MAJOR ARCANA · XIX
The Sun
Let simple joy become your strength, and step into the light as yourself.
- Vitality, joy, clarity, innocence, self-acceptance
- Success, happiness, bright prospects, confidence, growth
- Diminished joy, lack of confidence, excessive optimism, delayed success, difficulty being genuine
SYMBOL & STORY
What The Sun represents
The Sun represents reaching a point beyond confusion and fear where you can once again look at the world directly and openly. In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, beneath a great sun with a face, a naked child rides a white horse while holding a bright red banner. Behind the child is a wall, and beyond it four sunflowers are in bloom. The child's nakedness suggests a purity that has no need for decoration. However, the "innocence" represented by The Sun does not mean only the immaturity of someone who knows nothing. Arthur Waite explained this child as representing simplicity together with "innocence as wisdom." After passing through many experiences, letting go of what is unnecessary, and returning once again to your honest, natural self—this can be understood as a mature form of purity. This meaning becomes even clearer when viewed within the flow of the Major Arcana. Immediately before The Sun comes The Moon. Under The Moon, you faced anxiety, illusion, and emotions you yourself did not fully understand within an uncertain light. As you move from there into The Sun, the entire landscape suddenly becomes bright. Waite himself described The Sun as "direct light" in contrast with "reflected light." What could not be clearly seen beneath The Moon becomes visible under the light of The Sun. The white horse suggests pure strength and the energy of life. In Waite's explanation, there is an idea that when spiritual consciousness awakens, humanity's instinctive nature can also be brought into harmony. In other words, The Sun is not a card in which reason suppresses instinct. It can be seen instead as a state in which body and mind, reason and emotion, all begin to live honestly together within the single being called "yourself." The red banner conveys vitality, passion, and the strength to express yourself openly. The child is not hiding. It almost seems to be celebrating its own existence by declaring, "I am here." Regarding the wall in the background, Waite tells a story in which humanity leaves the "walled garden of the sensory life" and continues its journey. The wall can therefore be understood not merely as an obstacle, but as the boundary of the world that has protected you until now. The stage of remaining within a safe enclosure has ended, and you are stepping into a wider world. The sunlight celebrates that movement forward. The sunflowers are fully open, receiving the light. In later tarot interpretations, they have been connected with growth, vitality, the flowering of talent, and expressing yourself toward the world. Among the divinatory meanings Waite gave for this card are highly practical forms of happiness such as "material happiness," "fortunate marriage," and "contentment." Later interpretations expanded from there to meanings such as success, self-acceptance, a bright outlook, blessing, and healthy vitality. The Sun does not promise "a world in which there are no problems." The child is not smiling because it has never known darkness. It has passed through the night of The Moon and therefore knows the value of light. Seen this way, the child's smile carries a special depth within the journey of the Major Arcana. Then, in the following card, Judgement, the journey moves beyond personal happiness toward a greater awakening. Just before that, The Sun shows us a very simple yet essential place to stand: first, to rejoice in the fact that you are alive.
UPRIGHT & REVERSED
Upright and reversed The Sun
Compare the keywords and detailed meanings to see how the symbol changes with orientation.
UPRIGHT
Upright meaning
Let simple joy become your strength, and step into the light as yourself.
- Success, happiness, bright prospects, confidence, growth
The Sun upright represents a state in which things are moving in a brighter direction and what was previously unclear becomes easier to see. The results of your efforts may begin to appear, you may gain confidence in your own feelings, or your relationships with others may become more open and straightforward. On an inner level, it indicates that your ability to affirm yourself is returning. Rather than forcing yourself to be positive, you may naturally begin to feel, "Maybe this is all right," or "I think I can try." Instead of proving your worth by comparing yourself with others, you become more able to feel at ease simply being yourself. In practical circumstances, this is a card that readily points to success, achievement, blessing, and good news. You may receive a favorable result in an exam or interview, have your efforts recognized, see a romantic relationship move in a brighter direction, or discover a solution to a problem. The situation may progress in a form you can clearly see. The Sun can also appear through the theme of "things becoming clear." You may begin to understand another person's feelings, a misunderstanding may be resolved, or a hidden problem may be identified. Even if these events do not look like simple good fortune at first, they can ultimately make it easier to move forward. In terms of action, it is important not to hide yourself too much. Rather than overthinking and waiting for the perfect moment, actions that move honestly outward—smiling and talking, sharing your work, expressing your feelings, or trying something new—can create momentum. However, there is no need to read this card as, "Because it is The Sun, I will succeed without doing anything." What this card gives you is the light and vitality needed to move forward. Precisely because things are becoming brighter, it is important to look clearly at reality and use your own abilities.
