TAROTThe Sun
Upright
You are on the right path to success and happiness.
A positive and fulfilling period.
Success through vitality, confidence and recognition.
Good luck and seeing through previous deceptions.
Intuition
Although Helios the Sun God is from the Greek pantheon, the child carries a Roman spear (suggesting future generations) and the child is in a beautiful but walled - and therefore limited - garden.
Given the planet Earth is near the child, the card carries with it a modern subtext; enjoy the seemingly limitless resources but know that they are actually limited and cannot go on forever.
Reversed
Lack of confidence or inflated ego.
Negative thoughts (or a previous bad situation) preventing you enjoying a new phase of luck and contentment.
Using the new found luck and resources to fuel ego rather than constructive aims.
Astrologia
Identity, self-expression, potential for growth in new directions through a strong vitality. An inspiration to others. Can be arrogant and expect to be at the center of things.
The Sun
After the night of the Moon we step into the full light of the sun. Nothing is hidden and everything gains new vigor from the power of the sun. The air is filled with a new optimism, zest for life, and abundance powered by the rays of the sun.
This is the card for seeing success after working hard, recovering from previous difficult times, or simply being in the right place at the right time and set for action.
It is one of the cards in the deck for new life. If you want to start a family the upright Sun is one of the better cards to draw (the upright Empress being the other big one).
The upright Sun card is seen by many as one of the most auspicious cards if not the most auspicious. It denotes a period of progression with enough resources and energy to complete the task and good relations with everyone around you. It also denotes a period of enjoyment and lack of major obstacles, most of which are now behind you.
The reversed card was originally seen as the same as the upright card ‘but to a lesser extent’, but more recent Tarot decks and users see the reverse as a personal state of mind that prevents accepting the good luck, or ego misusing the good luck and resources available.
In the same way as the Moon card in this deck is illustrated using the personification of the Moon itself, the Sun card is illustrated using the personification of the Sun; Helios.
Helios
Like his sister Selene (Goddess and personification of the Moon), Helios as God and personification of the Sun was generally seen as a god who existed in the background. Unlike sun gods in other myths, the Greek pantheon did not see the Sun god as particularly central.
Helios was an all-seeing witness during the day and some of his stories are based on this vantage point. He is the one who saw the abduction of Persephone plus the infidelity of Aphrodite with the War God Ares as examples.
He is notable for his association with the island of Rhodes, which comes from the name of his wife, a daughter of Poseidon. The Colossus of Rhodes was a huge bronze statue of Helios, erected on the Island and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
He is also associated with white horses which were sacred to him, and that fits perfectly with the standard Sun card design as it also has a white horse.
Description and Symbology
The sun is depicted as the God Helios as per mythological descriptions; a clean shaven man with golden hair. One hand is open and symbolic of the energy of the sun giving us everything. The other is closed depicting the reverse situation; we should not take the sun’s gifts (which are everything nature has to give us) lightly as they are not inexhaustible.
We see the inner planets circling around Helios with the planet Earth floating above a young child’s head.
The child rides a white horse and together they symbolize innocence and purity of the raw joy of living and being at peace with your inner self. He carries a spear with a red banner attached to it. Despite the child’s small size the spear and banner are held with ease, showing the inner strength of one who is at peace with their inner self.
The child and horse stand in a walled area full of sunflowers. Such plants grow rapidly via the sun’s rays, illustrating the massive and transformative energy of the Sun.
The walled area is however finite. Outside the walled area we see that the ground is barren. Our environment and planet is freely given but not infinite. Although Helios is a Greek God, the child’s spear is Roman (a pilum or throwing javelin) suggesting the child represents a future generation. Thus our planet is not there simply to be shared between those of us present but also maintained for future generations.
Card Symbol
The dotted circle is used in both Astronomy and Astrology to denote the sun.
