The Sun Tarot Card Explained | Upright & Reversed Meanings
Last Updated: March 19, 2024.
The Sun is card number 19 (XIX) in modern cartomantic tarot decks and the 20th major arcana trump card (The Fool, number 0, is the first card). Divination practices such as cartomancy can help us make decisions, offer guidance, and help us tune into our intuition when we are at a crossroads in our lives. Understanding the meanings of each tarot card can help you sharpen your interpretative skills so you can get the most out of your readings.
For many tarotists, The Sun is generally perceived as a positive and happy card. It has themes of good luck, fulfilment, joy, and success. The Sun card often represents the culmination of a goal or project, or symbolizes the attainment of a goal or the completion of a project. In a reading, the Sun tarot card can represent feelings of contentment, celebration, and happiness. It is an enthusiastic card that suggests good things to come. Other associations of the Sun include fatherhood, ego, sunlight, and warmth.
In numerology, 19 is associated with optimism, success, and good fortune. As an angel number, it shows expansion and growth spiritually, moving forward and upwards. The element of the Sun tarot card is fire. Fire is associated with energy, passion, and power. Whenever these themes need to be addressed, the Sun tarot card can suggest that these qualities are present or needed.
In this article, we will explore the different meanings of this tarot card in various reading contexts as well as the different advice it can offer.
4 Quick takeaways about this tarot card
- The Sun is a symbol of hope, success and happiness.
- It represents our inner child and our true selves.
- The Sun can also be a sign that we are about to embark on a new chapter in our lives.
- Finally, The Sun is a reminder that we all have the potential to achieve great things.
Pictorial Symbolism in the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck
The artworks from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck contain deeper esoteric meanings that tarotists love to decipher. With a blazing yellow Sun across a blue background, we instantly have colours aligned with happiness and calm. Below we can see four tall sunflowers (and more hidden behind a red flag) and a little naked child riding a white horse, holding the red flag. On the child’s head is a flower crown, making a full ten flowers on the card.
Four sunflowers suggest a happy foundation, six red flowers on the child’s flower crown symbolise harmony with love and in total ten are aligned with completion, the end of a cycle, and things coming full circle.
The nakedness of the child suggests a sense of freedom and having nothing to hide, being comfortable in your own skin, of purity and innocence too. The horse is also a symbol of freedom, strength and victory. This tarot card suggests positivity, happiness, freedom and vitality. It is telling you to enjoy the moment and not take things for granted.
The Sun key correspondences
Upright keywords | Positivity, happiness, freedom and vitality. |
Reversed keywords | Ego, conceitedness, pessimism and unrealistic expectations. |
| Yes or No | Yes |
| Numerology | 19 (XIX) |
| Element | Fire |
Ruling Planetary Body | The Sun |
| Astrological Sign | Leo |
Jungian archetype | Light aspect: The God, The Guide / Shadow aspect: Midas/Miser |
Tarot timing | Sunday |
Associated deities | Apollo, Amun-Ra, Horus |
Other name(s) | The Blazing Light (Egyptian Tarot) and Le Soleil (Tarot de Marseille). |
Upright Sun tarot card meaning
In Latin, major arcana translates to “big secrets” and each of the 22 cards in this section of the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck represents an important life lesson we must all face at some point. The Sun, arcanum 19, is no different.
The Sun appearing upright can be a piece of advice to enjoy life and be optimistic. The card can also represent good health, vitality, and happiness. Sometimes the Sun can also be a message to take some time off and enjoy the simple things in life. This card has a strong link to the element of fire and the astrological sign of Leo.
The Sun is all about ego, vitality, and creativity. This card can also be a representation of the father figure or an authoritative male influence in your life. When the Sun card appears in a reading it is generally a good sign, indicating that things are going well. The Sun is the card of abundance, happiness, success, and nurturing.
If pulled in the upright position, The Sun is linked with positivity, happiness, freedom and vitality.
What does the upright Sun mean in a love reading?
In a Love and Relationship reading, pulling the Sun in the upright position signifies a time of happiness, contentment, and warmth in your relationship. If you are single, it means that you will soon meet someone who brings sunshine into your life and provides a lot of playfulness.
If you are in a relationship, The Sun tarot card suggests that you and your partner are on the same page and share similar interests and goals. Things are going well in your relationship and this is a time to enjoy each other’s company.
This card can also represent children and pregnancy. If you are trying to conceive, this could be a good sign that you will be successful.
What does the upright Sun mean in a career reading?
In regards to your career, this card could mean that you are about to receive a promotion or raise. If you have been thinking about changing careers, this is also a good time to do so.
The Sun tarot card suggests that you follow your passions and do what makes you happy. This could also be a time to start your own business or venture out on your own.
What does the upright Sun mean for prosperity?