REVERSED
Reversed meaning
Trust the light beyond the clouds, and gradually bring things back into balance.
- Diminished joy, lack of confidence, excessive optimism, delayed success, difficulty being genuine
The Sun reversed does not necessarily mean that the sun itself has disappeared. Waite wrote that the reversed divinatory meaning is "the same in a lesser sense" than the upright card. For that reason, even reversed, this card can be understood as retaining its fundamentally bright possibilities. In practical readings, it is helpful to consider three broad directions. The first is that the favorable qualities of the upright card are weakened or delayed. You may succeed, but not as much as you expected. Something happy may happen, but some concern remains. You may simply need a little more time before the result arrives. Rather than being "bad," this can be read as "almost there." The second is that the light of The Sun is hidden inside. You may have ability and charm but lack confidence, be unable to put yourself forward, or find it difficult to enjoy good things when they happen. This card can also appear when everything looks as though it is going well from the outside, yet you alone continue to feel, "It is still not enough." The third is that the qualities of The Sun have become too strong. You may become overly optimistic and think, "Surely everything will work out," allow confidence to become overconfidence, or prioritize only your own enjoyment without considering the circumstances of the people around you. The child's innocence can sometimes appear as immaturity or selfishness. On an inner level, you may also be trying too hard to stay positive. You may smile even though you are exhausted, or say, "I'm fine," while avoiding a problem. In that case, brightness itself has become a mask protecting the heart. In practical circumstances, rather than total failure, this card can be read as a small cloud passing over a path that still leads toward success or happiness. By first identifying "what is lacking" or "what is excessive," you can more easily return to the natural flow of The Sun.
LOVE
The Sun in love
Upright love
In love, this is a card of a very bright and natural relationship. It is associated with connections in which being together gives you energy, allows you to smile naturally, and makes you feel that you do not need to force yourself around the other person. With unrequited love, a favorable atmosphere may be developing between you and the other person. They may also have a friendly or positive impression of you. Rather than relying on tactics, this is a good time to talk normally, smile, and increase the time you can simply enjoy together. If you are already in a relationship, this is a period when you can enjoy the relationship more openly. It can also be read as moving the relationship into a more public or established form, such as talking about the future, introducing each other to family and friends, living together, or getting married. Waite himself included "fortunate marriage" among the meanings of this card, making it especially compatible with stable partnership. For reconciliation, it suggests the possibility of facing each other brightly again rather than remaining trapped only in dark feelings from the past. However, rather than "returning to exactly the same relationship as before," what matters is whether you can acknowledge the problems of the past and build a new relationship from there. If you are looking for a new relationship, connections may arise in places where you yourself are having fun, such as hobbies, events, or gatherings with friends. Rather than trying hard to appear attractive, the sight of you naturally enjoying yourself may be what draws people in.
Reversed love
In love, this card is more likely to appear as a state in which brightness or affection is not being fully felt than as a sign of a "bad relationship." With unrequited love, the other person's impression of you may not be negative, but their feelings may not yet be settled enough to move the relationship forward. There may be affection mixed with shyness or uncertainty, or they may enjoy talking with you without yet thinking of the connection in clearly romantic terms. It is also possible that you yourself are underestimating the other person's affection. You may be thinking too strongly, "I'm probably bothering them," and failing to receive the positive reactions that are actually there. If you are already in a relationship, the basic relationship may not be bad, but it may feel less naturally enjoyable than before. Small frustrations, busyness, or simple familiarity may be casting a slight cloud over the brightness between you. Conversely, one person may be overly optimistic and treating the other person's concerns too lightly. For reconciliation, the possibility of trying again has not necessarily disappeared. However, if you look only at the memories of the happy times and avoid the past problems, the same issues are likely to repeat. Whether you can relate brightly again depends on whether you are willing to look honestly at why the relationship did not work before. If you are looking for a new relationship, you may be avoiding contact with people because of low confidence, or, conversely, judging someone only by a fun and cheerful atmosphere. Rather than trying to make yourself look good, check whether this is someone around whom you can feel safe and natural.
