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
Correspondences
Planet
Sun
Element
Fire
Yes/No:
Yes (potentially a very strong yes)
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: A glorious and successful conclusion. A period of profound happiness and clarity. A "happily ever after."
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?
