The Sun: Modern RWS Tarot Card Meanings
‘Key XIX: The Sun’, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
The Sun Upright
Keywords
Joy, Success, Clarity, Vitality, Optimism, Truth
Generally
Joy, success, and vitality. A successful holiday, a day filled with simple happiness, a period of great energy and optimism, a moment of profound clarity.
One of the most positive cards of the Major Arcana.
In a Love Context
A happy and joyful relationship. A successful marriage, a fun and carefree romance, a relationship based on honesty and openness, the birth of a child.
In a Money/Career Context
A major success at work. A successful business launch, a promotion that brings great joy, a public recognition of your achievements, a period of financial abundance.
In a Spiritual Context
A spiritual awakening or enlightenment. A moment of profound connection to the Divine, a period of simple, joyful faith, the truth of a situation being revealed by the light of consciousness.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Embrace joy. Be confident. Step into the spotlight. Share your truth with clarity.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
Success. Clarity. Health. Confidence. Child.
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, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
‘The Sun’ Reversed (Modern Meanings)
Reversed Keywords: Pessimism, Lack of Success, Sadness, Lack of Clarity, Egoism
Generally
A lack of joy, pessimism, or a temporary setback. A holiday that is a disappointment, a period of low energy and sadness, a success that feels empty, a lack of clarity.
In a Love Context
A relationship that has lost its joy. A period of sadness or conflict between partners, a lack of enthusiasm for a relationship, a success (like an engagement) that does not bring happiness.
In a Money/Career Context
A lack of success or recognition at work. A project that is a disappointment, a promotion that is delayed, a business that is struggling, a feeling of being overlooked.
In a Spiritual Context
A temporary loss of faith. Feeling disconnected from the Divine, a spiritual practice that has lost its joy, a period of spiritual pessimism.
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?
