Moving through Cycles with the Moon By Lisa De La O Wyman
The Lioness Oracle Click here to purchase deck
Moving through Cycles with the Moon By Lisa De La O Wyman
In the waning days of Cancer season, we feel the glow of summer enliven our days. In ancient Egypt, the summer solstice corresponded with the rise of the Nile River, symbolizing the returning fertility of those life-giving waters. The sign of Cancer, which arrives on the solstice, is similarly maternal, a watery vessel sustaining precious new growth. It is the safe, nurturing container that supports the creation within – be it a child, an artistic project, an invention, or a transformed version of ourselves. That seed or spark, at the very beginning, needs careful tending and consistent nourishment so that it may develop steadily, one day ready to burst forth into the world in all its fullness. Until then, it is a watery mystery, concealed in shadows and only occasionally illuminated by moments of intuition and swelling emotion. It’s like an encounter with the Moon, our faithful yet constantly fluctuating friend, her light both a beacon and a coy temptress in the night skies of our lives. She communicates something to us beyond words and awakens deep instinctual yearnings. Her silvery glow promises potential, good fortune, safe travels – and the occasional illusion that might lead you off the road. She teaches us about motion and change; her shape-shifting capacities remind us of our own adaptability. So how can you get to know her better? What relevance does she have in your life? Take a moment to adjust your eyes to her silvery glow and follow me through her cards in the Tarot . . .
We experience the Moon’s many faces in the cards of The High Priestess (Moon), The Moon (Pisces), and The Chariot (Cancer). All are deeply emotional, watery expressions of its influence in our lives, both mundane and otherworldly. Astrologically, the Moon governs mood and emotion, and we indeed cycle through many in a day. One’s Moon sign in their natal chart indicates their inner emotional life or default emotional responses. It’s where we locate personality, habits, relationship to memory, the subconscious, feelings around safety and security, the home, daily routines and comforts, and even dietary tendencies.
The Moon is profoundly connected to the maternal on a variety of levels, as well as bodily processes, white fluids, and menstrual blood (the latter two relating to procreation and prenatal nourishment). We can locate many profound feelings around mothering, being nurtured, and emotional protection in our relationship to our Moon sign. It’s also tied to our public image and reputation. Great for marketing, the magnetism of the Moon enhances appeal or glamor; it draws attention, which is a form of currency. However, this doesn’t necessarily equate to earning money, but rather getting “eyes” on you or your work.
The glyph of the Moon is not just a crescent but also a cup, a vessel of the waters of life. Historically, there has long been a lunar connection with the cow as a giver of milk and a figure of sustenance. The zodiac sign of Cancer is ruled by the Moon and bears the same traits of intuitive wisdom, maternal protection, and emotional complexity. The glyph of Cancer looks like a pair of breasts, a part of the body associated with the sign along with the belly. Its animal symbol is the hermit crab, which carries its home on its back. Indeed, Cancer highlights themes of home, immediate family, tribal identities, sense of belonging, nostalgia, attachment to history and memory, and our creature comforts. It is an exceedingly imaginative sign with deep reservoirs of emotion and psychic awareness. Each ripple of the water is noticed, each fluctuation keenly felt. Moods will shift frequently, and slights will be remembered eternally. Emotions are so powerful because they shape our experience, and Cancer energy is a record-keeper. Those crab claws can grasp quite firmly, but greater peace comes when we realize that loosening our grip is part of our natural growth and wise maturation.
The Moon has long held a complicated identity through its association with insanity (lunacy) and sorcery or dangerous magic. Priestesses or witches have gotten a bad rap for supposedly harnessing its power in harmful ways. They have always been the outsiders of society, both reviled and sought out as keepers of spiritual mysteries and secret wisdom. There’s something about the Moon and its strange light that makes us feel differently than anything else – we soften and come alive with a sense of wonder and the unknown. This response ties us to our earliest ancestors who no doubt felt the same way, and more, under the blanket of its extraordinary glow.
Many planets have moons, but Earth’s moon is large enough to be considered part of the solar system. Changeable yet stable, its cycle is predictable and we can measure time by the phases. Its 28/29-day orbit is connected to the water content and menstrual cycles of the human body, as well as Earth’s oceanic tides. The Moon changes zodiac signs about every two days, aspecting the planets more than any other. It appears to be about the same size as the Sun, and for millennia has created a sense of relationship to the cosmos and the cycles of life. Whether it be a new, waxing, full, waning, or eclipse phase, we have built beliefs, folklore, technologies, and emotional connections around the Moon’s many faces.
