The Sun Tarot card is a symbol of happiness, joy, and success that comes after delving into the darkest corners of your psyche and overcoming your challenges. Imagine walking out into the sunshine after a long, cold winter – the warmth touches your skin, and you can’t help but smile. That’s what the Sun is all about.
This card is the nineteenth key of the Major Arcana, and it speaks to themes of fulfillment, vitality, and the sheer joy of being. It represents the zenith of the fool’s journey, a point where clarity shines upon his path, and his soul dances in the light of wisdom attained.
The Sun card is a golden thread that represents those moments when everything just seems to fall into place. It’s a high-five from the universe for all the hard work you’ve put into your soul’s journey. The Fool finds in the Sun a moment of triumph where all the lessons he has learned are now illuminated in their full glory, offering a warm sense of wholeness and self-realization.
The Sun Keywords and General Associations
When you think of the sun, imagine its radiant, warm, and illuminating power. What comes to mind? For me, it instantly dispels all traces of negativity and brings a smile to my face. Here’s a snapshot of what The Sun is all about:
- Upright Keywords: Joy, Success, Celebration, Positivity, Vitality
- Reversed Keywords: Sadness, Pessimism, Delayed Success, Negativity
The Sun card is imbued with the energy of the fire element, radiating warmth, life, and enthusiasm. Astrologically, it’s associated with the Sun itself, which in zodiacal terms is associated with the proud and regal sign of Leo.
This celestial body and sign together embody the qualities of confidence, self-expression, and the simple pleasures of life. These associations underscore the card’s themes of fame and success, painting a picture of a time when you’re not just living, but thriving.
Detailed Description of The Sun Card
In the Rider-Waite-Colman deck, this card depicts a child riding a white horse under a bright sun surrounded by sunflowers. The child is naked, symbolizing purity and innocence, while the horse represents strength and nobility. The sunflowers, facing the sun, speak of our natural tendency to seek light and truth.
The wall behind the child suggests a safe garden – a protected space where the child can play without fear. The red banner in the child’s hand is a declaration of life’s triumphs and joys. Each of these elements sends a message of enlightenment, success, and the unabashed celebration of life.
Meaning of The Sun
The Sun card brings harmony and clarity, making all seemingly unrelated experiences fall into place. It reminds you that your joy is expansive. Like sunlight, it spreads all around you, touching the lives of others.
This card also represents truth, transparency, and the kind of success that comes from your hard, authentic work. It’s a card that speaks not just to our egos but to our community at large, reminding us that our brightest moments come when we collaborate with others and share our victories.
Depending on the context of a reading, the Sun can suggest different meanings and experiences. It could herald a time of success in your personal life, or it could indicate a time when your career takes a turn for the better.
It’s a versatile card that adapts its message to your situation, but keep in mind that it always brings a positive spin.
Interpretation of The Sun
The Sun card is a powerful symbol in tarot readings, offering layers of meaning both when it stands tall and upright and when it’s reversed, casting a different kind of shadow.
Upright The Sun
When you draw the Sun in its upright position, you can be sure that positive vibes are surrounding you, no matter what your situation. This card suggests that you’re not only on the right path, but that you’re enjoying the journey. In my experience, when the Sun appears in a reading, it heralds an era of personal growth, achievement, and sometimes the kind of success that you’ll look back on with a proud smile.
If your reading is focused on love and relationships, the Sun heralds good times ahead. It reminds you to stay connected to the present instead of getting carried away by your fears and insecurities. The Sun reminds you that everything will fall into place naturally if you follow your intuition. If you are looking for love now, the Sun strongly suggests the arrival of a bright new relationship that will bring joy and passion back into your life.
Now, if the focus of your reading is your career, the appearance of the Sun reminds you of all your talents and efforts. It heralds a time of recognition and long-awaited rewards. For past clients, the presence of the Sun has meant that their abilities have not only been recognized but celebrated. This card encourages you to be the center of attention, to take the lead in projects, and to enjoy your well-deserved success.
