The Tarot of Eli 2, LLC: Rider-Waite-Smith-Tarot-Key 18-The Moon & The Archeon Tarot - Key 18- The Moon

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In Western Magic and Tarot, it is understood that the Way of Attainment is also the Way of Return. One cannot escape the repercussions of one’s actions, for all energies set in motion must complete their circuit. This principle is encapsulated in the esoteric symbolism of the Moon, which does not emit its own light but reflects the radiance of the Sun. Thus, the Moon becomes the mirror of consequence, reflecting not only light but also the hidden emotional and karmic residues of our solar will.

On the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Moon card, the crayfish emerging from the pool symbolizes the regenerative force inherent in the subconscious. Like the crustacean shedding its shell to grow, the soul must cast off outdated emotional defenses and psychic armoring to evolve. This is the primordial awakening from the waters of the unconscious.

Flanking the path are the wolf and the dog—archetypes of instinctual polarity. The wolf represents wild, untamed nature: raw survival instincts and the wilderness of the primal self. The dog, on the other hand, symbolizes the conditioned subconscious—intelligence shaped and domesticated by the human will. It is the wolf refined by culture, by training, and ultimately, by symbiotic adaptation. In this way, the dog is the product of directed evolution—a metaphor for the shaping of base instincts into a more obedient and purpose-driven psychic force.

The winding path between them, under the vigilant gaze of the twin towers, signifies the Middle Way—a journey of integration. It warns against veering too far into artificiality or falling prey to untamed natural urges. This path is not simply a road; it is the razor’s edge between chaos and control, animal nature and cultivated awareness. It is the path walked by initiates who seek to harmonize the subconscious impulses with the light of conscious direction.

The path wanders through well-tilled fields on the RWS card, or to the mysterious world of the unknown heights beyond the two towers of present human achievement. The undulation of the ground represents alternate periods of rest and action. Therefore, the stage of unfoldment is Organization.

In the Thoth Tarot, the Moon card—ATU XVIII—is linked to the Hebrew letter Qoph, which you’ll find inscribed at the base of the card. Qoph represents a crucial stage on the Western Qabalistic Tree of Life: the Path of Qoph, connecting Netzach (Victory) to Malkuth (Kingdom). This is the path of descent into the subconscious realms—the shadowlands of the psyche—and its challenges are not to be taken lightly.

Dr. Paul Foster Case, founder of the Builders of the Adytum (B.O.T.A.), referred to this path as the “Corporeal Intelligence.” In Qabalistic terms, this doesn't just mean “bodily” in the everyday sense, but something far more esoteric. It refers to the subconscious intelligence of the body itself—an aggregate awareness formed by the collective intelligence of trillions of cells. Think of it as a kind of fractal consciousness: each cell carries the imprint of the whole, and together they generate a subtle, responsive intelligence that functions below our conscious awareness.

However, this body-consciousness, or “Corporeal Intelligence,” is not without its dangers. In the fallen or unbalanced state, it becomes a breeding ground for what some call the “mind virus” of the false ego—a parasitic construct that hijacks authentic self-awareness. This false ego projects fear, illusion, and compulsive self-identity, manifesting as the internal saboteur or what Jungians would call the Shadow.

Interestingly, the Hebrew root of “corporeal” also means “to rain upon,” and we see this depicted visually on the Thoth Moon card. The Yod-shaped droplets—tiny golden flames of divine will—are seen raining down from above, symbolizing the influence of the solar consciousness (the Higher Self or Tiphareth) attempting to illuminate the dark waters of the subconscious below.

This is the initiatory ordeal of the Path of Qoph: to walk through the moonlit illusions of the astral realm, to recognize and dissolve the deceptive constructs of the false self, and to reintegrate the sacred body-consciousness into alignment with the Solar Will.

Even a man who is pure in hear

and says his prayers by night,

may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms

and the autumn moon is bright...

