The Sun in brief
In the Rider-Waite tradition, The Sun stands for joy, warmth, success and vitality, the bright day that follows the darkness of The Moon. Modern readers often take it as one of the most positive cards in the deck, a sign of confidence and happiness shared with others, while the reversed card points to a passing cloud over that light, or to optimism that has run ahead of reality.
The card represents the dawn that follows the darkest of nights. The sun represents “consciousness in the spirit,” direct light set against the reflected light of The Moon.
The card’s picture
The naked child mounted on a white horse and displaying a red standard is the better symbolism for this card. The scene represents a procession “coming out from the walled garden of the sensitive life and passing on the journey home,” a passage from the light of this world toward the light of the world to come.
The earlier version in older packs shows a sun shedding drops of dew, and beneath it a wall enclosing a garden in which two children, naked or lightly clothed, play or run hand in hand. The naked child on a white horse with a scarlet standard is “a much better symbol,” and that is the design of the Rider-Waite card.
The child represents humanity become “a little child” again, “a child in the sense of simplicity and innocence in the sense of wisdom.” Modern guides read the same figure. The child’s nakedness represents having nothing to hide, and the white horse represents purity and strength. The four sunflowers above the brick wall represent the four suits of the Minor Arcana and the four elements.
Upright meaning
The divinatory meanings of the upright Sun include material happiness and contentment.
The upright Sun represents success, abundance and radiance, giving strength and vitality like the sun itself. The upright Sun also represents a deserved sense of confidence, and a personal fulfillment that inspires others and draws them near. The upright Sun is one of the cards that offer nothing but good feelings.
The Sun represents success, radiance and abundance, a warm energy that helps a person through hard times. The Sun is also a card of authentic self-expression and inner power, not driven by fear or ego. The Sun is an energetic card, linked to enthusiasm and general positivity.
Reversed meaning
The reversed Sun means simply the same as the upright Sun in a lesser sense.
The reversed Sun represents difficulty seeing the positive side of a situation, as if clouds are blocking the warmth and light. The reversed Sun also represents being unrealistic, with an overly optimistic view that needs checking.
The reversed Sun is first a call to the inner child to come out and play, a permission slip to set work aside for a while. The reversed Sun also represents struggling to see the bright side after setbacks, and The Sun is never a negative card. The reversed Sun can show too much confidence and serves as a prompt to ask others for a reality check.
The Sun in love
In love, the upright Sun represents happiness, celebration and fulfillment, with a relationship blossoming and drawing two people closer. For single people, the upright Sun also represents a time to step out and shine, since positivity can be magnetic.
Reversed, The Sun represents boredom or taking a relationship for granted, even when things are going well. The reversed Sun is also a prompt for more quality time together, and to remember what one first loved about a partner.
The Sun in career
For work, the upright Sun represents enthusiasm, motivation and happiness, with a career that feels fulfilling both spiritually and materially. The upright Sun also represents a positive mood that creates a good environment for colleagues.
Reversed, The Sun represents pleasant things clouded by an inability to see them, with a prompt to peel back the clouds. The reversed Sun also represents overconfidence or unrealistic expectations about one’s ambitions.
The Sun and money
The upright Sun in money questions represents a comfortable, rewarding situation marked by gratitude, and a time when hidden factors may come to light.
Reversed, The Sun represents worries that may be smaller than they seem, or, on the other side, being overly optimistic. The reversed Sun is a prompt to temper expectations while staying hopeful.
The Sun as feelings
As feelings, the upright Sun represents radiant warmth: someone sees another person as a source of joy and inspiration and simply enjoys their company. The upright Sun also represents one’s own clarity, happiness and new confidence.
Reversed, The Sun represents confusion or disappointment, with someone struggling to see the bright side of a connection. The reversed Sun also represents one’s own sense that an inner light has dimmed.
Questions to reflect on
- What is going well that deserves to be celebrated?
- Where could a little more play bring back a sense of joy?
- Is optimism here grounded, or running ahead of the facts?
- Who benefits when this warmth is shared?