The Sun as Helios
Helios is seen as the personification of the Sun and an archetypal golden Sun god. His view from the sky makes him the ultimate watcher; he sees everything. Helios was also a God of oaths and promises as he saw them all. The oaths of Gods fell under the Goddess Styx.
The child and Horse
The child and horse represent purity, innocence and inner strength, with the white horse also being a sacred animal of Helios.
The walled garden of sunflowers
The walled garden represents a world of plenty, powered by the sun. The walls tell us that this world is not unlimited however.
The barren land outside the walled garden
The other side of the walled garden is barren and dark, making the garden itself a symbol of our planet; the sun powers life on our planet but that does not mean we can take it all for granted.
Tips for Readings
The following table shows the upright and reverse meanings for general questions. The last row ('Yes/No') is useful when you are picking a single card to decide a yes or no decision.
Upright
Reversed
Harmony and fulfilling relationships and friendships. Previous problems can be solved to everyone’s benefit. A time of mutual growth and passion.
Those wanting children may get the wish fulfilled
Coldness in the relationship. Possible ego frictions that if left unchecked will result in a breakdown of the relationship.
Complications or lack of success with any planned pregnancy.
You are on the right path and should expect success and promotion. Be kind to those helping you now however, and don’t let ego get to you as you will need the same people after your time in the sun ends.
Beware of burnout caused by high expectations or need to be in the limelight. Sometimes it is good to be in the shade!
Possible lack of confidence or talking yourself up beyond your skills.
A time in the sun is always good for health and now is no different. You will be full of vitality and energy.
Now is the time to engage in healthy activities and pastimes.
Difficulty maintaining health due to a negative mind-set or inflated belief that you have all the answers. Listen to your body and the voice of your partner/peers.
After previous tribulations and uncertainty, now will be a new period of growth and plenty. Use the time and energy to bring you contentment and deeper connections with others rather than waste it or use it selfishly.
Ego coming in the way of your spirit; too much emphasis on the material. Possible lack of trust in the world (due perhaps to previous tribulations). Painting yourself into a lonely corner.
A period of financial success and potential growth. Everything will go your way.
A good time to make financial decisions with confidence.
Be wary of your time in the sun and its abilities to land you with excessive debts after the good times end. Do not waste energy or resources on ostentatious living or frivolity.
Lack of confidence causing missed opportunities or overconfidence, or lack of care on the details, causing debts and losses.
Yes through vitality and plenty
No through ego or problems with confidence.
Reading the Card
The upright card
The upright Sun card is one of the most positive cards in the deck. It represents success and fulfillment and a time of prosperity and abundance. This period may come after a time of adversity or a change in life or goals.
It may denote a change in how you see yourself, giving you a healthier outlook and increased confidence and self-esteem as well as the potential for spiritual progression based on a contented mind. This balance may also lead to health improvements and healing.
In relationships it denotes a period of harmony and growth. For those trying for a family is one of the main cards denoting success. In business and work it points to a period of advancement and recognition.
There is however the chance of becoming complacent after success or pushing all the success to yourself. Avoid ego and burning bridges.
The reversal
The reversed Sun card represents an inability to make the most of the good times. This may be because of the pain of a previous period or previous events, resulting in a lack of self-esteem or inability to act even in the good times.
You may be blocked by boredom and lack of confidence to move forward when opportunities present themselves. You may also be believing the stories of others that are pushing you down, either in work or relationships. They may also be turning the abundance to themselves at the expense of your share in the success.
The current abundance may be setting up problems for the future. You may be wasting the material gains or concentrating on success at the expense of the things that gained you the chance. Watch your relationships and partnerships.
Card Design Process
The aim of the Sun card was simply to create the warmest card in the Major Arcana.
The imagery of Helios was also designed to complement the design of Helios’s sister Selene (the Moon card).
Final Words
The Sun card represents a new period of success and personal and relationship growth. This will go well so long as you balance material gains with spiritual gains. Don’t get greedy and make sure success fuels true growth and not ego.
