The Sun: Modern RWS Tarot Card Meanings
‘Key XIX: The Sun’, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
The Sun: Upright RWS Meanings
Keywords
Joy, Success, Health, Authority, Truth, Light, Children, Soul
Generally
As one of the most positive cards in the entire RWS Major Arcana, The Sun signifies a period of profound joy, absolute success, and abundant vitality. This is the card of pure, unfiltered consciousness, where all shadows have been banished by the light of truth. It represents a time of simple, uncomplicated happiness and a powerful, optimistic energy that illuminates every area of your life. This can manifest as a moment of profound clarity, where a complex problem is suddenly understood. It can also be a period of sheer good fortune and success, such as a wonderful, rejuvenating holiday or a day where everything simply goes right. It is a sign that the universe is in full support of you, and you are in a state of alignment with your true, higher self.
In a Love Context
In a love reading, The Sun is an unequivocally positive omen. It points to a happy and joyful relationship that is free from the secrets of The Moon or the conflicts of the Five of Wands. This is a connection based on total honesty, openness, and mutual understanding. It can signify a fun and carefree romance where both partners can be their authentic selves. For a long-term partnership, this card often points to a successful and joyous marriage, a period of profound harmony and stability. This card is also a primary signifier of fertility and life, often pointing to the birth of a child that brings immense happiness and a new sense of purpose to the relationship.
In a Money/Career Context
In a money or career reading, The Sun signifies a major and unambiguous success. This is a time of peak performance, recognition, and abundant reward. It can represent the successful launch of a new business, a major project that is completed with resounding success, or a promotion that brings you great joy and a higher status. This card also points to public recognition of your achievements. Your hard work is no longer hidden; it is being seen and celebrated by your peers and superiors. This, in turn, often leads to a period of significant financial abundance. It is a sign that your career is a source of true vitality and happiness, not just a way to earn a living.
In a Spiritual Context
Spiritually, The Sun represents a profound spiritual awakening or a moment of true enlightenment. It is the culmination of the spiritual journey, where the seeker steps out of the illusions of The Moon and into the full, revealing light of the Divine. This is a moment of profound and direct connection to your higher self, a period of simple, joyful faith that is not based on complex dogma but on a direct experience of truth. The light of consciousness has revealed the truth of your situation, banishing all fear, doubt, and illusion. It is a state of spiritual clarity, vitality, and a complete, harmonious alignment with the will of the Divine Soul.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Embrace joy. Be confident. Step into the spotlight. Share your truth with clarity.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
Material success attained. Truth revealed. Healing completed. Confidence gained. Child born.
As Obstacles
An overly simplistic or naive view of a situation. A forced or artificial happiness is blocking progress. An excess of ego.
As Hidden Energy
An unacknowledged source of joy and vitality. A hidden potential for a major success. The simple truth of a situation is being overlooked.
As Resources/Alliances
Your own optimism and vitality. A charismatic and successful person. The simple, unvarnished truth.
The Sun Reversed Meanings
Reversed Keywords
Pessimism, Lack of Success, Sadness, Lack of Clarity, Egoism
Generally
Reversed, The Sun card's brilliant light is temporarily obscured, pointing to a lack of joy or a period of pessimism. The pure, unfiltered consciousness of the upright card is clouded, leading to a lack of clarity. This is often a temporary setback, not a permanent state of loss. It can manifest as a holiday that is a disappointment or a long-awaited success that feels strangely empty upon its arrival. This card represents a disconnect from your inner source of vitality, leading to a period of low energy, sadness, or a general feeling that the light has gone out of your life. It is a sign that you are struggling to see the truth of your situation and are temporarily lost in a state of pessimism.
“I will likely never forget the time that the Sun card came up in a reading for someone intuitively worried about their friend. It later turned out, when the friend was contacted, that they had been robbed - in broad daylight.”
In a Love Context
In a love reading, the reversed Sun signifies a relationship that has lost its joy and vitality. The honesty and openness of the upright card are blocked, leading to a period of sadness or conflict between partners. This can be a lack of enthusiasm for the relationship, where the connection feels dutiful rather than joyful. It may also point to a significant event, such as an engagement or moving in together, that does not bring the happiness you expected. That "empty success" feeling is a warning that the core foundation of the connection is lacking the true, unfiltered light of joy and authenticity.
