In a nutshell, The World (Saturn) means transcendence of limitations on existence imposed by time and space, as well as any self-imposed limitations. How? By embracing Christ Consciousness through the alchemical wedding of the Divine Masculine and the Divine Feminine. The World Dancer is Sophia (Wisdom) redeemed and ascended as Pistis Sophia (Holy Wisdom).
In the Marseille Tarot card above, Pistis Sophia is depicted surrounded by the four Fixed Signs of the Zodiac. The four ‘beasts’ also symbolise the authors of the four Gospels. The Bull (Taurus) is Luke, the Angelic Man (Aquarius) is Matthew, the Eagle (an ascended aspect of Scorpio) is John and the Lion (Leo) is Mark.
Pulling this card in a reading usually indicates the end of an era because of lessons learned. It is time to begin anew. Depending on the surrounding cards, you will know how well you did. If you read with reversals, The World usually means successful completion when upright and blocks to success when reversed.
Old Father Time
The Astrological correspondence is Saturn, Old Father Time – Lord of Karma. We may not like him but with the challenges and limitations he imposes, our existence here on Earth would be pretty pointless. We are here to learn and once we have learned, we may choose to return to serve as bodhisattvas.
Correspondences
Angelic correspondence: Holy Sophia
Element: Earth
Planet: Saturn
Chakra: Root Chakra
Colour: Black, grey, brown
Gemstones: Haematite, black tourmaline, brown jasper, snowflake obsidian, smokey quartz, onyx, jet, garnet
Metal: Lead
Body: Longevity, symptoms carried over from a past life
Exercise: Any disciplined regime, diligently carried out on a regular basis
Stance: Tree pose
Magickal Tool/Ingredient: Any tools/ingredients used to bind, limit or banish, black candle
Associated Major Arcana Cards (through numerology): The Empress and The Hanged Man
Associated Minor Arcana Cards: All Saturn Minors (5 of Wands, 10 of Wands, 8 of Cups, 3 of Swords and 7 of Pentacles) but for the purpose of The Healing Key Spread, you need to use cards from the Suit of Pentacles. for the Earth Element
Remedies to increase the energy of The World in your life
- You can make a tarot essence to harness and increase the energy of the World card, using a card from the deck of your choice, along with any of the crystals above that you feel drawn to work with.
- Walk with a focus on soaking up energy from Mother Earth with each step you take
- Gardening
- Plant or hug a tree
- Successfully complete a difficult challenge
- Wear black
- Recycling
- Make schedules and to-do lists and stick to them
- Put off rewards until you have completed your chores
To counteract or balance the influence of The World, begin a new task and go with the flow of inspiration rather than sticking to a schedule or organised structure.
Affirmation: “I accept and honour my responsibilities.”
Angelic Invocation to Holy Sophia
O, Holy Sophia, beloved of Christ! Guide my soul on a path of truth and creative self-expression for the Highest Good of All. Amen and so it is!
LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS
The World card is a card of transcendence which tells us that we have completed a cycle of learning and are ready to move on to the next one. There is a deep sense of fulfilment connected with this card and to the relationship, this card means that the best possible way of relating (relative to where we are on the path of personal development) is now opening up to us.
The naked Dancer of Life in this card will give you an idea of the feeling of this card. How comfortable in your skin would you have to be to dance naked in a sunny forest glen? How great would it feel to be in perfect harmony with the world around you, contentment radiating out from every pore? Yet, with each completed cycle comes an invitation to begin a new one. The dancer has mastered the choreography of one piece and moves on to learn the choreography of a more complex piece.
Transcending fear of intimacy
To a couple, The World card indicates that you have now reached a phase where you can trust each other completely. You have a sense of belonging without codependence, a sense of peace without boredom and a sense of vitality because you keep sparking off each other. How is this possible? It’s possible because you have faced and transcended your deepest fears concerning intimacy.
Because of the connection with the planet Saturn (ruler of Capricorn), this card could signify long-term commitment and marriage, especially together with the Lovers, the 2 of Cups or the 4 of Wands. Together with the 6 of Cups, The World could signify a soulmate relationship where you have incarnated to just enjoy each other’s love and company this time around. That doesn’t mean that there will be no challenges but it does mean that the keynote of the relationship is sheer and unadulterated pleasure… Enjoy!
The shadow side
It may all sound a bit too cheesy to some of you. Rest assured, no card is spared of Shadow aspects. In the case of the world, a reversal could indicate an inability to move forward; a refusal to integrate life’s lessons or face challenges. It can mean that you are stuck in materialistic thinking (especially together with The Devil), unable to see a higher meaning and purpose in life. This in turn will cause you to feel disconnected and in need of covering up your natural ‘naked’ state of being.
Can The World card signal the end of a relationship? Yes, it most certainly can. It does symbolise the ending of a phase and that phase could be the time you have spent in a relationship with someone. It means that you have learned all you can from each other and that staying in the relationship no longer assists your soul’s growth. Look for combinations with The Tower, Death and the 10 of Swords.
Single and looking
To a single person, the upright World card is a very good sign – it basically promises contentment no matter what… And if it shows up with the Ace of Cups, the Knight of Cups, The Lovers, the 2 of Cups or the 6 of Cups, it could mean that you are about to meet the love of your life. In the case of combinations including The Lovers and the 6 of Cups, you are about to meet a soul mate (i.e. someone you have spent past lives with).
Tantra, baby!
Sexually, The World is the ultimate tantra card. Sex becomes a tool for transcendence and bliss. The awareness of the balance between male and female energy is complete both within and as reflected in the relationship. During love-making, you feel completely free to improvise and express your needs. Your trust in your partner is complete and the flow of giving and receiving is perfectly and naturally balanced.
Essentially, this card is the polar opposite of The Devil card, encompassing a sublime sense of freedom and belonging as opposed to bondage and separation.
The Marseille Tarot image in this post is from the CBD Tarot by Yoav Ben-Dov.
Take me back to the Tarot Card Meanings page
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