This post continues the reading started in Part 1: The setup.
The reading is one using “traditional” meanings (gleaned from authors such as Arthur Edward Waite, Eden Gray, and Leanna Greenaway), in a “predictive” (or fortunetelling) reading. The purpose of this reading is not fortunetelling, but to demonstrate how a predictive reading can be used to stimulate the creative imagination and as an aid in problem solving. (See Part 1 of this series for the reasoning behind the exercise.)
Outcome: Trump XVIII--The Moon
An eerie card, isn’t it? The moon is associated with night, illusions, dreams and nightmares. The crab symbolizes the primitive and deep subconscious (life crawling to land from the deep seas; a long time before humanity appears on Earth). The wolf and the dog represent the animal nature and instincts, with the wolf being the more savage and dangerous, and the dog safer and more domesticated.
This is another watery card (see the previous post for the other water cards in the spread). The water links the card to the feminine, to the origin of life and to the personal and collective unconscious. The card denotes emotion, instinct, the irrational and the psychic. The moon is eclipsing the sun of rational thought and clear sight. The mountains (often symbols of wisdom and enlightenment) seem to be the goal, but the road runs past two animals howling at the moon, and between two mysterious towers with dark windows. Does this mean there is no help for the traveller? Or that something or someone is lying in wait?
In the context of creativity, this card could be a positive one. Creativity touches the realms of imagination, dreams, illusion, emotions, and even danger. But it should not be taken lightly. As bright as it can be, moonlight is treacherous. Domesticated animals can still pose danger.
In this spread, with its abundance of water (and not only in the Cups cards; look at Temperance, where the angel has its toe in the water; and the Fool, with its frozen water on the mountaintop), the card could serve as a warning: look out! The way ahead is filled with danger. The sun is eclipsed by the moon. The road ahead is uncertain and dark. Maybe this is a time to pause and reflect on what is needed before I travel further along this path. The Page of Swords hinted that the thinking faculty has been neglected. The Moon is suggesting that the emotional has taken over completely. If I don’t redress the balance before I go on, I might make like the reversed Fool and not see the chasm before it is too late.
And take another look at Temperance: doesn’t this card look like a brighter version of the Moon? With an angel instead of a howling dog and wolf, and bright sunlight instead of the moon eclipsing the sun, but the same path leading to the mountains. How did the bright and optimistic situation turn into the dark and fearful Moon?
Let’s see: in this journey I have trampled on the rainbow of happiness, turned commitment and rational enthusiasm and optimism upside down, refused the temptation of having a little fun, disregarded the chasm opening at my feet, and hung around with no purpose in mind. Is it any wonder that I experienced regret and sorrow, crying over spilt milk? Or that I have come face to face with the treacherous Moon?
If the situation has turned from Temperance to the Moon, how can I use the Moon’s energy to return to my earlier optimism? Looking at the two cards together, however, I sense that the situation as represented by Temperance might not have been ideal for this project. Doesn’t Temperance look just too bright and cheery for a creative project that focuses on Tarot cards? I have certainly lost that earlier optimism and sense of balance, but the mystery and illusion of the Moon are attractive qualities to me right now.
This then could be the focus of my next spread. The current reading has raised many interesting questions about and clues to the appearance of my “writer’s laryngitis.” A subsequent spread could take the Moon card as significator (a card representing the querent or situation), and explore solutions from there.
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