-Curt Siodmak

The Archeon Tarot – Key 18: The Moon
Walking the Shadow Path of the Subconscious

In the Archeon Tarot, Key 18—The Moon—presents a hauntingly beautiful depiction of the lunar path, rich with the symbols of shadow work and emotional transformation. Here we encounter a many-phased Moon-maiden, the embodiment of the feminine subconscious, descending into the undercurrents of the inner world where unspoken emotions, forgotten memories, and hidden fears reside.

Central to the image is a large black crow, perched beneath a luminous full moon. The crow stands sentinel between the realms of light (consciousness) and darkness (unconsciousness), a classic psychopomp symbol—one who guides souls through transitional states. In this twilight zone of awareness, perception becomes unreliable. As anyone who has walked through a moonlit forest knows: everything seems larger, eerier, more alive.

This distortion is reflected in the crow’s exaggerated size. Though crows are creatures of modest stature, here it appears immense—just as fears and traumas tend to loom large in the darkened landscape of the mind. The same illusion applies to the large, shadowed face that dominates the foreground. Her crone features are obscured beneath a crown of raven feathers, symbolizing the way the subconscious cloaks aspects of our identity in mystery. It is the mask of the Shadow Self—the part of us shaped by suppressed emotion, ancestral memory, and instinctual reaction.

The Moon card signals a period of emotional doubt, inner confusion, and symbolic night-travel. It’s a call to enter the dreamlike waters of the psyche and to trust the journey, even when clarity seems distant. What emerges from this path is not madness, but metanoia—a profound transformation of perception.

During such times, the subconscious speaks in a language older than words: it communicates through dreams, symbols, and archetypal images. These messages may seem surreal or disjointed, but they hold the key to self-understanding and intuitive survival. That is why I recommend keeping a dream journal beside your bed. Upon waking, record the images, feelings, and scenarios that linger before they dissolve. You may be surprised at the coherent narrative that arises over time.

Remember: the Moon does not deceive—it reflects. It reflects what is already within us, magnifying our inner world so we can meet it face to face. What appears monstrous in the dark may simply be a lost fragment of ourselves, awaiting the healing light of conscious integration.

The Moon has rich symbolism and mythology across various cultures. In the realm of tarot and metaphysics, understanding the symbolism of the Moon is crucial.

1. Archetypal Symbolism:

   • The Moon often represents the subconscious mind, intuition, and emotions. It symbolizes the hidden, mysterious aspects of life that are not always clear or visible.

2. Tarot Symbolism:

   • In tarot, the Moon card is associated with illusions, dreams, and the unconscious. It encourages introspection and exploring one's inner world. The presence of a dog and a wolf on the card can symbolize domesticated and wild aspects of our nature.

3. Mythological Connections:

   • Various mythologies incorporate the Moon into their stories. For example, in Greek mythology, the Moon is associated with the goddess Selene. In Roman mythology, it's Luna. These goddesses are often depicted driving a chariot across the night sky, illuminating the world with the moon's light.

4. Lunar Phases:

   • The separate phases of the Moon also carry symbolic significance. The waxing and waning of the Moon can be seen as cycles of growth, decay, and renewal, reflecting the cycles of life.

5. Feminine Energy:

   • The Moon is frequently linked to feminine energy. Its cycles are often compared to the menstrual cycle, and it is associated with nurturing qualities and the mother archetype.

6. Transformation:

   • The Moon's changing appearance symbolizes transformation and the cyclical nature of life. It encourages individuals to embrace change and acknowledge the impermanence of things.

7. Cultural Variations:

   • Different cultures may have unique interpretations of the Moon. For example, in Chinese mythology, the Moon is associated with the Moon Goddess Chang'e, while in Hindu mythology, it's linked to Chandra, the lunar deity.

Understanding the symbolism of the Moon can add depth to tarot readings and metaphysical practices. It encourages individuals to explore their inner selves, embrace change, and connect with the mysterious aspects of life.

