The Sun Tarot Card Meaning
The Sun is card XIX of the Major Arcana. Upright it means joy, success, vitality; reversed, temporary sadness, delayed success.
The Sun
Upright meaning
Warmth, success and clarity. A bright, positive time.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, The Sun suggests temporary sadness, delayed success. Its energy is blocked, delayed or turned inward; ask what is holding it back.
Love
Happy, open, affectionate love.
Career and money
Success, recognition and confidence.
Yes or no
The Sun leans yes in yes-or-no readings.
The Sun in a three-card reading
- Past: recent events shaped by joy.
- Present: you are in a phase of joy and success.
- Future: a favourable outcome, if you act on its message.
Astrology and number
The Sun is card 19 of the Major Arcana. In the Golden Dawn tradition it corresponds to the symbol ☉︎ shown on our card. In numerology, 19 reduces to 1, the number of leadership.
The Sun upright vs reversed
| Upright | Reversed | |
|---|---|---|
| Keywords | joy, success, vitality | temporary sadness, delayed success |
| Advice | Lean into joy. | Watch for temporary sadness. |
| Yes or no | leans towards yes | yes, after a delay |
Reflecting on The Sun
When The Sun appears, sit with these questions for a few minutes before acting:
- Where in my life am I being asked for joy?
- Am I showing any signs of temporary sadness?
- What is one small step I can take this week that honours this card?
Write your answers down; a tarot card is most useful as a mirror for your own thinking, and reading your notes later shows how its message played out.
Frequently asked questions
What does The Sun mean?
Upright: joy, success, vitality. Reversed: temporary sadness, delayed success.
Is The Sun a yes or no card?
It usually leans yes.
What does The Sun mean in love?
Happy, open, affectionate love.
What does The Sun mean for career?
Success, recognition and confidence.
What does The Sun reversed mean?
Reversed, it points to temporary sadness, delayed success.