Meet the Cards: The Sun

The Sun, radiant joy, is number nineteen of the Major Arcana.

• Symbolism: Joy.
• Element: Fire (see Tarot Elements)

What I See:

This is such a vibrant card. The bright yellows and reds definitely give me the sense of the fire element. Arms outstretched, dancing in the sunlight, her smile just radiates joy to me. After the ‘dark night of the soul’ of the Moon card we’re given the renewal of a new day. Sunflowers follow the path of the sun just like people are drawn to happy people. I think of van Gogh when I see sunflowers, bold colors and imagination. The wall gives me the sense of a boundary keeping negative energies out and the positive in.

Light (upright) Reading:

Sing, dance, let creativity run free.

• Keywords: Vitality, Success, Prosperity, and Honors.

Shadow (upside down or reverse) Reading:

Life may be too intense, beware of burnout.

• Keywords: Arrogance, Ostentatious, Narcissism, and Egotistical.

Plots:

Sunrise. Sunset. Life and death, how about a circle of life story? A wedding, birth, anniversary, birthday, or graduation?

How about a walled garden? An ancestral home? A field of sunflowers. How about summer? Vacation or travel, and children off from school. Perhaps a solstice celebration?

The sun represents gods who die and are reborn, perhaps a retelling of a myth such as Apollo? Maybe a Phoenix story?

• Themes: Happiness, Joy, Consciousness, Vitality, Celebration, Enthusiasm, Illumination, or Being the Center of Attention.

Characters:

Create happiness by living a life of purpose and sharing joy.

• Archetype: Hero, Divine Child, Champion, or Animus (the male element in the female unconscious) — Vogler refers to this as the Shapeshifter.

A hero begins as a Fool and at various stages of the adventure rises through the ranks of Magician, Warrior, Messenger, Conqueror, Lover, Thief, Ruler, Hermit, and so on. ~The Writers Journey by Christopher Vogler

• Mythical Figures: Apollo, Ra, Agni, Surya, and Helios.

The personality enneagram, a nine-pointed array of personality types, might also be a useful reference for character building.

The Sun is E1: Perfectionist and/or Reformer

• Self Image — I am right
• Passion — Anger
• Virtue — Serenity
• Narcissistic Trap — Perfection
• Avoids — Vexation
• Speaking Style — Teaching or Moralizing

E1 people are instinctive, spontaneous, and intuitive. Their “gut” feeling is the center of their awareness. They are often direct or territorial. They are concerned with power, ruled by aggression, and may be troubled by self-doubt or self-blame.

Additionally, look up one of the Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) for personality traits.

When the Sun card shows up in your writing practice, it may be time to send your work out into the bright light of day — so you can shine like the sun, be the center of attention, and enlighten others with the power of your words. ~Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner

Image: Gaian Tarot by Joanna Powell Colbert from Llewellyn Worldwide

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