Key 18 – The Moon: Reflected Light, Ancestral Wisdom, and the Descent of Life Force

In the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot, Key 18—The Moon—is a powerful symbol of the subconscious mind and the mysteries that lie just beyond the reach of conscious awareness. The Moon itself, depicted with a serene yet haunting face, represents reflected light—not the direct light of reason or solar clarity, but the subtle glow of intuition, dreams, and emotional undercurrents. This reflected light symbolizes the animal mind, or subconscious, which guides us instinctually and emotionally rather than logically.

From a mystical perspective, the Moon (on both cards) also embodies the Crone aspect of the ancient Triple Goddess—Maiden, Mother, and Crone. The Crone is the wise dark feminine, the keeper of ancient secrets, thresholds, and the deep, intuitive knowing that arises in darkness. She rules the liminal spaces—between waking and sleeping, life and death, known and unknown.

A striking feature of the RWS Moon card is the 18 Yod-shaped flames falling from the space between the Sun and Moon above. These golden droplets—often seen as divine sparks or sacred fire—represent a descent of energy from the celestial realm to the earthly. Their number is not arbitrary: eighteen corresponds to the card’s number and also connects to the Hebrew word Chai (חי), which carries the numerical value of 18 and means “Life.”

Thus, the falling Yods are not just decorative—they represent the life force raining down into the material plane, animating the realm of corporeal experience. These sacred “flames of life” bridge the gap between the spiritual and the physical, infusing the subconscious with divine vitality.

In this way, the RWS Moon card invites us to explore the shadowy terrain of our own inner world. It encourages us to trust the symbolic language of dreams and emotions while reminding us that even in the darkness, the life-force flows continuously from above to below, guiding us through the unknown with ancient feminine wisdom and hidden light.

The Moon Pool: Womb of Form and Mirror of the Subconscious
Decoding the Rider-Waite-Smith Moon Tarot Card

At the base of the Rider-Waite-Smith Moon card lies a quiet yet potent symbol: the Pool of Water—sometimes referred to as the Moon Pool. This is far more than a simple body of water; it is the Abyssal Womb, the Great Deep of undifferentiated Cosmic Mind-Stuff. In esoteric terms, it represents the prima materia—the formless sea from which creation arises. Just as dry land emerges from the ocean in Genesis, so too does physical manifestation arise from this pool of potential.

This lunar pool corresponds Qabalistically to the 9th Sephiroth on the Tree of Life: Yesod, the Sphere of the Moon. Yesod is the realm of dreams, reflections, and the vital blueprint of form—it is the storehouse of images, the astral matrix through which all matter is filtered before becoming manifest in Malkuth (the physical world).

On a psychological level, this is the seat of the Vital Soul or Nephesh, expressed in humans as the automatic consciousness—what we commonly call the instinctual subconscious. It governs involuntary processes like breath, heartbeat, and emotional response, operating silently below the surface of our waking awareness.

Emerging from this mysterious pool is the crayfish—or crab, depending on the interpretation—a symbolic creature with deep astrological significance. It corresponds to the 4th House of Cancer in astrology: the sign of the womb, the home, and the hidden roots of being. The crayfish’s act of shedding its shell becomes a metaphor for psychic regeneration and growth. To evolve, it must become vulnerable—exposed and soft—before forming a new protective layer. In this, the card subtly teaches us the necessity of shedding outdated emotional patterns if we wish to expand into new levels of self-awareness.

Thus, the Moon Pool is not merely a background feature—it is the symbolic threshold of the subconscious, the gateway between inner potential and outer form, asking us to dive inward, trust the currents of intuitive wisdom, and embrace the cyclical nature of transformation.

The astrological sign of Cancer, the fourth sign in the zodiac, is ruled by the Moon and spans from June 21 to July 22. Here are the key characteristics of Cancer:

Personality Traits

1. Emotional and Sensitive: Cancer individuals are deeply emotional and highly sensitive. They feel things profoundly and are often in tune with their own emotions as well as those of others.

