Death & The Moon
Death & The Moon
Analysis:
Imagery
Each image features two parallel towers, with visible peaks and a large celestial body of light (sun and moon) between them. While there are other buildings depicted throughout the deck, these ones are the only which we would consider to be identical - the same set of towers seen from a different perspective. In Death, we cross one threshold, but the journey doesn't stop there. The towers in the distance offer a glimpse of what's to come.
There are animals present in both scenes. In Death there is the white horse, and in The Moon, we see a dog, wolf and crayfish.
Water
Each card is ruled by a water sign i.e. Scorpio (Death) and Pisces (The Moon).
Both images feature physical bodies of water.
In The Moon, we see a crayfish emerging from the water (a water based life form), and along that vein, the scorpion (similar to a crayfish) is a symbol for Scorpio (which rules Death).
The Hebrew letter associated with Death is Nun, which means fish, and Pisces (The Moon), is symbolized by a fish.
States of Consciousness
Both cards speak to things "below the surface". Death is ruled by Scorpio, which connects to the concept of secrets or things being hidden. The Moon is associated with sleep, dreams and the subconscious, which deals with aspects of the human personality below the level of waking awareness.
Bodily transformation or regeneration is associated with both cards. Death is a process of dissolution. That's to say it takes forms, literally or figuratively, and breaks them down to change their structure. Similarly, sleep (a function associated with The Moon) is a process that makes adjustments to the body and psyche while we sleep. In that state, we heal, process, repair tissue, regenerate, replenish our energy, release hormones and much more.
What do YOU see???
Possible Interpretation:
Waking, ordinary consciousness can have us convinced that that's all there is to life. But Death and The Moon are here to show us there is so much more going that we can't even begin to perceive. So much of what operates even within us, happens at a subconscious level, from our beating heart, to the way we metabolize and digest food. We can influence part of this work, of course, but there are levels and layers of our being that are not only beyond our perception, they are beyond our control.
Some say the secret to death is that we must do it while still alive, and if that’s the case, then the Death card may be the beginning of such an invitation. In Death, we are undoing our conditioning and letting go of old forms. Then in The Moon, with our ego deconstructed, we are able to face our true selves and all the parts we've been hiding. This is a difficult process, but the "ego de-armoring" that happens in Death is an essential part of it. Without all that protection, we are in a better position to see our shadow aspects, which means they can be dealt with and appropriately integrated.
At both stages, our fears and demons have a chance to be met head-on - first as endings that challenge our attachments, then as illusions that challenge perception. Death teaches us to release what can no longer grow, and The Moon tests our ability to navigate successfully in "the dark". Both promise transformation and the dawn of a new day - if we can manage the arduous trial they entail.