The Sun Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes/No

By The Mystica Editorial Team · Checked against our editorial standards · Updated 20 September 2026 · 6 min read

This is one of the brightest cards in the deck. Let yourself enjoy what is going well and share that warmth with others.

Arcana	Major Arcana
Number	19 (XIX)
Element	Fire
Astrology	The Sun
Hebrew letter	Resh (Golden Dawn attribution)
Yes or no	Yes
Upright	joy, success, warmth, confidence
Reversed	temporary clouds, low mood, overconfidence

Pamela Colman Smith · Rider–Waite–Smith (1909)

The Sun symbolism

A naked child rides a white horse beneath a radiant sun with a human face. The child holds a large red banner, and tall sunflowers grow over a stone wall behind. Everything is bright, open and uncomplicated. After the shadows of The Moon, The Sun brings full daylight.

The descriptions on this site refer to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (1909), illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith and designed with Arthur Edward Waite, which is the reference for most modern tarot. Other decks may show different imagery with a similar meaning.

Upright meaning

• joy
• success
• warmth
• confidence

The Sun is the card of joy, success and vitality. It is one of the most positive cards in the deck, bringing warmth, clarity and confidence to any situation. What was hidden becomes visible and what was uncertain becomes clear.

In a reading, The Sun favours achievements, celebrations, good health of spirit and moments of genuine happiness. It asks you to show up as yourself and enjoy the good things that are coming. Its number is nineteen, which reduces to one: a new beginning with full energy.

Reversed meaning

• temporary clouds
• low mood
• overconfidence

Reversed, The Sun is rarely negative. It usually means a temporary cloud: a delay, low mood or feeling that success is less bright than expected. It can also warn against overconfidence.

The light is still there. Reconnect with simple pleasures and give things a little more time.

New to reversals? Our guide to reading reversed tarot cards explains the different ways readers interpret an upside-down card.

The Sun in love and relationships

The Sun as feelings

As feelings, The Sun means someone feels happy, warm and genuinely positive about you. You make them feel good.

Career and work

At work, The Sun brings success, recognition and confidence. It is a great card for launches, interviews and taking the spotlight.

Money and finances

With money, The Sun indicates prosperity and positive results from past efforts.

Is The Sun a yes or no card?

Number, element and astrology

The Sun is card 19 (XIX) of the Major Arcana, the 22 trump cards that describe life's big lessons and turning points. In the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn's system, which shaped the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, it is attributed to the Hebrew letter Resh and to The Sun, giving it the element of fire. In numerology, 19 reduces to 10, linking it with Wheel of Fortune.

Advice from The Sun

Step into the light. Share your good news, enjoy the moment and let yourself be seen.

Example reading

This example is written by our editors to show how the card is read in context. It is not a real client's reading. See our tarot spreads for how positions change a card's meaning.

The Sun in question readings

What The Sun says when it lands in a specific position. These are the interpretations our free readings by question show for this card.

• As their feelings (Does my ex still love me?): Their feelings toward you are warm and positive. This person remembers the good times with real fondness and may feel genuine affection, even joy, when you cross their mind. There is little bitterness here, only light.
• As what they are not showing (Does he like me?): There is not much hidden here. If anything, they may be holding back how excited they really are, or how often they think of you. The Sun rarely hides much; what you see is largely what is there.
• As the outcome in a reconciliation reading (Will he come back?): This leans toward a happy outcome. Reconciliation is well supported, or at the very least, warm and positive feelings between you. If you reconnect, it could feel lighter and more joyful than before, with a fresh sense of possibility.
• As what is coming in love (Will I find love?): A happy, warm relationship is on the way. The Sun is among the strongest signs of love arriving, pointing to someone who brings joy, laughter, and clarity. It may lead toward commitment, and it feels bright from the start.
• As the outcome for work (Will I get the job?): This leans very strongly positive. Expect success, recognition, and a clear yes. Whether it is a new job, a promotion, a passed exam, or a thriving project, The Sun points to a joyful and rewarding result.
• As advice (What should I do?): Choose the option that brings joy, openness, and honesty. Act with confidence and let yourself be seen. This is a time to say yes, move forward, and trust that things are working in your favor.
• Reversed in a love reading (Will we get back together?): Reversed, the warmth is there but dimmed. Optimism may be temporarily clouded by doubt, ego, or unrealistic expectations. Positive feelings exist, but patience and honesty are needed before things can truly shine again.

Pulled The Sun next to another card? See what they mean together with the tarot card combinations tool.

Popular combinations with The Sun: The Sun + The World, Ten of Swords + The Sun.

The Sun as a birth card or year card

In the birth card system of Mary K. Greer, The Sun belongs to constellation 1, together with The Magician and Wheel of Fortune. Find out whether it is one of your cards with the tarot birth card calculator, or whether it rules your year with the tarot year card calculator.

Related cards

Dream symbols linked to this card

Baby, Sun. Our dream dictionary explains how the same symbolism appears in dreams.