Tarot Secret
The Sun in Tarot – Meaning, Symbolism & Spiritual Message
Reversed: Arrogance · Naive optimism · Passing clouds
There are days when you simply are.
Not fighting. Not planning.
Not trying to be better.
Simply here.
Video: The Sun – meaning explained
Clicking loads the video from YouTube (youtube-nocookie.com). Data is transferred to Google when you do – see the privacy policy.
The Sun – Historical Context
The Sun shows a radiant child on a white horse, surrounded by sunflowers. Waite saw in it the highest joy and clearest truth — after all the trials of the journey, the sun finally shines without shadow. The child wears no clothing — complete innocence and complete truth.
Symbolism of the Card – What the Image Tells
| Symbol | Possible Meaning |
|---|---|
| Radiant child | Innocence, joy and life in its most original form |
| White horse | Purity and the power to triumph — the path is clear and free |
| Sunflowers | Fully bloomed, turned toward the sun — complete fulfillment |
| Red banner | Victory and passion — joy is not passive |
| Great radiant sun | Unlimited energy and awareness — no shadow remains |
| Orange background | Warmth, energy and vitality |
| Garden wall | Paradise is protected but not locked away — security without imprisonment |
The Sun as an Archetype
This card embodies several universal archetypes:
- Apollo — god of the sun, truth and art
- The eternal child — joy without fear
- Illumination — when everything is clear
- Rebirth — after a long darkness
- Cosmic joy — life force in its purest form
The Sun Upright – Meaning & Message
The sun shines — completely, unconditionally, without reservation. A child rides a white horse, arms spread wide, a wreath of sunflowers in the background. No fear, no tension, no calculation: pure being in the light. The Sun is the most positive card in the deck — not because it’s naive, but because it shows what becomes possible when clarity and joy come together.
This card stands for success, vitality, clarity and the joy that arises when you live in harmony with yourself and the world. It appears when a phase of learning, darkness or effort transitions into clarity and fulfillment. The child on the horse has no experience of fear — or has left it behind.
When the Sun appears, you can exhale. What was sought is found, what was pursued bears fruit, what was loved shines back. The question isn’t whether this is good — the question is whether you can accept it without immediately downplaying it or explaining it away.
The Sun Reversed – Shadow Side & Warning
Reversed, the Sun shows happiness that is delayed or diminished — joy obscured by clouds, success that doesn’t arrive as fully as hoped. Sometimes it also shows overexposure: too much optimism that blocks out reality, or self-centeredness disguised as self-confidence.
It can point to phases where your own energy is low, where vitality and joy won’t settle in even though everything looks fine on the surface. Sometimes also: exhaustion or low mood hiding behind a functioning exterior.
The question: where are you blocking your own joy right now — through excessive self-criticism, by postponing fulfillment to later, through the feeling that you don’t deserve it? The sun shines even when you turn your back on it. You just have to turn around.
The Sun in the Areas of Life
The Sun in Love
Upright: Joy and lightness in love. A radiant phase of connection. If single: the timing is favorable for new encounters.
Reversed: Short-term clouds over happiness. Perhaps too much expectation instead of real joy.
The Sun in Career
Upright: Success and recognition. Projects flourish. Energy and enthusiasm are contagious.
Reversed: A temporary damper on enthusiasm. Check whether expectations of success are realistic.
The Sun in Finances
Upright: Financial success and clarity. A good phase for important financial decisions.
Reversed: Excessive optimism can lead to misjudgments.
The Sun in Health
Upright: Full energy and vitality. The body is in its best shape.
Reversed: A temporary dip in energy. Don’t overdo it.
The Sun – Yes or No?
Upright: Yes — clearly positive. Reversed: Yes, but — with a bit more realism.
An Example from Practice
One user who kept optimizing his everyday life noticed, on reflection, that he had not laughed from the belly in weeks after drawing this card. He met up with an old friend that same day, with no agenda and no goal, and afterward noticed how much lighter he felt simply from having been himself.
Next to The Star, it emphasizes hope already fulfilled. Next to The World, it reinforces a sense of complete fulfillment. Appearing next to The Moon, it is worth asking whether clarity or lingering uncertainty is more in focus right now.
It matters to distinguish real joy from mere good mood covering something up. Does the joy feel light and genuine — or is it papering over something uncomfortable? In the first case, it is fine to simply enjoy it. In the second, an honest look underneath is worth it.
The Sun – Facts & Correspondences
| Number | XIX |
| Element | Fire |
| Planet / Sign | Sun |
| Astrology | Sun — vitality, awareness, success, identity |
| Numerology | 19 = fulfillment through joy and light |
| Hebrew letter | Resh — the head, leadership and overview |
| Timing | Phases of success, summer, times of high energy and joy |
| Person description | A radiant, joyful person; someone in top form; children |
| Opposing card | The Moon (XVIII) — illusion instead of clarity |
| Complementary cards | The Star (XVII) — hope fulfilled; The World (XXI) — complete fulfillment |
The Sun in Everyday Life
Where in my life do I feel real joy that I might be downplaying?
What would I do if I allowed myself — to simply be happy?
And: when did I last do something — just because it was beautiful?
And one more question: what truly makes me — glad?
Stay here a moment longer.
💭 Where in your life can you simply allow joy today — without reason, without achievement, simply because life is beautiful?
Frequently Asked Questions About The Sun
Is the Sun the best card in tarot?
It’s considered one of the most positive cards of all. Joy, success and clarity in their purest form. Even reversed, it’s usually still positive — just a bit muted.
What does the Sun mean as a daily card?
Today is a radiant day. Enjoy the energy, be present, share your joy. A good day for important conversations and decisions.
What does the Sun mean in love?
Joy, warmth and genuine connection. One of the best love cards — it shows real happiness and mutual enthusiasm.
Can the Sun be negative?
Only very rarely, and only when reversed — then as a temporary damper or as a sign of excessive optimism.
Which cards complement the Sun?
The Star (hope fulfilled), The World (complete fulfillment), Wheel of Fortune (a favorable moment). This card rarely appears in challenging combinations.
Reflection Questions on The Sun
Let these questions simply be here. You don’t have to answer them.
- When did you last simply enjoy something?
- Where in my life do I feel real joy that I might be downplaying?
- What would I do if I allowed myself — to simply be happy?
- And: when did I last do something — just because it was beautiful?
- And one more question: what truly makes me — glad?
The Journey Through the Major Arcana
The 22 cards tell a story — from card 0 to 21 and back. A spiral, not a line.
The Sun has shone. Now the journey is nearly complete: Judgement (XX) — the call to a new life, the awakening to who you truly are.
The Sun doesn’t shine because you earned it.
It shines because that’s its nature.
And perhaps that’s yours too.
Curious what The Sun means for your situation? Claire reads it together with you, in plain words.