FEELINGS
The Sun in their feelings
Upright their feelings
When The Sun appears upright as the other person's feelings, they may feel bright, positive emotions toward you—affection, friendliness, reassurance, and genuine enjoyment of being together. They may feel, "I have more energy when I see you," "I can smile naturally with you," or "I want to spend more time together." As a romantic feeling, The Sun is usually quite easy to read. Rather than complicated emotions they want to hide, it points toward a straightforwardly positive view of you. Even if you are not yet partners, their basic impression of you is likely warm and the relationship may be moving toward greater openness. In behavior, this can appear as more smiles, starting conversations themselves, inviting you to something enjoyable, or not feeling a need to hide your connection from other people. If the relationship is already deepening, they may naturally begin sharing thoughts about the future or everyday life with you. The Sun often shows strong positive feeling, but it does not have to mean romantic love in every case; it can also appear as warm friendship. What matters is whether the other person actively enjoys being with you and seems willing to bring the relationship into a more open, visible space.
Reversed their feelings
When The Sun appears reversed as the other person's feelings, their basic impression of you may still be positive, but they may not be expressing that brightness fully. They may enjoy being with you while holding back because of shyness, low confidence, busyness, or circumstances around them. They may also feel that you are fun and easy to talk with without yet having settled on a clearly romantic feeling. The card is less definite than the upright Sun, but it does not represent complete rejection. In behavior, this can look like smiles and enjoyable conversation without much progress, or positive reactions without a decisive next step. Sometimes they may deliberately make their affection look lighter than it is by joking or behaving casually. A useful way to think about The Sun reversed is that the light has not gone out; a few clouds are simply passing in front of it. If natural interaction continues and both of you become more comfortable, the other person's feelings may become easier for them to express openly.
WORK
The Sun in work
Upright work
In work, this is a time when results and growth are likely to become visible. Efforts you have built up may be recognized, a project may reach a favorable conclusion, or an opportunity may arise to make use of your strengths. In the workplace environment, it suggests better openness and easier cooperation with the people around you. Rather than working hard alone and out of sight, sharing progress and asking others for advice can create an even better flow. If you are considering a job change, this is a favorable sign for moving toward a place where you can work more naturally as yourself. In addition to the job itself, pay attention to whether you feel, "I could use my abilities here without forcing myself too much." For achieving a goal, The Sun is a strong card suggesting that you are approaching success. However, because results are appearing, it is also important to communicate them properly. Publish your work, make a proposal, explain your achievements—bring your work into a place where the light can reach it. In workplace relationships as well, bright and straightforward communication can help. Expressing appreciation and recognition in words makes trust easier to grow.
Reversed work
In work, The Sun reversed represents a state in which results are beginning to appear, but a little more time is needed before they take the form you expected. You may be working hard without receiving enough recognition yet, a project may be moving forward while still containing small problems, or completion may be close but final adjustments remain. The direction itself may not be wrong; what is needed may simply be finishing work and confirmation. When the card appears as lack of confidence, your ability may be real but not visible because you hesitate to speak or show what you have accomplished. Rather than hiding your work until it becomes perfect, you may make more progress by letting the people around you see it while it is still in development. Conversely, it can also appear as overconfidence. If you skip checks because you think, "This much will be fine," or move ahead without enough preparation, small mistakes may result. If you are considering a job change, even a workplace that looks attractive should be checked carefully for conditions and actual responsibilities. Do not decide from the bright image alone; confirm both the practical terms and whether the environment truly fits you. In workplace relationships, you may be tired from trying too hard to appear cheerful. You do not need to force yourself to energize the whole atmosphere. Aim for relationships in which you can cooperate while remaining natural.
MONEY
The Sun in money
Upright money
In financial matters, The Sun is a card that can bring a sense of reassurance and satisfaction into everyday life. It may connect with practical abundance through increased income, rewards for results, or purchases that genuinely feel worthwhile. In particular, The Sun is connected less with simply "having things" than with being able to enjoy what you already have honestly. Rather than fearing scarcity more than necessary, using what you have well can help stabilize your financial situation. When shopping, you may be more likely to choose something that gives lasting satisfaction. Money spent on enjoyment for yourself or your family, learning, health, and other things that brighten daily life can be especially meaningful at this time. There may also be positive potential in investing or side work. It is well suited to developing areas in which you already have strengths or where results are beginning to appear. However, do not become overly optimistic simply because The Sun is bright. It is still important to check the numbers and conditions carefully.