In terms of your social life, the Sun reflects a time of happiness and harmony within your social groups, friendships, and community. It invites you to move away from groups where you are not valued for who you are and to seek the company of people who make you feel valued.
Reversed The Sun
The energy of the Sun is so powerful that even when it is reversed, it still heralds a positive outcome. It’s just a sign that the brightness is obscured by clouds of confusion or doubt. It suggests a temporary eclipse of the joy and clarity you seek in your life, but not its disappearance. The reversed Sun calls for introspection, urging you to look within to rekindle your inner flame and find the optimism that seems to have slipped away.
In matters of the heart, a reversed Sun can indicate a temporary clouding of happiness in your relationship. This doesn’t mean the end. Take it as a call to clear the air and address the issues that may be blocking the warmth in your connection.
If you are single, it may mean that your personal doubts or lack of self-confidence are clouding your vision and blocking your path to a new romance. Work on your self-esteem, and you will attract the love you deserve.
When it comes to your professional life, the Sun reversed can mean that you don’t feel recognized for your efforts, or that the success you crave is taking too long to come. It may feel like your career is not progressing as you had hoped, but this card assures you that your time to shine will come. It encourages you to be patient and persistent. The sun will eventually break through the clouds.
The reversed Sun also speaks to the potential for growth that comes from facing your life’s challenges head-on. It invites you to focus on the lessons in your setbacks and use them to fuel your journey forward. The card’s presence in this position invites you to tap into your resilience and believe in the dawn that follows the darkest night.
Comparing and Contrasting The Sun with The Lovers and The Tower
An excellent way to grasp the essence of a Tarot card is to draw parallels and distinctions with its fellow cards. This can help you deepen your understanding but also take your reading towards a more profound interpretation of your reading.
Compared with The Lovers
The Sun and the Lovers both radiate a sense of harmony and alignment, but they illuminate different paths of human experience. The Lovers card symbolizes the intimate connections between people, the crossroads of choice, and the duality inherent in the choices we make. It reminds us of the balance between love and desire, commitment and individuality.
The sun, on the other hand, transcends this duality. It represents a unity and wholeness that has been achieved after such choices have been made. Let me explain this further. While The Lovers represents the beginning of a relationship full of potential, The Sun represents the joyful culmination of that potential realized.
The Lovers card asks us to choose with our hearts, while The Sun celebrates the happiness that follows when our choices lead to a state of inner and outer peace.
Compared with The Tower
The Tower and The Sun could not be more different at first glance. The Tower is a card of upheaval, chaos, and the sudden collapse of structures we believe to be stable. It’s the storm that tears through our lives, leaving us with a sense of loss and disorder.
Yet in this destruction lies the seed of truth – the Tower destroys illusions and falsehoods, forcing us to rebuild on a foundation of reality.
The Sun, after the storm has passed, is the clear sky that promises a fresh start. It is the clarity and truth revealed in full light after the dust has settled. If The Tower represents the necessary breakdown of what no longer serves us, The Sun symbolizes the rebuilding process—joyful and full of light.
It’s the card that reassures us that, no matter how devastating the storm may have been, there is always a return to brightness and stability. The Tower shakes us to our core, but The Sun warms us, reminding us of the resilience and strength we possess to start anew.
In readings with past clients, these cards together have usually suggested that after a period of significant change or disruption, there is a promise of a return to joy and a reminder that happiness is a cycle, just like the sun that rises each day after the darkness of night.
The Sun in Specific Readings
The Sun offers clarity and positivity in all readings. Whether you’re seeking insight into a specific dilemma or general guidance, the Sun’s radiance provides an optimistic lens through which to view possible outcomes.
Yes-no readings
If the Sun card comes up in a yes-no reading, take it as a resounding affirmation. It’s a clear sign that you should go ahead with your plans, or a confirmation that you’re on the right track. For example, I once had a client who was considering whether to embark on a new educational path that he was hesitant about. The Sun’s appearance was a strong “yes” to that question, so he enrolled in the course, which opened the door to fulfilling and exciting opportunities.
