The Sun Tarot Card Meaning

The Sun tarot card symbolism

Nothing is hidden in the Sun card. A sun with a face fills most of the sky, sending out straight and wavy rays in turn. Beneath it, on a white horse, a naked child spreads its arms and carries a large red banner. The child wears a garland of flowers and a red feather, the same feather the Fool wears at the very start of the journey. The horse has neither saddle nor bridle; the child has found balance without strain. Sunflowers lean over the stone wall behind. The wall marks a protected garden, a space that is now safe. After the dim path and twin towers of the Moon, everything here lies under direct, shadowless light.

The card bears the number XIX. One plus nine makes ten, which reduces to one: the Magician. The Magician creates through will; the child in the Sun creates with the naturalness of play. The Fool's raw curiosity, after a long road, turns here into conscious joy, an innocence regained at the far end of maturity.

The Sun upright meaning

Upright, the Sun speaks of vitality, openness and success. It may be a favorable time to gain clarity on something, see the return on your effort, or simply enjoy expressing yourself as you are. Energy returning after an illness or an exhausting stretch, the relief of exam results you have been waiting for, laughing freely around a crowded table: these are the card's everyday faces. Its joy is not surface cheer but the lightness of having nothing left to hide. The child motif can also point to a new beginning, to creativity and play, or to good news involving the children in your life. The Sun is known as one of the clearest "yes" cards of the Major Arcana; even so, it is not a guarantee but a light that strongly supports you.

The Sun reversed meaning

Reversed, the Sun is not light lost but light clouded over. The joy is there, yet you may struggle to reach it; fatigue, a delayed success or needless doubt may be getting in the way. Hearing everyone congratulate you while a voice inside says "it's not enough" is typical of this position. Sometimes the opposite applies: inflated optimism, an overblown ego, or a cheerfulness that refuses to see facts. Trusting a project so much that you skip the details belongs here too. In both cases the remedy is a return to honest simplicity with yourself. Clouds pass, and even reversed the card's core remains positive.

The Sun in love and relationships

In relationships the Sun brings warmth, open communication and having fun together to the fore. In an existing relationship it can point to playfulness and closeness coming alive again, to laughter becoming easy once more. Introducing your partner to friends and family with a light heart, or planning a trip together, may be on the horizon. If you are single, you may notice that people you meet without playing a role or making yourself smaller suit you far better; right now your confidence is your greatest charm. Starting a family, children or building something together may also come up with this card. Drawn after a breakup, it says the wound has closed and you can look ahead with joy again.

The Sun in work and money

At work the Sun shows visibility, recognition and projects that turn out well. It is an encouraging card for putting your ideas forward, giving a presentation, asking for a promotion or stepping in front of a team. If you run your own business, your product or service may reach a wider audience. Warm, transparent communication within a team raises everyone's effectiveness. Financially the card draws a positive picture, though that does not make careful planning unnecessary; sunny days are also the best days for saving and paying down debt.

The Sun: astrology and element

The Golden Dawn links this card directly to the Sun, the element of fire and the Hebrew letter Resh. In astrology the Sun represents your core, your vital force and your conscious identity; it rules Leo and is exalted in Aries. The sign and house of the Sun in a birth chart show where you want to shine and where you most want to be yourself. Fire symbolizes warmth, enthusiasm and creative drive, and the Sun card's fire does not scorch but helps things grow. Just as sunflowers turn toward light, the card suggests following your natural orientation. If your chart emphasizes Leo or the fifth house, creative expression and play may be especially nourishing for you.

The Sun: advice

• Make room today for something that truly enlivens you, and own it.
• Accept your success without shrinking it, and share it with people you love.
• When you present yourself, choose simplicity over performance.
• Spend time outdoors in daylight; let your body share in the card's joy.
• Use good periods not for carelessness but for laying a solid foundation.