18 The Moon

Misdirection

When this card appears it would be wise to examine the road we are on, or elements of the life we're living that could be brought more into the direct light of day – the imagery suggests unrest, doubt, bleak areas of the mind, fears - all need to be looked at. The High Priestess is also soaked with lunar energy, but it's of an inner subconscious nature – the mind diving into itself to explore and discover – while this card deals with our waking, outward lives. Here we are, our path is illumined by a scowling light - a reflection of the true light of the sun - it winds across desolate country, amidst ominous howling and snapping creatures. Two towers mark the way, but what do they signify? They are nothing but cold gray beacons, devoid of any heart; to stay on this road is simply to invite more of the same desolation. There's little here to suggest nourishment of the soul or of the body. One of the dogs is a domestic animal who has become feral; out howling with the wild wolves. Our subconscious has become unfriendly to us; out of it arises a creature we would not like to go to bed with - the entire picture suggests an unexamined mind and life.

The one aspect which we may find solace in is the the blessings – the 'baraka'- flowing down like little pillows from the moon's rays. None of what has been said about this card should be taken to mean that the night, or the moon, or the animals depicted are things to be feared; it's the very fear that must be feared – one may go out into this very night and lie under the moon to receive her blessings. We may do so if we can set aside our doubts and fears and plunge into the subconscious with the High Priestess as our guide, opening our hearts to the blessings which are there, but must be received. Blessings cannot be given, only received. Remember, the entire Tarot depicts the path to enlightenment – other or all of its cards will speak to us and help us to arise from any quagmire we find ourselves in. Great spirits throughout history have arisen from a dark night of the soul, we'd do well to find biographies of such persons; read and study their lives. But any inspirational works, including the Tarot, are signposts only – they are not the road, nor the destination. That is for us to walk upon and to arrive at – ourselves, one step at a time.

By Ananda G. Brady copyright 2011