By Katrina Rasbold
The Sun card in the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, is a powerful symbol of joy, success, and enlightenment. As one of the most optimistic cards in the Major Arcana, it embodies themes of radiance, clarity, and positivity, channeling a life-affirming message that transcends mere fortune. Let’s explore the card’s rich symbolism and how it captures universal messages of warmth and growth.
In the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, the Sun card (card XIX) features a radiant, anthropomorphic sun, a joyful child, a white horse, a wall of sunflowers, and a vivid blue sky. Each of these elements contributes to the card’s meaning, creating a multifaceted image of optimism, innocence, and the clarity that emerges when light casts away shadows.
Going Deeper
1. The Sun
The Sun itself is the dominant element in this card, represented by a face that radiates light across the scene below. Its warmth and luminosity evoke feelings of vitality, enlightenment, and energy. The anthropomorphic aspect of the sun suggests divine benevolence, a symbol of the life-giving power that the sun holds in many mythologies and spiritual traditions. In a reading, this often translates to clarity in thought, purpose, or feeling, as if the querent is illuminated from within and supported by the universe’s creative force.
2. The Child
The child depicted is typically interpreted as a symbol of innocence, purity, and a return to a more authentic, unburdened self. The child is naked, symbolizing vulnerability, but it is a confident, open vulnerability that celebrates life without shame or fear. Riding the white horse bareback, the child embodies the soul’s freedom, uninhibited by material concerns or the shadows of the past. This child symbolizes the joy and curiosity we carry deep inside, a reminder of our original self before layers of societal conditioning or personal hardship.
3. The White Horse
Horses have long symbolized strength, freedom, and spiritual journeying. The white color of this horse accentuates purity and enlightenment, suggesting that the child rides upon the highest ideals and purest aspirations. The horse’s calm demeanor implies controlled power, conveying a harmonious relationship between instinct (horse) and innocence or soul (child). Together, they symbolize an ideal alignment between the conscious self and one’s instinctual, untamed nature, revealing what can happen when we trust in ourselves and the forces guiding us.
4. The Wall of Sunflowers
Behind the child and horse stands a wall of sunflowers. Sunflowers are known for their tendency to face the sun, following it across the sky each day. This trait has led to their association with devotion, loyalty, and resilience. In this card, the sunflowers reinforce the theme of growth and positivity. They represent the querent’s ability to flourish by aligning with their own inner light and truth, even in difficult times. The wall also suggests a boundary, possibly between the ego and soul, or between the inner world of growth and the outer world of manifestation.
5. The Red Banner
The child carries a red banner that is disproportionately large to the size of the child itself. The banner winds close to the child and to the horse, seeming to embrace them both. In Tarot symbolism, red is the color of passion and this child seems to bring a great deal of it. This represents the need to invest passion and excitement into what we do, even the smallest of experiences. The banner encourages us to meet the moments of our life with zeal and enthusiasm, lifting the energy through our sheer joy to be involved and living in this moment.
Symbolic Interpretation of the Sun Card
In a reading, The Sun card is a sign that something wonderful is at hand, marking a period where clarity, optimism, and joy are abundant. It encourages the querent to embrace their true self, free from fear and judgment. This card suggests that by embodying the pure joy and freedom of the child on the white horse, one can navigate life’s challenges with resilience and grace.
However, the Sun also calls for balanced joy—it’s about more than superficial happiness. The card asks us to look within and find the kind of joy that comes from understanding and embracing our authentic selves. It illuminates not only the bright but also the dark, suggesting that enlightenment comes from fully accepting all aspects of ourselves.
The Sun in a Reversed Position
When reversed, the Sun card can hint at blocked optimism or temporary setbacks. This doesn’t negate its positive nature; instead, it can signal that the querent needs to reconnect with their inner joy and confront any shadows they may be avoiding. Reversed, the Sun asks us to consider if we are standing in our own way or allowing doubts to cloud the clarity that’s available to us.
Final Thoughts
Pamela Colman Smith’s Sun card is an invitation to bask in the glow of our own light and to live fully, with open hearts. It teaches us to follow our true path and align ourselves with what genuinely brings us joy. The Sun is more than just a prediction of success or happiness; it’s a profound reminder of the strength and freedom that comes from authenticity, trust, and love. Embrace The Sun’s energy, let it warm you, and recognize the power of your own inner light to dispel any darkness.
This timeless card’s message is simple yet profound: when you shine from within, the world shines back.
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Katrina Rasbold is a professional Witch, published author, priestess, and editor of Green Egg Magazine. She and her husband, Eric, are the creators of the CUSP spiritual path and owners of Crossroads Occult. She is the author of Tarot For Real People. You can reach her through www.katrinarasbold.com.