2. Nurturing and Caring: Known for their nurturing nature, Cancers are often seen as the caregivers of the zodiac. They are compassionate, empathetic, and have a strong desire to take care of their loved ones.

3. Intuitive: Cancers possess a strong intuition and often rely on their gut feelings to make decisions. They can sense the moods and needs of others, which makes them excellent at providing comfort and support.

4. Loyal: Loyalty is a hallmark of Cancer. They are devoted friends and partners, always standing by the people they care about through thick and thin.

5. Protective: Just as the crab, their symbol, has a hard shell, Cancers are protective of themselves and their loved ones. They can be fiercely defensive when it comes to safeguarding their home and family.

Strengths

• Empathy: Cancers have an exceptional ability to understand and share the feelings of others.
• Tenacity: When they set their mind to something, Cancers can be incredibly persistent and determined.
• Creativity: Many Cancers are highly creative, with talents in art, music, and writing.

Weaknesses

• Moodiness: Due to their emotional depth, Cancers can experience mood swings and may withdraw when feeling hurt or overwhelmed.
• Over-Sensitivity: They can be easily hurt by criticism or harsh words, taking things more personally than others might.
• Pessimism: Cancers sometimes struggle with negative thinking and may need reassurance to stay positive.

Relationships

• Romantic: In relationships, Cancers are affectionate, romantic, and deeply committed. They seek a strong emotional connection and a partner who can provide security and stability.
• Friendship: As friends, Cancers are loyal and reliable. They are always willing to lend a helping hand or a listening ear.
• Family: Family is paramount to Cancer individuals. They often prioritize family bonds and traditions, and are dedicated to creating a loving home environment.

Career and Finances

• Professionally: Cancers excel in careers that allow them to care for others, such as nursing, counseling, and teaching. They also do well in creative fields like writing and art.
• Financially: Cancers are generally careful with money, preferring to save for the future rather than spend impulsively. They seek financial security and stability.

Element and Modality

• Element: Water – This element represents emotions, intuition, and the subconscious. Water signs are known for their sensitivity and emotional depth.
• Modality: Cardinal – Cardinal signs are initiators and leaders. Cancers are good at starting new projects and bringing ideas to fruition.

Symbolism

• Symbol: The Crab – The crab symbolizes Cancer's protective nature and its ability to navigate between the emotional (water) and physical (land) worlds.
• Ruling Planet: The Moon – The Moon influences Cancer's emotional nature and their cycles of change and mood swings.

Understanding these characteristics can provide deeper insights into the nature of Cancer individuals and how they interact with the world around them.

Key 18 – The Moon: Diverging Visions of Waite and Crowley
Contrasting Symbolism in the RWS and Thoth Tarot Traditions

In exploring Key 18—the Moon—we encounter a significant divergence between two titans of Western Hermetic Tarot: Arthur Edward Waite and Aleister Crowley. And being a Western Hermetic Qabalistic Tarot reader, I find the Crowley Thoth Tarot deeper in occult esoteric meaning.

Waite, co-creator of the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot, presents the Moon as waxing—on the increase. His reasoning is grounded in both astrological and symbolic logic. On the RWS card, we see a crayfish (sometimes interpreted as a crab) emerging from the water, a direct allusion to the zodiac sign Cancer. Waite suggests that when the Sun is in Pisces—a sign associated with spiritual dreams and illusions—the Moon will be increasing in Cancer, its own domicile. He supports this idea with a poetic rationale: “The Sun is below the horizon, as he ever is when the Moon is increasing above.” For Waite, the Moon represents a rising tide of subconscious awakening, a path upward toward illumination through intuition and inner vision.

