The Moon in Wonderland
The Moon in Wonderland
The books that accompany our decks are full-size, often in full color, full of interesting information. Here is an excerpt from the companion book to the Tarot in Wonderland.
XVIII, The Moon
Through the Looking Glass
It seems fitting that this card features characters who do not inhabit Wonderland but rather are from a poem recited by Tweedledee because this card is all about illusion, deception, and the nature of reality. The connection of this poem with The Moon card is enhanced because it comes from the Tweedle brothers, who are twins. Aside from their names on their collars, they are hard to distinguish from each other, another experience the Moon brings.
In the poem, the Walrus and the Carpenter cajole the oysters to take a pleasant walk along the beach. The eldest, and presumably more experienced, oyster refuses but all the others join in, thinking they are in for a treat. The Walrus and the Carpenter and all the oysters trotted “a mile or so” along the ocean until the oysters claimed to be out of breath. The oysters are allowed to rest while their hosts bring out some bread and vinegar and announce that it is time to eat. The poem ends with the Carpenter inviting the oysters to walk back home:
“O Oysters,” said the Carpenter,
“You’ve had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?”
But the answer came there none—
And this was scarcely odd, because
They’d eaten every one.
Alice, being a proper Victorian girl who knows that it is important to judge right from wrong, claims to like the Walrus best because, according to the poem, he felt a little sorry for the oysters as he ate them.
“He ate more than the Carpenter, though,”
Said Tweedledee. “You see he held his handkerchief in front, so that the Carpenter
Couldn’t count how many he took: contrariwise.”
Alice changes her opinion, only to be told the Carpenter ate as many as he could get. Alice is stumped, concluding, “Well! They were both very unpleasant characters….” It’s no wonder she was puzzled, facing the difficult prospect of whether to judge someone based on their intentions, their actions, or the outcome. As more facts came to light about the Walrus and the Carpenter, the more difficult her choice became.
Down the Rabbit Hole
In a reading, The Moon reveals a situation that is filled with uncertainty. Sometimes we need to be told that we do not know all the facts and consequently cannot make a good decision. If we try to decide now, we will base our choice on incomplete or erroneous information. It could very well be that someone is purposefully keeping secrets in order to promote their own agenda. Sometimes we are prone to believing the illusions of The Moon due to our own deep fears or dark desires. Sometimes we miss warnings because we are not willing to trust our intuition. When this card turns up, tread slowly and carefully, avoid rash decisions, and question everything…including your own motives.
