Il Sole: The Sun
Verse
“They say the Sun is also a star,
but to those on Earth, it is so much more.
Its light and warmth
are close enough to reach out and feel.
It is the monarch of the morning
and the herald of a new day.
It ignites a once-empty horizon,
and calls you to wake up
so you too can rise
and set the world on fire.”
Keywords
Upright: Radiant energy. Vitality. Optimism. Youthful exuberance. Enlightenment. Rebirth. Awakening.
Reversed: Disconnection from your inner child. Struggling to see the bright side. Stagnation. Overconfidence. Naivety
Correspondences
Planet: Sun
Aroma: Petitgrain and Orange
Description
The figure of a child emerges out of the sunlight. Their pose mirrors that of the naive innocence of the Fool trying to fly, but this figure has the wings of triumph and is moving forward with confidence instead of ignorance. Four sunflowers reach up towards them, representing the four elements and four suits. In the Hermetic Tarot, this card is known as the “Lord of the Fire of the World.”
In a reading, The Sun is a very optimistic and positive card. It represents radiant energy, vitality, and youthful exuberance. It is a messenger of success and the light at the end of the tunnel. You may reach a certain point of awareness and enlightenment that makes you feel more confident about your place in the world.
The reversed may indicate a need to reconnect to your inner-child or childlike enthusiasm. You may be struggling to see the bright side of a situation, but the dark clouds are only temporary. On the other hand, you may need a dose of reality if you have a tendency to be overconfident or overly optimistic.
Design
This is one of two cards in the deck that has a more youthful proportioned human figure, the other is the six of cups which is also ruled by the sun. My vision for this card has changed over the years, but I am still happy with this version and how it stays true to the common sun imagery. I wanted it to feel blindingly bright like the figure is more of a spirit than a physical person. I really wanted to represent the youth in a more elegant way so I went more toward cherubim than a literal baby which reinforces the concept of ethereality I was going for. I wanted to create a sense of the feeling of being born, or reborn, with the sun on your face each morning and the warmth of joy.
Key Symbols
Wings: Enlightenment, divinity, spirit
Sunflowers: Growth, the sun, blessings
Color Theory
Orange: Creativity. Identity. Pleasure. Passion. Desire. Inspiration.
Yellow: Instinct. Wisdom. Confidence.
Green: Green: Love. Compassion. Emotion.
