Sun in Astrology and Tarot

I know that it has been some time since I wrote the first part of ‘Sun’ which you may find in the following link: https://amethystastrotarot.com/?p=886 – that blog focused on the Sun in astronomy and mythology.

Today’s blog will be about the Sun in terms of astrology and tarot.

Sun has a real important place especially in the chart interpretations in astrology and it is identified as one of the Luminaries along with Moon, luminary meaning source of light. The reason for this is that “The sun and moon are the most abundant sources of light to the inhabitants of Earth” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminary_(astrology)

Why is it so important in astrology then? In general terms, Sun may be representing or helping us to express our identity, power, it is our self-expression. On the positive side, it may be associated with vitality, self-confidence, radiance while on the negative side it may symbolise more like self-centredness, autocratic behaviour. As some will say, the house (the area of life) in which the Sun is placed, we may shine as natives. In addition to this, Sun is generally defined as masculine and may be representing father figure. However, as seen in the myths of different cultures, Sun may be feminine as well and sometimes in the charts we may see an association between the Sun and the mother rather than the father, even though it may not be that often. In this regard, to approach the Sun with a wider perspective, taking into account its relation with the other elements, may be useful in understanding and explaining the charts in a better way. I felt to write this since I think that sometimes we prefer to stick to the ‘accepted’ versions of qualities for the elements (planets, signs, houses particularly) of the chart and this may be making us lose sight of the bigger and probably more meaningful picture.

There are a lot of things to write more about Sun but I prefer to keep it at this point to give space to Tarot as well.

In RWS deck, Sun is associated with the Sun card. First, there is one interesting information I would like to share about this card. As I was reading ’36 Secrets’ by Susan T. Chang a month ago, I realised that traditionally there are twins in the Sun card. However, Coleman Smith decided to draw only one child. I have checked and seen that in some other decks there are 2 people in the sun cards. Although I am not able to confirm that those 2 people are twins, at least there may be a ‘doubleness’ as indicated in the book. So, what is the relation between Sun and Sun?

The general meaning of the Sun card, especially taking into consideration that it is the card coming after the Moon, it is like seeing things clear after a period of shadow. Thinking that Moon sometimes may mean that there may be things that we can’t confess to ourselves about our ‘own’ selves like self-deception or maybe even self-doubt, here the Sun comes into action to end this process and with all its radiance, vitality puts an end to this shadow period and says ‘here is the power, here is the self-expression’ and even the truth, as can be seen by naked eye, which is necessary and actually in line with the definition of Sun in terms of astrology.

It is good to mention that when we look at the depiction, the child is happy and maybe symbolises the innocence as well as holding the red banner in the hand, it is a victorious pose, too. As mentioned in ‘The Tarot, History, Symbolism and Divination’ by Robert M. Place p.160 “The red banner is a symbol of victory in Christian iconography.” And in p.210 “The human-faced Sun casts twenty-two rays which may correspond to the twenty-two cards of the Major Arcana which may also be thought of as rays emanating from one glowing truth…This is a card of victory, achievement, and joy.” These also remind of the Sun as the main source of energy, that life depending on that as well. The source of the power and energy that everyone enjoys and cherishes.

I hope that you all enjoyed this part of the Sun as well. I am planning to write about the zodiac sign Leo of which ruler is the Sun and the associated Tarot card ‘The Strength’ in the following blog.

If any questions, please do not hesitate to drop an e-mail to tpastrotarot@gmail.com or please pay a visit to my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/tpastrotarot.

Stay well and keep safe until next week,

Teri