Tarot Special Edition: Luna (Moon) Card
Pictured above: Sculpted tarot card created by Tara Palazzolo of Wicked FairyTale®. This feminine depiction blends symbolism and storytelling into a tactile experience. View more at WickedFairyTale.com.
Originally published on October 17, 2023 -Archived as part of my Lunar Energy and Tarot & Compass content.
Welcome, dear Moonchild. If you have an affinity for our closest celestial neighbor, you are in the right place and know you are not alone. As someone who adores the giant glowing orb that brightens our sky, I teeter somewhere between moonchild and selenophile, i.e., a person obsessed with the moon.
Knowing when the moon cycles occur leans me more towards the latter. Still, as I mentioned in my recent post on Samhain, I understand that this fascination has persisted for thousands of years among our ancestors and beyond. That blog discusses the first lunar mare identified in Ireland.
The lunar calendar is scientifically based on the monthly cycles of moon stages and can vary which day is the first of the month, depending on the phase. The Islamic calendar is an example of this lunar cycle, which occurs on the first sighting of the new crescent. The lunar month is ~29.5 days, aligning with the female menstruation cycle of 28-30 days.
The lunar year is slightly shorter than a solar calendar. The lunar year consists of 12 lunations, each approximately 354 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 34 seconds long. The most common solar calendar is the Gregorian Calendar, which is based on the traditional 365-day years with leap years added to keep the seasons aligned with the sun.
A lunisolar calendar combines both the moon and solar phases. Examples of lunisolar calendars include the Jewish, Chinese, and Hindu versions. Even these can have variations in the month's beginning, as the Chinese month is correlated with the specific timing of a new moon, and Hindus typically start their month around the full moon.
This is way more analytical than you might want to explore, but it begs the question: why are we fascinated with the moon as a species? The oldest lunar calendar monument from the Mesolithic era was discovered in Scotland's Warren Field, dating back approximately 10,000 years. It was also recalibrated annually at the winter solstice, a celebration and event tracked by many. The passage of time is the only way to track the seasons and measure age, serving as a future record of what has occurred.
The giant sky rock is often called the man in the moon, but why? Some folklore has tales of a delinquent man being punished, but the moon has been associated with feminine energy for centuries. Venus, Neptune, Pluto, and the moon are related to feminine energy, which makes sense given that the moon counterbalances the sun’s male dynamic. Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are the other celestial bodies that exude masculine energy.
The moon has remained sacred throughout history, associated with deities and several well-known goddesses, including the Greek mythology version of Selene, from which the term "selenophile" originates, and Luna, the Roman equivalent of Selene and feminine counterpart to Sol, the Sun.
Luna is sometimes considered part of the triple moon goddess, paired with Hecate (also known as Hekate) and Diana (origin Roman with a Greek counterpart, Artemis). Some contradictions annotate Hecate as the triple moon goddess. The symbolism of the triple moon goddess is represented by the waxing crescent on the left, the full moon in the center, and the waning crescent on the right. For this card, the symbol of Hecate is on the bottom right.
The moon’s energy throughout time has inspired creativity and imagination, linking intuition while being illusory. As seen on this card, the Triple Moon goddess symbol is deeply rooted in Neopaganism beliefs and is worn by high priestesses, sorcerers, and witches.
Representing the changing phases of the moon, it is also associated with the various stages in a woman's life and can symbolize birth, life, and death. Artemis is the maiden, Luna is the mother, and Hecate is the crone. Gender stereotypes from the past have incorrectly categorized these as distinct stages only for women. Regardless of identity, the stages of maiden, mother, and crone represent the ideas that accompany a person's shifting perspectives as they mature.
Whether you follow the lunar calendar or are just a casual observer of the phasing disc that lights up our night sky and affects our tides, the magical essence of this celestial body and card is unparalleled.
Until next time, let your inner compass guide you. 🧭
💫Tara
© 2023–2025 Tara Palazzolo, True Path Co. All rights reserved. Originally published on Wicked FairyTale® and updated for True Path Co for timeless clarity and seasonal alignment. This piece is part of the Traveler’s Codex—designed to support your journey of inner growth and sovereignty. Sharing is welcome with proper credit. No reproduction or redistribution is permitted without written permission.