In regard to prosperity, this idea of career fulfilment also comes into play. The Sun tarot card suggests that you are doing what you love and are being rewarded for it financially. This is a time of abundance in your life and you should enjoy it. The Sun asks us to acknowledge courage and strength and rewards us with stability and protection.
The Sun as feelings/emotions
The Sun as always typically indicates the reader’s feelings towards the matter at hand. In a reading, The Sun can be interpreted as positive or pleasant no matter the situation. If The Sun is appearing in a spread with mostly negative cards, then it can be interpreted as the one ray of hope or optimism in the situation. If you’re wondering how someone feels about you specifically, then I would interpret The Sun as a sign that they have positive feelings towards you.
When the Sun tarot card appears in a reading it is generally regarded as a good sign, representing happiness, success, and contentment. In a love tarot reading especially, the Sun card signifies a time of enjoyment and playfulness in your relationship. If you are single, it means that you will soon meet someone who brings sunshine into your life.
When you initially get The Sun as a card, you feel optimistic that things will go your way. The Sun gives off a feeling of warmth, happiness, and success. You’re optimistic and can feel lighter or weights lifted. This is a card that reassures you that things are going to work out in your favour.
The Sun as a person
The Sun as a person would be someone who is eternally optimistic and provides warmth to those around them. This person is really great with self-expression and offers this as motivation to others. They can see the sunrise on any dark day, and they have a vitality about them that seems genuine.
This person can be light-hearted but trust me when I say that this comes from a place of a long journey and that it always hasn’t been this happy for them. I would say this person is very successful and good for them – we want what is best for others.
Zodiac sign association
Naturally, I will start with the actual Sun star of our solar system. The Sun is also aligned with the Leo constellation, typically July 23 – August 22. The Leo zodiac sign is known to be loyal, confident, and have a big heart.
With its Fire element energy, this indicates passion, enthusiasm, and energy. People who are born under this sign are natural leaders and enjoy being in the spotlight. They are also passionate, creative, and have a strong sense of self.
The Sun as advice
This card offers simple guidance; try not to worry, as things will soon brighten. As one of the most optimistic cards in the whole tarot deck, The Sun shows off the happier outcomes, the victory at the end of the quest, and that wishes can come true.
This card offers reassurance to your worries, and it offers a happier outcome than sometimes anticipated. Enjoy moments of child-like joy wherever you can.
Is The Sun a yes or no card?
Wholeheartedly to me, this is a Yes card. It is such an encouraging, joyous card that it couldn’t be anything else.
Below are some of my interpretations, as an experienced tarot practitioner, based on different types of questions:
Question: “Will I get the job?”
Card Interpretation: Yes, if this is something that you’ve worked hard towards for a while. It seems like this is the journey for you, even if you are offered a different role.
Question: “Is this new person in my life good for me?”
Card Interpretation: Yes, they may be optimistic and bring out a sense of playfulness with you.
Question: “Will I achieve my current goals?”
Card Interpretation: Yes, this card shows up to celebrate success for you.
Question: “Should I start my own business?”
Card Interpretation: Yes, the Sun card showing up would indicate that this is a good time to put your creativity and passion into your own business.
The Sun is a very positive tarot card and usually indicates that the answer is yes. However, as with all tarot cards, you should always look at the context of the reading as a whole to get a more accurate picture.
Reverse Sun tarot card meanings
The reversed meaning of The Sun can imply that maybe things aren’t going as you’d hoped. There are feelings of pessimism, and extremes of too much enthusiasm to the point of burnout versus the other end of the spectrum of too little enthusiasm so no energy is going towards what you want.
This can also manifest as creative blocks, or not being able to see the good in any situation. When The Sun is reversed it’s important to find that balance again and to remember that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. The Sun asks us to have faith.
What does the reverse Sun mean in a love reading?
In Love and Relationships spread, The Sun reversed can talk a lot about ego and conceitedness. Find a way to bring more energy, lust and infatuation into your life if you can.
If you’re single and looking, maybe the standards you’ve set for a partner are too unachievable and therefore you find it disheartening in the dating pool – or maybe there are vibes with you that you are better than everyone else. Subjectively if this is true or not, focusing on what you do want and going forward with enthusiasm for this alone will be beneficial. Don’t be focusing on the bad elements of dating!
If you’re in a relationship and you get the Sun reversed, it can be a warning to not take your partner for granted. There is a need to appreciate all that they do, and to show this through actions and not just words. Show more warmth in the relationship to put a positive boost on growing more love there.
It takes commitment every single day to be in a relationship, so choose love and have the courage to go on this journey together.
What does the inverted Sun mean in a career reading?
When this card shows up in the reversed position for career or business, I always ask if it feels like there’s a lack of vitality in the role right now. What would bring more warmth and life to it? Do you need clearer objectives? Do you need a break from some recent delays you’ve been having?
The message here is that sometimes we just need to reevaluate how we’re approaching things, and this can also come into play if you’ve been finding it difficult to delegate tasks. It’s time to let go of some of the control, but also know that you are the one ultimately steering the ship – find that balance.