Aleister Crowley, however, disagreed strongly with Waite’s interpretation. In his Book of Thoth, he repositions the symbolism of the Moon card within a darker, more alchemical framework. Working with Lady Frieda Harris, Crowley reimagined the crayfish not simply as a Cancer symbol but as a Water Strider—an insect that appears to walk on the surface of the water. This subtle shift emphasizes the elusive, intangible nature of the subconscious and the illusory terrain of the astral realms.

In the Thoth Tarot, the water element dominates the card, creating a sense of lunar fluctuation and psychic dissolution. Rather than waxing light, this Moon is nearing the end of its cycle, immersed in the final darkness before rebirth. It reflects the tidal pull of the unconscious—the gravitational force that draws us downward into dreams, shadows, and forgotten memories. Crowley’s vision embraces the initiatory ordeal of facing illusion, delusion, and the astral abyss—a descent necessary before any ascent can be made.

Where Waite’s Moon suggests gentle increase and inner guidance, Crowley’s Moon confronts us with a stark lunar trial. In the end, both cards agree on the essential role of the subconscious in spiritual evolution, but their roads part at the threshold of the Moon’s gate: one ascending through intuition, the other descending into shadow to reclaim the Self from illusion.

In all ways, the Moon -Key-18, symbolizes the rebirth of light out of hideous darkness; bright intellect overcoming the dark denizens of our subconscious, i.e., the illusions of instinctual fears that rise from the depths of the subconscious.

In the Qabalistic Thoth Tarot, THE PRIESTESS, is a source of pure, clear waters (consciousness) emerging from the from the Godhead-The Father to the son/Sun. The Same waters of consciousness are seen here on the Rider-Waite-Smith -the Moon card, Thoth Tarot they are polluted with the dark subconscious fears of mortality, something that physical manifestation bestows on awake consciousness.

However, as I have stated before, the traveling up the Path of Qoph, (Moon) towards the "Sun/Son Consciousness", notably changes the body physiology, as the Bright Beautiful Light Intellect of the Son/Sun (Tiphareth) descends into it, dissolving the "False ego". When traveling up the Path of Qoph, the Personality becomes increasingly aware of the Higher Solar Self (the Rauch) and less control by the dark fears of the body /mind virus of the "lower false self/ego" where they are felt.

Walking the Path of Qoph: Taming the Shadow Beast Within
Facing the Primal Fears of the Subconscious on the Moonlit Path

The Path of Qoph, corresponding to Key 18—The Moon—on the Qabalistic Tree of Life, is among the most mysterious and daunting of the initiatory journeys. This is the path where the aspirant comes face to face with the animal fears embedded deep within the Survival Mind. It is the subconscious terrain where terror takes root—not merely personal fears, but the ancestral and collective dread of being hunted, rejected, or abandoned.

At this level, the subconscious is not the gentle sea of dreams; it is the raw, instinctual mind of the animal who knows it is prey. It harbors the fear of death not as a philosophical abstraction, but as the felt terror of being devoured—by nature, by time, by others. These fears manifest psychologically as panic, insecurity, the fear of rejection, and the overwhelming dread of abandonment. They are the nightmares buried in the folds of the vital soul, the emotional residue of countless lives and lineages.

To walk the Path of Qoph is to descend into this shadow realm—not to suppress or escape it, but to illuminate it. The aspirant must not only confront their own inner phantoms, but also the collective fears of humanity. Without this honest reckoning, the subconscious remains a hidden saboteur—cloaked in darkness, steering the soul by fear rather than by love or Will.

This path is alchemical. By consciously engaging with the subconscious, the initiate begins to transmute fear into awareness. The deeper work of the Moon is not just in recognizing your shadow, but in transforming it. The fearful wolf must not be slain—it must be tamed, understood, even loved. Only through this union can the subconscious ascend the Tree, becoming an active partner in the unfoldment of the Higher Self.

When you face your own inner darkness, you begin to teach the subconscious that it is not prey—it is power. You awaken it, not as a trembling animal in the dark, but as a luminous and devoted companion to your conscious will. This is how you turn the beast into an ally, the fear into intuition, and the shadow into light.

