a potent time for brainstorming and tapping into your team's creative instincts. The Moon often encourages thinking outside the box.

Risk Management: Be extra cautious with new ventures. Risks may not be entirely visible, so tread carefully and maybe even seek advice from trusted advisors.