If you have your own business, it may be time to put some extra energy in and look at ways you can streamline or automate certain processes so that you’re not bogged down with the little things, and instead can focus on the bigger picture.
What does the reverse Sun mean in a financial reading?
The Sun reversed in a financial reading can talk about overspending, or not being able to see the value in what you have. There could be debts that are weighing you down, or maybe investments that haven’t been doing so well recently.
This is a time to refocus on the goals you have, and put an energetic action into heading towards where you need to be – no-one else is going to do it for you, it has to be you.
If pulled in the upside-down position, The Sun is linked with Ego, conceitedness, pessimism and unrealistic expectations.
The Sun's meanings in dreams
If you receive strong imagery of the Sun in your dreams, it indicates feelings of happiness, success, and vitality. Alternatively, the Sun can also be a symbol of the ego. If you feel that the Sun is shining too brightly in your dream, it may be time to take a step back and reassess your goals.
Generally, people view it as a sign of tranquillity and of sustainable energy for our waking life. It also matters what phase the Sun is in – in its full phase, beaming brightly, the light side of life and of happy times. In its sunrise phase, it symbolises a new awakening within or a change is coming to light. In its sunset phase, the Sun symbolises a time in your life coming to a close, and running out of time to get things completed.
How to use the Sun card in your Spellwork
In your spellwork, you can use The Sun to bring about vitality and enthusiasm. You can also use it as a reminder that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dark things may seem.
A great way to work with the card in spellwork specific to solar energy is to make a Sun tea to sit and meditate with. This is done by placing herbs of your choice (I like to use ginger, lemon, honey and orange slices, even cleaned dried dandelion) mixed with water, sitting in the sun for a period of time to warm by the heat of the Sun.
Whilst it’s warming up, invigorate any manifestation by focusing the solar energy in your visualisations. Solar energy is not just for vitality and energy boosts, but can be for steering luck and happier outcomes to tricky situations.
The Sun symbolism with archetype psychology
The Sun is the Jungian archetype of the hero. The hero’s journey is one that is full of challenges and obstacles, but the hero always comes out on top in the end. The Sun is also a symbol of warmth, life, and energy. With a journey like this, it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but The Sun asks us to have faith.
A Poem to remember the upright meanings
Poems can be a good way to remember information because they often use rhyme and rhythm, which can make them easier to memorize.
Additionally, poems often use vivid imagery and figurative language, which can help to make the information more interesting and engaging.
The sun is a symbol of joy and delight,
Of all that brings us light,
A source of warmth and life,
It’s an eternal flame that shines so bright.
A card of success, prosperity and fame,
Achievement and recognition that can’t be tamed,
A sign of good health, contentment and peace,
The Sun card is the ultimate release.
It brings us clarity and understanding,
The path to our dreams is now demanding,
It is the card of confidence and pride,
In the Sun card, we will always confide.
It shows us that the future is clear,
That our goals can be achieved without fear,
It brings us self-assurance and strength,
And a sense of joy that is at great length.
The Sun card is a light that guides us on our way,
It is a sign of hope and a brighter day,
It is the tarot card of inner joy and power,
The Sun card is a symbol of our highest hour.
A Poem to remember the reversal meanings
A reversed Sun card brings a message true
Though hope can be found, the ego will stew
A time of oppression and delays too
This card brings a warning, to make sure you do
The Sun reversed can cause some distress
As our efforts can be met with lack of success
A period of waiting for our goals to manifest
Can lead to feelings of self-doubt, and our feelings repressed
Though the ego will try to take control
We must remember our spirit is part of the whole
It’s time to take a step back and restore our soul
And practice humility to break free from the toll
We must look within to find the light
And keep our focus on our goal in sight
By releasing our ego and trusting the tide
We can find our way and the path will provide
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Sun tarot card is a powerful symbol of hope, happiness, and success. When this card appears in your reading, it is often a sign that good things are on the horizon.
Despite its association with mysticism and occultism, the tarot has grown to become much more than a simple “fortune-telling” tool. For many tarot readers, it is a complex system made of symbolic imagery and psychological considerations (Jungian archetypes for example) that can be used for self-exploration, meditation, and personal transformation.
The 22 major arcana cards each correspond to different aspects of the human experience that are universal. They represent the different stages of the “hero’s journey”: our biggest challenges and life lessons, as well as our highest aspirations and greatest potential.
Have you ever had a reading where the Sun appeared? What was the outcome? What does the Sun mean to you personally? How do you interpret this card in your own tarot practice? Share your thoughts and experiences with me in the comments below.
If you want to know more about the different tarot cards, feel free to check out our complete list of all 78 tarot cards and their meanings.
I have been reading Tarot for more than 15 years. I have always enjoyed using my intuition to provide clarity and insights to others. Tarot is one of my favorite forms of divination, and I love sharing that passion with like-minded folks.
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