The Sun
The Sun card signifies joy, the overcoming of obstacles, freedom, and bounty. It signals the completion of a fruitful cycle, highlighting the transition from one phase to another with a sense of enriched experience. The imagery often involves a youthful figure symbolizing innocence, insight, and the wisdom gained through life's journey.
Keywords
Representation
Traditionally, I have seen the Sun represented in one of two ways: a happy dancing couple beneath the sun’s rays, or a baby or young child riding out of a garden on horseback. The card’s basic meaning is that of joy, obstacles overcome, freedom and bounty. It comes towards the end of the Major Arcana and right after the Moon, suggesting fruitful and radiant completion of another cycle.
Personal Interpretation
I could not decide which direction I wanted to go in at first—the couple or the child—and my mother-in-law asked me what spoke to me most strongly when I drew the Sun for myself. I told her freedom. I liked the dancing couple, but what spoke to me more deeply was riding, or walking, out of the garden gate as the child does. Leaving behind an experience, good or bad, and coming out of it enriched and without losing one's joy. In my depiction, there is no horse; the youth walks out of an idyllic but overgrown garden, past a broken old gate onto an open lawn. In his hands, he holds the riches he has gathered on his journey—sunflowers and fruit—all woven together by one golden ribbon into an abundant arrangement. It will nourish his mind and body as he carries them on his continuing path.
Symbolism
The baby frequently seen on the Sun card is meant to symbolize innocence and the wisdom of children. While I like the innocent joy of the symbol, I do not agree with the wisdom. Let's be honest, babies don't know much beyond their immediate needs—while their judgement is unclouded, it is by definition nearsighted and undeveloped. However, children and young adults can be capable of shocking sagacity and insight. So I opted for a youth, not yet a man, no longer a babe. A cycle and a journey himself, passing through time and life's experiences and evolving as he goes.
Fyodor Pavlov tarot
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