Reversed money
In financial matters, rather than indicating severe hardship, The Sun reversed can appear as "not quite reaching full satisfaction" or "income being lower than expected." You may receive less compensation than you expected, a payment may be delayed, or income may be present while expenses increase as well. The situation is not necessarily a complete deterioration, but there may be less left in your hands than you had hoped. When the qualities of The Sun become excessive, they can also lead to optimistic overspending. You may keep telling yourself, "This much is fine," and gradually spend more than intended, or make a series of unplanned purchases because you are in a good mood. With investments or side work, a bright outlook itself is not a bad thing, but do not make decisions based only on the feeling that "surely this will succeed." It is important to examine costs and risks under the same light as potential profits. Conversely, this card can also appear when you have enough money but feel so anxious that you cannot spend it. After making the preparations you genuinely need, remember that using money to enrich your life also has value.
RELATIONSHIPS
The Sun in relationships
Upright relationships
In relationships, The Sun represents open interaction and trust. You may be able to relate to another person naturally without becoming more guarded than necessary. In friendship, simply laughing together and spending time enjoying things you both like can strengthen the bond. You do not need to have deep conversations in order to become close. Important trust can also grow within ordinary, enjoyable moments. Within the family, the card can represent brightness in the home, joy involving children, and happiness in spending time together as a family. Even if there have been problems, it may become easier to see each other's true feelings and find an opportunity to rebuild the relationship. At work and in other social relationships, an open attitude can create a good impression. Small actions such as greeting someone, expressing thanks, or starting a conversation yourself can naturally reduce the distance between you and others.
Reversed relationships
In relationships, this card can indicate that there is real potential for closeness, yet you are unable to show your natural self fully. In friendship, even if you enjoy spending time together, one person may be forcing themselves to match the other. Smiling does not always mean there is no problem. If you notice a small discomfort, it may be better to communicate it naturally before it becomes more serious. Within the family, the closeness of the relationship can make people more likely to take one another for granted. Thoughts such as, "They should understand without me saying it," or "They'll forgive me because we're family," can lead to small misunderstandings. At work, things may look cheerful on the surface while communication is actually insufficient. If instructions are vague or people have different understandings of the situation, confirming the details can greatly reduce problems. This card can also appear when you feel as though you alone are outside the group. However, that does not necessarily mean you are truly being rejected. A loss of confidence may be causing you to create distance yourself. With The Sun reversed, rather than trying harder to "be brighter," it is important to build, one by one, relationships in which you can express your true feelings without strain.
YES OR NO
Yes or No for The Sun
Upright judgment
- Judgment
- Yes
- Reason
- The Sun upright is one of the clearest Yes cards, representing bright outcomes, success, joy, and open affirmation. Bringing things into the light and moving forward honestly are strongly supported.
- What could change the answer
- Excessive optimism can weaken the momentum if it leads you to skip necessary checks, but the card is fundamentally positive. Maintaining honesty and practical action is what turns the Yes into something real.
Reversed judgment
- Judgment
- Yes
- Reason
- Even reversed, the brightness of The Sun is not completely lost. It can show success or joy being weakened, delayed, or harder to receive openly. The answer is still Yes, though with some conditions attached.
- What could change the answer
- Factors that are blocking the light—such as low confidence, shyness, or overly optimistic assumptions—need attention. If small problems are addressed instead of ignored, the result can return toward the clear brightness of the upright card.
MESSAGE FROM THE CARD
Advice from The Sun
Upright
The road you have walked to reach this point has surely contained not only bright places, but also nights of uncertainty and anxiety. That is why you should allow yourself to receive the small joys you can feel now without hesitation. The Sun does not say, "You must become more impressive before you are allowed to shine." Like the child smiling without adornment, gradually allow yourself to simply be who you are. If something makes you happy, you may say that you are happy. If you love something, you may continue loving it. If you have worked hard, you may acknowledge that effort yourself. Precisely because the light is shining now, look at the world with your own eyes rather than through the expectations of the people around you. Within honest joy, you will find the strength to move forward.
Reversed
Even if the light is a little difficult to see right now, the sun itself has not disappeared. If the results are not as strong as you hoped, before deciding that "everything was a failure," look at what you have already gained. Perhaps something is simply still missing. Conversely, if you are trying too hard to tell yourself, "I'm sure everything will be fine," it is also important to stop once and look at reality. Sunlight does not illuminate only good things; it also reveals problems you may have overlooked. And you do not need to force yourself to smile. The child in The Sun represents not manufactured cheerfulness, but the joy of being able to exist as your unadorned self. Adjust what is lacking. Rest if you are tired. If something makes you happy, allow yourself to receive that happiness honestly. As the clouds gradually clear, the brightness within you will naturally return.
READ IT YOUR WAY
Let The Sun lead to a reading in your own words.
Use these meanings as a guide or develop language of your own. With a custom deck, you can shape every description and image to fit your practice.