Joy, confidence, and the illuminating clarity of truth. Light and warmth. Paternal archetype. New construction. Living in isolation. Immaturity, dependance on others. Breaking away.

The sun card meaning in short

The Sun card is positioned toward the end of the major arcana, following the Moon card and preceding the Judgment card. It signifies the transition from darkness to light, bringing warmth to humankind and inviting you to welcome others with kindness, including your negative emotions and flaws.

The two blond brothers represent two sides of personality: the good and the evil. One boy is welcoming the other boy with a tail to the other side of the water. This implies that all the fears, trauma, and negativity you have should be acknowledged and integrated into yourself with love and kindness.

Both of these children are naked, symbolising that they have nothing to hide and are okay with being vulnerable and who they are in the world.

They have either climbed a wall, an obstacle, or are shielded away from the world with the wall.

The Symbolism of Greek god Helios

In the older Tarot cards, we can clearly see the Greek God Helios riding his chariot from east to west. The symbolism of Helios is rich, so it's worth exploring what the sun symbolizes.

The trusty bringer of light

Symbolizing the transition from east to west, the sunrise represents the end of darkness and the arrival of light. It signifies the cyclical nature of life, representing order that can be relied upon. No matter what happens, night and day will persist. We cannot escape the duality of good and evil, warm and cold, light and dark.

The symbol of life and vitality

The sun invites us to embrace life and is essential for growth. Happiness and vitality are crucial for well-being.

The all seeing god

Due to its position on Earth, the sun can see everything that is going on. According to Jung, no matter what the twins, or the ego and the shadow, are doing, they are still interconnected with the outside world.

Illumination

The sun also reveals what has been hidden, bringing guidance and illumination, enabling us to see, navigate, and understand our surroundings. It represents the pursuit of knowledge, casting light on the darkness and ignorance.

Dangerously powerful

However, the sun can also be quite dangerous, as the original tarot card depicts Helios's son, Phaethon, attempting to drive his father's chariot but losing control and causing chaos. This does show the terrific power of the light that has to be reckoned with.

The rays of the sun

The sun's rays cause water droplets to evaporate. The warmth and light dry out the pond seen in the moon card, revealing hidden layers beneath the surface. These droplets come in blue, red, and yellow, symbolizing the dissipation of negative things like sickness or jealousy (yellow), corrupting desires (red), and sadness or depression (blue) before the radiant sun, reminiscent of a nurturing father. By addressing these issues, one can embrace their Jungian shadow and lead a more balanced life. The sun card represents fulfillment and warmth, much like the feeling you get when you close your eyes on one of the first days of spring and feel the sun's warmth.

The twin brothers

In some occult tarot cards, the Sun is depicted as riding a horse, but in the classical Marseille deck, two twins are shown. One twin is on the ground, assisting the other in crossing water. Looking at their faces, one twin appears loving and helpful, while the other seems slightly unsure and has a tail. The presence of the tail throughout the decks signifies the demonic side of the other twin, which makes sense in the symbolism of the brothers in different mytholigies. Brothers represent the good and evil sides of a personality, creating an inner conflict. In mythology, there are other examples of such pairs, such as Castor and Pollux, Romulus and Remus, and Cain and Abel, where a father figure is present, as the sun is in our case. These stories often involve one brother being favored over the other, leading to jealousy and eventually conflict.

The Sun card symbolizes the dualistic nature of the world, the interconnected struggles of opposites, and it's up to each individual to recognize and accept the different aspects of themselves. The concept of the Sun card shows embracing your flaws with kindness and without jealousy.