The moon creates a mysterious magnetic feeling. The iridescent sphere in the sky that pulls and pushes the tides, the ocean, and the energy in our bodies. I could write endless posts about it! But for now let’s start with some simple imagery to get familiar with this card:
A moonlit path leads into the ocean. The night sky is aqua green, mystical and hauntingly beautiful.
What looks like ruins of a temple- two rock structures that have been long forgotten but are still standing- actually form an entrance.
Rock symbolizes earth, grounded energy, root chakra healing and body wisdom. Once these ‘gates’ are crossed the mind stops thinking and dissolves completely. Decisions are made solely by the body & gut feelings now.
There is a pull, a sense of being magnetized. Further down the path two wild dogs are howling. They symbolize going even deeper into the body and feeling our deepest longings/ instincts. And when those are finally seen for what they are we can pass through to the edge of the path and finally feel our way completely into the ocean (our unconscious/ dreams/ visions).
The crab at the edge of the ocean symbolizes an ability to live like this- navigating feelings…witnessing the unconscious become conscious. Crawling on the edge where the tide is always turning, then crawling beneath the water in a calm space. Making a home on the floor of the ocean, coming up when needed, when it feels right.
Ancient Vedic civilizations believed the moon held a divine nectar of immortality called ‘soma.’
The Greeks invented the weekday ‘Monday’ from the moon and it meant a day of the moon.
The word ‘moon’ stems from many different root words, one of which is the Indo-Europoean ‘meh’ meaning ‘to measure.’ Various ancient civilizations also worshipped moon deities such as Artemis (Greek Goddess of child birth, virtue, wild animals and vegetation), Diana (Roman Goddess of the hunt, forests and the moon) and Chandra (male Hindu god of the moon/ shining one).
In Pagan spirituality it’s believed that the moon phases represent different aspects of the goddess: “The New Moon is the white goddess of birth and growth; the Full Moon, the red goddess of love and battle; the Old Moon, the black goddess of death and divination…” (Robert Graves, The White Goddess)
Message:
Don’t rush into anything now. If feelings are strong the emphasis needs to be on sitting with them and feeling them fully, not acting.
Again, if your feelings are strong, don’t act on them. Use this time to dive deep into the sensations and feel them. See if you can be with the feelings, name them, own them, journal with them…even if it takes 24 hours.
Pay attention to your dreams- put a journal right next to your bed so you can quickly write the dream down upon awakening.
Intuitive guidance is strong now. No need to do anything, just listen, watch, receive. Notice any divine signs/ symbols.
Give yourself an entire day of rest, replenishing, and nourishing your body. Ground into the body with self-massage. One of my favorite yoga teachers guides us to massage our neck during the asanas. Also foot massages with relaxing aromatherapy are wonderful.
Care for your emotions, don’t numb them. Unplug the phone and turn all your screens off. Listen to a romantic song or read poetry and let yourself feel all the feelings.
Write loving things to yourself on a piece of paper that you long for others to say to you or feel for you. Watch what happens.
Notice the sensual/ erotic nature of life. Breeze blowing on your skin, scent of a flower, birds calling out. Open the windows at night. Listen to the sounds. Let yourself slip into pleasure with a partner or by yourself- in a caring way. Flowing with wild animal instincts in a safe environment has a natural and beautiful way of calming an overactive mind.