Understanding The Sun Reversed
The reversed Sun indicates temporary delays in success, difficulty accessing your natural joy and optimism, or clouds temporarily blocking your inner light. This card doesn't represent permanent failure but rather temporary setbacks, pessimism, or the inability to see the bright side of situations. The reversed Sun may indicate that you're being overly critical of yourself, focusing on what's wrong rather than what's right, or allowing external circumstances to dim your natural radiance. Sometimes this card suggests that success is coming but not as quickly or dramatically as you hoped. When reversed, the The Radiant One energy turns inward or becomes blocked, often manifesting as the shadow side of this archetype.
Understanding The Sun Reversed
The reversed Sun indicates temporary delays in success, difficulty accessing your natural joy and optimism, or clouds temporarily blocking your inner light. This card doesn't represent permanent failure but rather temporary setbacks, pessimism, or the inability to see the bright side of situations. The reversed Sun may indicate that you're being overly critical of yourself, focusing on what's wrong rather than what's right, or allowing external circumstances to dim your natural radiance. Sometimes this card suggests that success is coming but not as quickly or dramatically as you hoped. When reversed, the card's symbols take on different meanings: The radiant sun, which normally represents divine illumination, consciousness, and life-giving energy, now suggests this energy is blocked, hidden, or working against you. The sun rays (straight and wavy), which normally represents direct divine energy and gentle warming influence, now suggests this energy is blocked, hidden, or working against you. The naked child on horse, which normally represents innocence, joy, and natural confidence, now suggests this energy is blocked, hidden, or working against you.
Shadow Aspects
The shadow side of The Radiant One emerges when The Sun appears reversed. Instead of shine authentically, you may find yourself blocked, resistant, or expressing this energy in unhealthy ways. Key shadow themes include: delayed success, temporary pessimism, blocked joy, dimmed confidence. Passion becomes anger, motivation turns to burnout, creativity is stifled.
Working With This Energy
The Sun reversed is not a "bad" card - it's an invitation to look inward and address what's blocked. Ask yourself: What brings me the greatest joy and how can I incorporate more of it into my life? Consider what aspects of joy you may be resisting or avoiding. The card's guidance, when reversed, suggests examining where you're not following this wisdom: Embrace your natural joy and let your authentic self shine brightly. Focus on what brings you genuine happiness and share that positive energy with...
Life Areas Affected
In love: Relationship challenges, temporary love difficulties, or blocked romantic joy. In career: Career setbacks, professional pessimism, or delayed work success. In finances: Financial delays, money pessimism, or temporary abundance blocks. In health: Health challenges, low vitality, or difficulty maintaining wellness optimism. In spirituality: Spiritual doubts, temporary loss of faith, or difficulty accessing spiritual joy.
Reversed Meanings by Life Area
Love Reversed
In love, the reversed Sun indicates temporary relationship challenges, difficulty expressing joy in romantic connections, or feelings of romantic pessimism. You may be going through a rough patch in relationships, feeling that love isn't bringing the happiness you expected, or struggling to maintain optimism about romantic possibilities. The reversed Sun can represent relationship arguments, temporary separation, or the feeling that romance has lost its sparkle. However, this card suggests that these challenges are temporary and that joy in love will return with time and effort.
Career Reversed
Professionally, the reversed Sun indicates career setbacks, delays in professional recognition, or difficulty finding joy and satisfaction in work. You may be experiencing workplace challenges, feeling unappreciated despite good work, or struggling to maintain optimism about your career prospects. The reversed Sun can represent job dissatisfaction, professional burnout, or the feeling that your career isn't living up to expectations. However, this card suggests that these professional clouds are temporary and that career success is still possible with patience and persistence.
Finances Reversed
The reversed Sun in financial matters indicates delays in financial success, pessimism about money prospects, or temporary blocks to abundance. You may be experiencing financial setbacks, feeling discouraged about money goals, or unable to see the financial opportunities available to you. The reversed Sun can represent investment disappointments, delayed financial rewards, or the feeling that prosperity is always just out of reach. However, this card suggests that these financial challenges are temporary and that abundance will flow again with renewed optimism and effort.
Health Reversed
The reversed Sun in health matters indicates temporary health challenges, low energy or vitality, or difficulty maintaining optimism about healing and wellness. You may be experiencing health setbacks, feeling less energetic than usual, or struggling with pessimism about your body's ability to heal. The reversed Sun can represent seasonal depression, vitamin D deficiency, or the feeling that your natural vitality has been temporarily diminished. However, this card suggests that these health challenges are temporary and that vibrant health will return with time, proper care, and renewed optimism.
Esoteric Correspondences
Understanding The Sun's deeper symbolism enriches your reversed interpretation.
Golden Dawn Title
Le Soleil
Il Sole
Element
fire
Planet
Sun
Zodiac Sign
Leo
Dates
Sun cycles
Hebrew Letter
ר (Resh)
Head, beginning, consciousness
Tree of Life
Path 30
Hod to Yesod (Splendor to Foundation)
Explore The Sun in Other Contexts
The Sun Reversed FAQs
Common questions answered
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