In Greek mythology, the Moon is known as Selene, daughter of the sun god Hyperion and his sister Thea. She bore her light upon the earth while bearing many offspring, most notably by her slumbering lover Endymion. Another prominent lunar deity is Artemis, the virginal goddess of the hunt and animal instinct. Other figures associated with the moon are the Egyptian gods Isis, Hathor, and Khonsu – the latter faithfully carrying the moon through the night sky and the body of Nut.
Tabula Mundi Tarot Click here to purchase deck
Ruled by the Moon and corresponding to the element of water, The High Priestess is one of the most beloved cards of the Tarot. She represents the ultimate mystery. Often depicted between dark and light pillars, clothed in the colors of water, and crowned with the moon phases, she is the keeper of spiritual wisdom. She is another face of goddesses like Hecate, Isis, Hathor, Artemis, and the Virgin Mary. She is often viewed as pure or virginal – not because she is frigid but because she is complete unto herself. She radiates both self-and-worldly knowledge that leaves nothing lacking. In many depictions, she is holding sacred texts and is surrounded by pomegranates, that powerful symbol of fertility, blood, death, feminine mysteries, and carnal knowledge. Latin for “seeded apple,” in some traditions the pomegranate is thought to be the fruit of the Tree of Eden – one bite and the world and its sorrows (and joys) are made known. Another version of this is the Greek myth of Persephone, who was taken into the underworld by Hades and fed six pomegranate seeds. Through this process, she transitions from the innocence of maidenhood to the maturity and wisdom of womanly power. It is her initiation into the role of queen of the underworld, now fully aware of the mysteries of life and death and her place in it all.
The High Priestess is associated with the Hebrew letter gimel, or “camel”. Like that great “ship of the desert,” she carries the eternal waters of spiritual wisdom with her wherever she goes. She is the silent stream running underground forever, always hydrating and effortlessly fluid. She is the secret source of spiritual refreshment that we all crave, the holy grail of our longing. Artist Mel Meleen states in Book M: Liber Mundi that “to drink from the grail is the experience of initiation, to glimpse the Torah scroll of Wisdom she carries.” She initiates us into higher mysteries, where there’s no playing it safe, playing dumb, or dialing it in. In seeking her, we seek ourselves – the mystery of our being that often feels so out of reach in a busy and frenetic world that has us running on a hamster wheel. She is not a loud or linear energy, so to hear her you must get quiet. Listen. Tune in rather than tune out. She communicates through intuitive knowing, dreams, meditative moments, and spiritual challenges.
The Lioness Oracle Click here to purchase deck
In The Chariot card, we embark on a quest. The card depicts a knight on a sacred journey, venturing beyond what is familiar in service of a greater aim. It is an adventure that will demand courage, faith, and deep devotion from the heart. The knights of the Holy Grail, like Sir Galahad, are connected to this symbol. Their sojourn was sanctified by belief and love, and they were committed to serving as guardians of the one precious thing. We can see this reflected in the very Cancerian theme of motherhood, where the carrying and protection of the child is the ultimate act of love. Like the crab that represents the sign, Cancer is connected to containers, the shells or homes you create, procure, and carry to secure what you most value. Sometimes you realize you have outgrown them and must be brave enough to step beyond and seek a new container that can hold your burgeoning power, creativity, and love. The Chariot encourages you to move outside of your comfort zone in service of personal growth and development. You can’t stay as you are forever – as a dynamic being, you are meant to expand, learn, and experience what it means to live in new ways that reveal possibilities.
Rosetta Tarot Click here to purchase deck
The Moon card holds dreams and nightmares, wishes and illusions. It’s reflective and ever-changing. You see and feel differently under its influence, and it takes you into your sea of fears and urges, fantasies and phantoms. The emotional experience of The Moon card is like walking through the fog on an unfamiliar road or swimming in dark waters. What you see may or may not be real and might delight or terrify you. It reflects you back to yourself, the parts you tend to avoid – only now you must see to release what binds you, to free yourself and be reborn anew. It plunges you into the depths of the subconscious and your most primal emotions. We prefer to ignore or deny our feelings because they scare us and often seem uncontrollable or inconvenient. The Moon card urges us to communicate with them instead and try to understand what they need. Lunar energy is also about bounty and good fortune – what if you gave your sadness, grief, anger, or frustration some love and compassion? It’s a form of prosperity we often overlook but that has the power to transform our hearts and heal our spirits.
