XVIII – The Moon
“the struggle between craving and striving”
symbol: confusion, fear, illusion, journey into the subconsciousness and the depths of the soul
sign: Pisces
astrology: Moon in Scorpio
date and ritual: solar eclipses – somnambulism, ritual trance, intoxication, visions
archetype: the Oracle of Delphi, Anubis, Kephra, Hekate, Kali
path of Koph: Netzach – Malkuth
The card symbolizes the deep and dark threshold of the veil and the fear to step over it. Our subconsciousness retrieves the key to feeling, understanding and even experiencing the cosmos within ourselves. Before we can use this key, all the layers of cinders must be coped with. They are the sum of everyone’s daily grind, sins against ourselves and trauma, collected on the way. Our borders, firmly constructed to shield, have the habit of imprisoning the self.
Usually there are two ways to clean up that inner mess: The alchemic translation would be „the wet or the dry path over the threshold“ – pursuing through ecstasy or inner peace. In other words – the struggle between inner life and outer world. The red, the white and the black moon are three symbolic states for this unavoidable conflict. The left tower symbolizes the red path of passion, ambition and striving. This path is emblematized by the focus on the muladhara chakra and the roses climbing the spire. The right tower symbolizes the white path of retreat, inner world, and craving. It is emblematized by the person with a spiral going inwards and the lotus climbing the spire. Both paths work well in dissolving the challenges of this card. The red one is faster and steeper, the white one slower and steadier.
From a metaphysical point of view, both separately will lead to a quantity of states of consciousness and awareness within the archons borders, but none of them alone will get us outside of the artistic world (or state of daily consciousness) we are trapped in. Either, left, or right path enthusiasts may stay inside the illusion, emanated by the Yesod Sephira. Notice that the two towers both do not reach into the upper/ cosmic/ gnostic realm, where all matter must be left behind. If we choose to walk along both paths by turns, we learn that they can complement each other. In this case, we are activating the „black state“ (the inner depths) within ourselves and often within our daily life as well: The fears and horrors (symbol: moon in scorpio) which burst out into the physical world are numberless and truly seem horrible, but they are necessary for purification. The scarab is the symbol for the promise of resurrection, within all of the confusion of this complex card. Usually after one of the towers has fallen, rise and rebirth becomes possible. (compare to the card of “XVI – The Tower”)
In the best case, this card means facing a dark and oppressed part of ourselves. Implementing it in a positive way can lead to a better outcome. During this process, the events going on in our lives may seem too overwhelming to face them at first. We have to accept, stop fighting and step over the symbolic border, to solve our issues – “Trust” is the keyword to face this dark, but rewarding challenge.
