The World

The Meaning of the World
Major Arcana Tarot Card in Readings

The Tarot World card meaning in a nutshell:
Success in anything worldly,
but not for free.

Archetype:
Opportunity — success at hand.

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Tarot Unfolded

This book presents all the 78 Tarot card images and their allegorical symbols. Several divination spreads are also explained. The book will help you find your own intuitive way of making inspired Tarot card readings. Click the image to see the book at Amazon (paid link).

More about the book here.

The World is a place of infinite opportunity, there for the grabbing. You can conquer it and you can lose it. The Tarot World card opens this vast resource, but who has the embrace wide enough to encompass it?

Everything has a price. Jesus warned about gaining the whole world and losing one's soul in the process. The Tarot World card repeats the warning by having the four beasts of the Apocalypse in the corners: a lion, a calf, a man, and an eagle. They are also the symbols of the four Evangelists Mark, Luke, Matthew, and John.

So, if you strive for the world as your oyster, heed the warnings. You can get anything at a cost, but if you crave everything — that costs a lot. Success takes its toll.

Many people still don't hesitate, but go for it, happily forgetting about the price until they're handed the bill. Then they realize that they should have hesitated and eaten moderately from the buffet. Although you may at times be offered the world, curb your enthusiasm and ask yourself how much of it you really need.

If just handled calmly and with some restraint, the opportunity that the World Tarot card promises is splendid. Success in whatever worldly matter is at hand.

But remember, the World Tarot card, although overwhelmingly generous, propagates moderation, as does the very archetype of that virtue, the card of Temperance. When you can get everything in abundance, beware.

Christ surrounded by the representations of the four evangelists: Matthew (a man), John (an eagle), Mark (a lion), and Luke (a calf). Coffin cover from the 13th century.

The World Card as a Person

If the World card relates to a person, which is not that often, it's someone who can offer success on a silver platter — but watch out for the price tag. There is one, although it might not be evident at first. If the deal is too good to be true it's probably not. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Be moderate — you can get a lot from such a person, but settle for less than what is offered.

The World Card as an Event

When the World card relates to an event, and that's almost always the case, it opens up plenty of possibilities beyond your initial expectation. But be careful with your choices. There is a bill to be paid, always. What you can get from this opportunity may exceed the bill significantly — or it may not. So, before you jump into things, consider what may be the consequences at length.

The World Card as You

If the Tarot World card has a position in the divination spread that refers to you, it means you are willing to risk it all for an opportunity coming along. You want to go for it, without hesitation. That's fun and can be rewarding, but it can also lead to unexpected disadvantages — though it may take quite long before they are revealed. You should really be wary of your own eagerness. Don't bite off more than you can chew. But sure, dare to take a bite!

A. E. Waite about the Tarot World Card

Click the header to read what A. E. Waite had to say about the Major Arcana World Tarot card symbolism and meaning in divination.

The Major Arcana Tarot Cards

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Stefan Stenudd

About me

I'm a Swedish author. In addition to fiction, I've written books about the Tarot, Taoism, astrology and other metaphysical traditions. I'm also an historian of ideas, researching ancient mythology. Click the image to get to my personal website.

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