In a Money/Career Context
In a money or career reading, this card points to a lack of success or recognition at work. It is the energy of a project that is a major disappointment, failing to live up to its promise. It can also signify a promotion that is delayed or a business that is struggling to find its footing, as if its "light" is hidden from potential customers. This card often manifests as a personal feeling of being overlooked. Your hard work and achievements are not being seen or celebrated, leading to a period of professional pessimism and a lack of vitality in your career. It is a temporary "eclipse" of your professional success.
In a Spiritual Context
Spiritually, the reversed Sun represents a temporary loss of faith or a period of profound spiritual pessimism. The direct, joyful connection to the Divine is clouded, and you may feel disconnected or abandoned. This is a common state after a major spiritual awakening, a "dark night" that follows the blinding light. Your spiritual practice, which was once a source of joy, may now feel hollow or dutiful. This card is a sign that your connection to your higher self is temporarily obscured by doubt or a lack of clarity. It is an invitation to be patient with yourself and to wait for the clouds to pass, trusting that the light has not vanished, but is merely hidden.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
A warning against false optimism. It is time to look at the hard truth of the situation, or to find a genuine source of joy.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A disappointing result. A success that feels hollow. A lack of clarity will persist.
As Obstacles
Your own pessimism is the primary hindrance. A lack of enthusiasm is preventing success. An overly simplistic view is causing problems.
As Hidden Energy
A hidden sadness is undermining the situation. A secret lack of confidence is driving your actions.
As Resources/Alliances
Help comes from a necessary reality check. Acknowledging a disappointment is the first step to moving on.
The RWS Sun in Key Card Combinations
Combinations with Major Arcana
The Sun & The Moon
The Sun (↑) & The Moon (↑): Finding clarity and joy after a period of confusion. A hidden fear that is overcome by success. A secret that is brought into the light.
The Sun (↓) & The Moon (↑): A period of fear and anxiety that is blocking happiness. A success that is undermined by a hidden deception.
The Sun (↑) & The Moon (↓): A joyful situation that reveals a hidden truth. A success that brings an end to a period of confusion.
The Sun (↓) & The Moon (↓): A situation where a release of fear leads to a disappointing outcome. A truth is revealed, but it does not bring joy.
The Sun & The Tower
The Sun (↑) & The Tower (↑): A sudden revelation that brings great clarity, even if it is painful. A joyful situation that is hit by a sudden disaster.
The Sun (↓) & The Tower (↑): A catastrophic event that leads to a loss of all joy and hope. A public failure or humiliation.
The Sun (↑) & The Tower (↓): A joyful and successful outcome that allows you to narrowly avoid a disaster. A close call that ends in happiness.
The Sun (↓) & The Tower (↓): A situation where a fear of change is preventing you from finding happiness, leading to a slow collapse.
Combinations with the Suit of Swords
The Sun & The Nine of Swords
The Sun (↑) & The Nine of Swords (↑): A joyful situation that is being undermined by anxiety and worry. A success that does not bring peace of mind.
The Sun (↓) & The Nine of Swords (↑): A period of intense anxiety and despair. A lack of success that is causing mental anguish.
The Sun (↑) & The Nine of Swords (↓): A moment of clarity that helps you overcome your anxieties. A success that brings an end to a period of worry.
The Sun (↓) & The Nine of Swords (↓): A situation where a lack of joy and a refusal to seek help are creating a cycle of despair.
Additional Notes On The Sun
A.E Waite’s Original ‘Sun’ Card Meanings:
Upright: "Material happiness, fortunate marriage, contentment. Reversed: The same in a lesser sense." Pictorial Key To The Tarot (1911).
Question: What is the significance of the naked child?
The child's nakedness represents innocence, purity, and a complete lack of shame or ego. The child in general is a symbol of joy and innocence.
Meditations On The RWS ‘Sun’ Card
What is the greatest source of simple joy in my life right now?
Where do I need to bring more clarity and honesty?
Am I allowing myself to celebrate my successes?
