The Sun (Tarot card)

The Sun (XIX)

The Sun (XIX) is a trump card in the tarot deck. Tarot trumps are often called Major Arcana by tarot card readers.

Description

An infant rides a white horse under the anthropomorphized sun, with sunflowers in the background.

Rider-Waite symbolism

A. E. Waite suggested that this card is associated with attained knowledge. An infant rides a white horse under the anthropomorphized sun, with sunflowers in the background. The child of life holds a red flag, representing the blood of renewal while a smiling sun shines down on him, representing accomplishment. The conscious mind prevails over the fears and illusions of the unconscious. Innocence is renewed through discovery, bringing hope for the future.

Divination usage

A. E. Waite was a key figure in the development of modern Tarot interpretations. However, not all Tarot interpreters subscribe to his methods or views.

Some frequent keywords used by tarot readers include:

• Optimism—Expansion—Being radiant—Positive feelings
• Enlightenment—Vitality—Innocence—Non-criticism
• Assurance—Energy—Personal power—Happiness
• Splendor—Brilliance—Joy —Enthusiasm

This card is generally considered positive. It is said to reflect happiness and contentment, vitality, self-confidence and success.^[1][2][3] Sometimes referred to as the best card in Tarot, it represents good things and positive outcomes to current struggles.

Alternative decks

• In the Mythic Tarot deck, the Sun is depicted by Apollo.

Pop culture

• In the rail shooter The House of the Dead III, The Sun is the name of a boss fight, a giant plant-like monster with vine-like tentacles. All bosses in the series are named after the Major Arcana cards.
• In the SNES video game Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen, the Sun Tarot card depicts a swimsuit-clad woman and a nearly-nude man standing back-to-back raising and extending their arms toward the sun, with the woman facing toward the camera. On drawing the card after liberation of one of the towns, it changes the time of day to noon, and also heavily damages all characters in both units who have very low alignment while slaying the undead when used in battle.^[4]
• In the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure arc Stardust Crusaders, while the group is in the Sahara Desert, the excessive heat of the sun (even by the location's standards) made them suspect that it was a Stand. Indeed, the Sun they were under was a replica of the real sun, secretly controlled by minor antagonist Arabia Fats.
• Along with other Major Arcana, the Sun is a playable character in Data East's puzzle video game series, Magical Drop.
• The Sun card, along with the other Tarot cards of the Major Arcana, appears in the 2011 video game, The Binding of Isaac, and its 2014 remake, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, where they act as consumable items with varying effects. The Sun heals the player, damages nearby enemies, and fills in the player's map for the current dungeon.

References

1. ↑ LearnTarot.com
2. ↑ Paranormality.com
3. ↑ Waite 1911.
4. ↑ Ogre Battle - Tarot Cards

Bibliography

• Waite, Arthur (1911). The Pictorial Key to the Tarot. London: W. Rider. 
• Wood, Juliette (1998). "The Celtic Tarot and the Secret Tradition: A Study in Modern Legend Making". Folklore. 109: 15–24. doi:10.1080/0015587x.1998.9715957. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sun (Tarot).

• The Sun and related cards from trustedtarot.com