Only then can the journey continue upward—toward the Sun, toward Tiphareth, and into the awakened I AM of the Magus.

It’s almost humorous when you think about it—we’ll spend months training a loyal dog, patiently guiding it with loving discipline, and yet we rarely show the same devotion to taming our own inner dog: the wild, instinctual survival mind we call the subconscious. This subconscious, often seen as an untamed beast, is in truth a distorted reflection of something far greater. You are not this reflexive animal mind—you are a Higher Psyche, a radiant Soul. In Hermetic Qabalah, this is known as the Solar Self, the true I AM, the Light behind the shadow.

The subconscious mind—originally a divine mirror of your Solar Being—has been polluted by centuries of falsehood, fear, and control. These distortions are not natural; they are the product of systemic indoctrination, reinforced by the dogmas of empire and echoed through what former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower famously called the Military-Industrial Complex. This fear-based programming manipulates the subconscious, anchoring it to the illusion that death is the end—when in fact, it is simply a transformation of form.

As awakened Spirit, we know that death is not annihilation—it is alchemical transmutation. In the sacred science of Qabalah, a Being is an immortal Intelligence, while an entity is merely a temporary self-reflection. Your body is an entity—an interface for experience. But you, the Soul, are a Being—eternal, luminous, and sovereign.

Now is the time to redirect those primal fears of death—not through denial, but through illumination. Reclaim your inner animal, not with chains, but with clarity and compassion. Train it as you would a beloved companion, guiding it toward service to the Light of I AM—the Alpha and the Omega of manifestation. For it is only when the subconscious becomes your ally that you may walk the true path of Adeptship, ascending as a conscious co-creator in the Great Work.

Therefore, the Moon card implies that it is now time to strap on your Golden Chariot armor and defeat your inner dragons.

It's also obvious that ships need their anchors tied down on their decks, not buried in the mud, to steam onward and travel the ever-wonderous seas of the Mind. Hence, one needs to "raise" the body out of the mud of instinctual fears, for it to be our companion among the stars.

The Moon as the Womb of Becoming: A Hidden Symbol of Childbirth

All shadowy aspects aside, the Moon card can also be seen—perhaps surprisingly—as a symbol of childbirth. At first glance, this may seem contradictory, especially given the card's traditional association with fear, illusion, and the subconscious. Yet, within the framework of the Triple Goddess—Maiden, Mother, and Crone—the Moon indeed encompasses all phases of the feminine cycle, including the mysterious threshold between life and death. And what is childbirth, if not precisely that?

Childbirth is not only a miracle of life—it is also an ordeal of pain, surrender, and transformation. The Moon card reflects this with haunting accuracy. It is the passage through the unknown, the descent into the dark waters of the subconscious, and the emergence into a new state of being. It is the archetypal gateway, where spirit takes on flesh and the unseen becomes seen.

To fear pain is, in a sense, to fear life itself. Pain is a byproduct of transformation—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Just as the Moon card teaches us to face our shadows and illusions, it also calls us to move through the contractions of spiritual rebirth. It reminds us that growth comes from discomfort, that awakening is often preceded by disorientation, and that new life is often birthed through anguish.

So, in this deeper light, the Moon is not merely a card of deception or confusion. It is the secret chamber of becoming. It is the dark womb where soul meets body, where consciousness is tested, and where the Self is reborn—bloody, howling, and awake.

When the Moon- Key 18- is thrown during a divination, it implies:

• Journey into subconscious depths.
• The eerie path into the dark depths of the Soul. 
• Confrontation with the night.
• Encounter with fears.
• Deepest self-knowledge.
• Devotion to intuitive knowledge.

When Reversed:

• Illusion.
• Hysteria.
• Persecution complex.
• Hallucinations.
• Drug abuse.
• Flight from reality.

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