However, it’s important to consider the surrounding cards to get the full picture. While the Sun is a powerful indicator of success, it doesn’t guarantee it without effort. It suggests that the result is within your grasp, but you must still reach out and grab it.
Love readings
In love readings, the Sun’s presence can mean a period of blossoming in your relationships, a time of deepening your connections and the joy of finding someone to connect with. If you’re in a relationship, the Sun usually heralds a period of mutual happiness, shared goals, and celebrating the triumphs of love. It’s a sign that your relationship is not only bringing joy, but also helping you and your partner to grow.
For those who are single, the Sun indicates the arrival of new love or the beginning of a passionate romance. In order to enjoy this new relationship, you need to shine in your authenticity. This will also ensure that you attract someone who is drawn to your true self. The energy of the Sun in a love reading is a reminder to maintain a positive outlook, for your radiance is likely to draw others to you.
Work readings
In a work reading, the Sun speaks of success, achievement, and the completion of projects. It can indicate a time when your career is not only on the right track but is accelerating toward bright prospects. The Sun sheds light on your talents and efforts, suggesting that they are finally being recognized and rewarded.
If you’re considering a new job offer, promotion, or career change, the Sun’s presence is an encouraging sign that these changes will lead to personal growth and professional satisfaction. Take it as a call to step into your power and embrace the opportunities that come your way with confidence and optimism.
Key Card Combinations
The Sun, with its life-affirming energy, can significantly influence the interpretation of other cards it appears with, so let’s take a look at some of these combinations.
Combined with The Moon
When the Sun and Moon come together in a spread, they represent the union of opposites-consciousness and subconsciousness, day and night, clarity and ambiguity. This pairing heralds a time of enlightenment when some secrets or hidden truths are brought to light.
It can indicate an ability to reconcile your feelings with your outer reality, achieving a powerful balance. For example, if you’ve been struggling with a decision, this combination could mean that your intuition will soon become clear and guide you to the right choice.
Combined with The Star
The Star is a symbol of hope, healing, and guidance after a time of hardship, and when it appears with the Sun, it suggests not only the presence of hope, but the arrival of tangible good fortune.
This combination is one of the most encouraging, for it indicates that your dreams are within reach and that the universe is conspiring to help you succeed. In a reading, whatever it is, this could mean a period of significant personal growth or the realization of a long-held desire.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Sun
The Sun card is a vibrant symbol of success, joy, and enlightenment. In the Tarot, it represents those moments in life where everything seems to align perfectly, bringing about a sense of fulfillment, clarity, and happiness. It’s a card that celebrates the triumphs and the positive energy that comes with them.
When The Sun appears in a Tarot reading, it’s like a warm, reassuring hand on your back. It influences the reading by casting an optimistic light on the cards around it, often indicating a favorable outcome or highlighting the positive aspects of a situation. It’s a card that encourages confidence and trust in the process of life.
While The Sun card is a generally positive omen, its influence can vary depending on its position in the spread and the cards that accompany it. It often indicates success and good fortune, but it’s important to consider the whole reading to understand how this success might manifest in different areas of life, be it personal growth, relationships, or career.
A reversed Sun might suggest that you’re experiencing a temporary setback or feeling a lack of the joy it typically brings. It can indicate internalized success or happiness that has yet to be fully realized or expressed. The key is to recognize that the positive qualities of The Sun are still there, but they may require reflection and effort to bring to the surface.
Conclusion on The Sun
The Sun is one of the most inspiring and uplifting cards in the Tarot. When it appears in a reading, take it as a symbol of the joy and clarity that comes with success.
It’s a reminder that after every night comes the dawn, and with it, the promise of a new day filled with potential. The Sun encourages you to find your own light, after delving into your own darkness, and to share it with the world.
