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Tarot Card Meanings:
The Sun

The Sun: Overview and Symbols

The Sun is card number nineteen in the Major Arcana. It represents joy, success, and enlightenment. Depicting a radiant sun shining over a joyous child on a white horse, this card signifies positivity, vitality, and the clarity that comes with achieving one’s goals and embracing life fully.

Some Specific Symbols and Their Meanings in the Rider Waite Smith Tarot:

  • Radiant sun: Symbolizes clarity, enlightenment, and vitality.
  • Joyous child: Represents innocence, joy, and a fresh perspective on life.
  • White horse: Indicates purity, strength, and forward movement.
  • Sunflowers in the background: Reflect growth, positivity, and the nurturing power of the sun.
  • Red banner: Signifies celebration, victory, and enthusiasm.
the sun from the rider waite smith tarot
The Sun as depicted in the Rider-Waite Smith Tarot by A.E. White, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith

The Sun: Tarot Card Meanings

Keywords/Phrases: Joy, success, enlightenment, vitality, positivity, clarity, achievement, celebration.

The Sun in the tarot signifies joy, success, and enlightenment, bringing a sense of positivity and vitality into your life. This card represents the achievement of goals and the clarity that comes with it, illuminating your path and dispelling any darkness or confusion. It highlights a time of celebration and exuberance, where your inner child can thrive and embrace life with enthusiasm and optimism. The Sun encourages you to bask in the warmth of your accomplishments, to recognize the growth and progress you have made, and to continue moving forward with confidence and clarity.

The Sun: Reversed Tarot Card Meanings

Keywords/Phrases: Temporary setbacks, lack of clarity, blocked happiness, delayed success, pessimism, clouded outlook, diminished enthusiasm.

When the Sun appears reversed in a tarot reading, it signifies temporary setbacks and a lack of clarity that may be blocking your happiness and success. This card suggests that the joy and positivity you seek are currently delayed, leading to feelings of pessimism and a clouded outlook. It reflects a time when enthusiasm and vitality are diminished, and the path forward may seem uncertain. The reversed Sun encourages you to remain patient and optimistic, understanding that these obstacles are temporary and that clarity and success will eventually return. Reconnect with your inner light and stay focused on your goals, trusting that brighter days are ahead.

Gallery: The Sun in Various Tarot Decks

A photo of The Sun from the Alchemia Tarot
The Sun from Alchemia Tarot
by Morimura Ako and Takaki