We also find the Moon illuminating a handful of other zodiacal cards:
Tarot of the Divine Click here to purchase deck
In Two of Swords (Moon in Libra), we seek a moment of mental peace. Libra is forever striving to harmonize in the face of polarizing options. We may find ourselves at a crossroads, where adherence to a path will demand commitment and yield consequences. To arrive at an aligned, balanced decision, we must try to reach that still point in the mind where clarity can be attained. As with the practice of meditation, we are seeking the calm at the center of the mental storm, that place of temporary stillness in a sea of chaos. Can you quiet your mind long enough to calmly discern? What might help you with this?
Deviant Moon Tarot Click here to purchase deck
The Four of Cups (Moon in Cancer) doubles down on lunar energy in this card of emotional fluctuation. When we arrive at this state, we have what we need, and nothing is necessarily wrong, but we feel frustrated or restless. Something seems off. We might feel moody and bored and not sure how to fix what we might not yet see. Most likely, you have outgrown some part of your life and are chafing at the stagnation. Comforts are lovely, but they don’t challenge or excite us into new growth. This can be a very emotional time because the responsibility for initiating any changes sits with you. Take the time to acknowledge your feelings. Listen to what they are trying to tell you and let their feedback help you flesh out what the next steps might be.
Tabula Mundi Tarot Click here to purchase deck
In Six of Pentacles/Disks (Moon in Taurus), we are enjoying a high point in the cycle. Fullness, fecundity, and abundance are expressing themselves deliciously – we’re talking peak Spring season! Vibrant colors and aromas, lush sensuality, bounty, and a glorious but temporary moment of balance sanctify us. Taurus is ruled by Venus, the great connector. She loves uniting things! Her influence encourages us to see the relationships between resources, ideas, and options so that our work will have the greatest potential for positive outcomes. If we’re blessed, we enjoy great success. It all comes together and we’re fruitful, prosperous, and living it up! The Six of Pentacles in particular knows how to have a good time and savor the sweetness.
Madam Lydia Wilhelmina's Tarot of Monsters, the Macabre, and Autumn Scenes Click here to purchase deck
The Seven of Swords (Moon in Aquarius) puts our mind in an ambitious yet contorted state. Futile or unstable efforts may throw us off; however, being adaptable and clever may just as likely save the day. Here, the Aquarian reliance on intellect struggles to communicate with the emotional, ever-shifting phases of the Moon. Things may look differently under its reflective light, creating distractions that confuse and mislead. Like wily Odysseus of The Odyssey, we may have a way with words that can get us out of scrapes and a furious curiosity for new adventures that expand our horizons. However, like him, we may also find that sometimes thoughts conflict with actions and we get into all sorts of trouble. Our efforts may trip us up, take us far off the road, and give us yet another riddle to sort out. Our mind is a remarkable navigational tool but it’s not infallible – when mental problem-solving detaches us too much from our emotional needs and connections, we stumble. By uniting the head and the heart, we can create a future built with brilliance and love.
Light Seer’s Tarot Click here to purchase deck
With Nine of Wands (Moon in Sagittarius), strength is built through perseverance. There is a connection here to the wild and Artemis, the legendary lunar goddess of the hunt. We are in pursuit of something as we move forward with our bow and arrow, eyes fixed on the object of our desire. On this leg of the journey, you may be tired and worn down. Keep the momentum going, and when faced with resistance, remember to “bend but not break”. Be flexible, shift gears, and try another way. Everything that has come before is now a crucial ingredient in this endeavor. Embrace the potential for new learning and the acquisition of wisdom through experience. At some point, the hero or heroine on the journey recognizes that all this is about something greater than their own interests anyway.
May the Moon’s fluctuating faces reveal new delights to you this summer season. Like our constant lunar companion, you too are ever-changing and filled with mystery and the potential of glorious illumination. Shine on, my friends!
Lisa De La O Wyman is a Tarot reader and writer based in Redondo Beach. At Tarot for Empowerment, she works with individual clients, private parties, and special events. Through her work, she seeks to connect people with their innate power as well as encounter the mystery in everyday life. She can be reached via Instagram and Facebook at @tarotforempowerment, email at info@tarotforempowerment.com , and website www.tarotforempowerment.com.
