The Esoteric Symbology of the Rider-Waite Tarot: The Sun By Gary Shook With his arrival at the Sun, the Fool's journey has ended. At least the aspect of his journey that he is able to accomplish by his own will. The next great leap to the World card must be facilitated by the intercession of Judgment. The Fool has reached the pinnacle of light, leaving the darkness behind him. No longer a reflection, the light now shines forth directly from its source to bathe a perfected material landscape. Many feel this is the level of the Buddha, or Jesus, the perfected being who willingly remains on the mortal plane to act as a guide and model for those who shall follow. Symbolism Sun with Face: The Sun represents the divine, which now shines directly on the Fool. The Fool is now able to see and relate to his deity directly. In a sense he is able to see the face of God. The Sun (spiritual) and the Earth (material) are still separate. The Fool is not yet able to transcend the division of duality that awaits him at the next level. Child: The scene depicted on the preceding card, the Moon, can be likened to the rebirth of the Fool. The waters of the womb and the birth canal have brought the Fool a new material life as the child of the Sun. The Sun is a traditional symbol of the sacrifice, death and rebirth process of the life giving energies. This child no longer seeks to control his environment but exists within it in harmony with its processes. He is naked and free; innocent as the child his body represents. Horse: You can think of the horse in contrast to the chariot. While the Fool once controlled his vehicle of progress through life through domination and will (symbolized by the structure of the chariot), he now allows the horse to take him where it will, content that the journey is an end in itself. Banner: The sword has been transmuted into the flag of victory. The child's right hand, the hand of will, is open; while the receptive left hand holds the banner of rebirth. The Wall, Garden and Flowers: These all represent the material plane where the Fool still exists. Note the Fool is outside the walls of the garden. Though existing in the world, he exists outside its structure, transcending its illusory values. This is part of a series of articles on the esoteric symbology of the Rider-Waite tarot deck. Dr. Waite spoke to us not in words, but in hidden symbols. Symbols are truly the universal language expressing ideas in a way that, with study and contemplation, all can understand. But this understanding may not be the same for everyone who seeks it. While symbols do speak to all that will listen, they may say different things to different people. To truly understand the archetypal symbology of the Tarot, you must listen to a chorus of voices, not just one. Read as many different explanations as you can on the Tarot, and then the true meanings of the symbols will naturally come to you from within. | 
