The sun is the source of life on our planet. Our planet provides the geological and chemical conditions and material for the cultivation of life, but the active agent is the sunlight.
Organic life emerges through the assemblage of complex molecules, which turn into even more complex structures, like cells, and further into organisms. For this reason, the ancient epithet of the Life card is the collecting intelligence.
The respective power of consciousness is animation. Remember that the primary power of consciousness is the life power? The white sun in the right-hand upper corner of the Spirit/Fool card symbolizes the life power in its virgin state. The yellow sun in the Life/Sun card uses the life power to generate planetary life. This transforms the virgin life power into the life force, aka the breath of life, élan vital, or the vital spark in living beings.
Animation expresses itself through the opposites of fertility and sterility. Here, balance is key. If there were too much or too little sunlight, organisms couldn’t survive.
According to science, sunlight is just energy. But according to ageless wisdom, energy bears consciousness. The sun provides the energy organisms need to live, but also the raw consciousness that organisms turn into individual consciousness. The human body absorbs the sunlight’s raw energy through the heart chakra. We can increase the absorption of sunlight through enlightenment practices.
The life power brings forth organisms and keeps animating them. The more vitality an organism has, the more alive it feels and the more lucid its consciousness becomes. This surcharge of vitality promotes evolution, which increases both the complexity of the respective organism as well as its consciousness.
During the day, we spend our vitality. During the night, we regenerate. Ageless wisdom assigns regeneration — the restoration of vitality — to this Tarot card.
Children have a lot of vitality, and they are spirited, happy, curious, playful, social, seek meaningful experiences, and don’t hold grudges. These are all expressions of vitality, and that’s why this picture shows two dancing children on a sunny day.
The daily grind mills our vitality. Many people are unhappy with their jobs, feel depressed, have become uncurious and unfriendly, are prone to holding grudges, and entertain cynicism. An inauspicious Life/Sun card may indicate that the querent is in such a place. She may want to put an end to what she is doing and get a life. The Life card calls for taking time out and regenerating the mind and body.
An auspicious Life card may indicate that vitality is a key ability that will allow the querent to overcome her challenge. This calls for therapy and mental and physical regeneration. It may also indicate the need to return to a child-like attitude and happiness, which is the feeling associated with the Life card.
An inauspicious Life/Sun card may indicate that a lack of vitality causes her adversity or a stagnating undertaking. An inauspicious Life/Sun card may also signify depression, which is the opposite of vitality.
On the Tree of Life, the path of the Life card connects the 8’s and 9’s spheres, intelligence and energy. The yellow sun symbolizes the higher self, and the orange sky the Intellect. As in the case of the Moon in the Evolution card, the yellow sun indicates an intellect extending the light of the higher self.
Accordingly, this card shows the benevolent effect of positive thinking on mental and bodily energies. An inauspicious Life card may indicate that negative thoughts, worries, pessimism, or rummaging over traumatic memories are draining the querent’s vitality.
The titles and the five core meanings of the Life card are:
Enlightenment Tarot title: Life
Traditional title: Sun
Power of consciousness: Animation
Constructive use: Regeneration
Unconstructive use: Prodigality
Auspicious state of mind: Vitality
Inauspicious state of mind: Lethargy
On the spiritual-intentional level, the Life card stands for illumination and the spiritual regeneration that follows it.
On the creative-feely level, the Life card represents our soul vitality, creative fertility, esprit, and genius.
On the intellectual level, the Life card stands for mental-intellectual vitality and the benevolent and regenerative effect of positive thinking.
On the bodily-practical level, the Life card calls for relaxation, regeneration, rejuvenation, and a healthy life-work balance. An inauspicious Life card may also indicate, in particular in children, sensitivity to heart conditions (see body zone below).
More Attributes:
Number: 19
Letter: Resh, meaning head
Astrology: Sun
Color: Orange
Body zone: Heart
Chakra: Heart chakra