The sun is not a happy card for me: Here’s why Part 2.

[KadenLena]

Hello friends! In the past I have posted about this same exact topic. The Sun card has a personal meaning to me. It usually symbolizes my sickness schizophrenia. I had asked why such a card would have a negative meaning. I would like to share my take on the card so far.

These are just notes of mine.

 

The Sun

Can often be seen as misleading or misunderstood . At a glance if may often lead you to believe there is no hardship. The sun is easily gifted among us.

The sun is often the giver of life. And the queret is often the receiver of the sun’s blessings.

You will be misunderstood. 

There is a depth to this card. Stigma and false notions of your illness follow you with every person you meet.

The sun will cause chaos. The sun is uncontrollable and known for flares. Too much will leave you asking for it to end. 

Brightness. Shed light upon your mind. Brighten your day and to the people around you. It goes unnoticed your skin has started to peel and your eyes ache. You are only damaging yourself further. Long exposure to the sun can kill. 

Night and day. Something you can never escape. Daytime is inevitable. We, the earth, is trapped in the suns orbit.

Everything seems to revolve around the sun. You gravitate towards it. Stuck in orbit forever dancing around the sun. 

The sun will be a constant in your life. Always peeking through beneath the clouds. No wonder you prefer the rain. 

The sun drives us to live. We strive for its warmth and pull happiness from its rays. Does your sickness motivate you? Have you smiled in the past? You are not as alone as you think you are. Many creatures thrive of of their own sickness. The sun is no different.

The sun is intangible but you are given nourishment and undeniable proof of its role in your life. You can not reach out to touch it like you hope to do so.

Being set out and left with the sun is punishment to most. Why would anyone leave you here? 

The sun is seen as godly. The sun carries might known to all mankind. You obey. There is no room to move. 

The sun is oppressive. The sun will steal from you as much as it can give. 

You’ve been born into this. Taken by surprise by what’s promised to gift you life. There are no returns for what you have been given. 

Your mind is inescapable and you will live this life. 

The sun may or may not be cruel. It is up to you. Life carries on. 

 

Thanks for reading! Tell me what you think!

 

[Guest]

Yep well, that could be an aspect of it.  But to say that it is always and only offering those aspects would be an imbalance.  We all have our bias, and life experiences and intractable hurdles that seem to dog us whatever we do, and that can trick us into thinking that what we know is all there ever was, will be or can be.  Is that just us going too far with our personal projections, though?  If we broke each part of the above description of the Sun into statements, if we traced the source of each value system or belief in the statement back to it's foundational memory or experience, and our response, would it help us to seperate what The Sun card represents (in an objective-ish sort of way), and help us expand on what is hidden from us due to bias?  Anyway, this is the method I would hypothetically use, and admittedly it is much easier said than done.  When I do it I have to really seriously been in the frame of mind to do it.  I have to consider you have stated you have schizophrenia, and this method may not be possible for you - I know nothing of your condition or limitations.   Can I ask why you use tarot?  What role does it take in your life from a point of view of you living with schizophrenia?

[DanielJUK]

Just noting in this thread that this is carrying on from the sun not being a happy card (in a general way) part 1 which was here

 

I find it interesting that you associate it with your illness @KadenLena I have a different mental illness and I have done daily tarot cards for many years and reversed Pages (and sometimes other Court cards) are always an indicator to me that I will be having a bad time. If I am going through a more difficult period, I will get those cards almost daily until I feel better again. It really interested me to link what cards came up with my own patterns.

 

Back to the Sun, I don't know if you use reversed cards or not but the reversed traditional meaning is depression or sadness, the clouds going over the sun. Blocking out the light or heat on someone. But it's interesting your take on why you think the Sun represents this for you. To acknowledge that might be useful to work on it if you feel you are able to in your tarot work. The Sun can burn, it can be very dangerous, like the people suffering it's effects in North America in a heatwave, but also everything dies without it shining. During this pandemic and when locked down, I found the regular cycle of the Sun and Moon really comforting, you can rely on the sun to rise and then set and the moon to rise and then set. But also it could be quite oppressive, the same pattern happens every day.

 

I found it really interesting you associate it with your illness and I can relate to cards having a special meaning to you which you just know what they will represent when they come up.

[katrinka]

Truth be told, I'm not overly fond of the (literal) sun myself. I'm aware that it's necessary for life, but where I live we get triple digits, and my usual term for it is "that thermonuclear ball of hate."

Now that I'm at an age where I don't feel it necessary or aesthetically pleasing to don a bikini, smear myself with baby oil and iodine and lay out in it, I prefer to stay indoors where the lights are dim and the air conditioner is cranked up to 11 like Nigel Tufnel's amps. There is much to be said for getting older.

 

If you look at the the Sun in the Conver TdM, the kid on the left looks like he's been struck blind, or possibly is starting to get heatstroke.

So I totally get the negative associations, even if they are a bit off the beaten path.
 

[KadenLena]

@Sparrow ah, yes, I’ve actually been working on separating my perspective from my readings to understand fully what is happening and why. This is also great for connecting with another if you are doing a reading for someone else. I admit it get hard sometimes. Especially when I have memories attached to the cards.

I use tarot mainly for personal growth and to aide others along in their journey. I enjoy the mental and intuitive stimulation it gives me. Tarot is something I truly enjoy doing. My illness does give me setbacks when working with tarot. I get misinterpretations and misunderstandings frequently when I’m in an episode or in recovery. My cognitive functions are diminished and my mind often clouds over to where I can’t focus or even think for myself. That is when I would take a break from the cards (or my cards would tell me to rest). I usually push myself too far but I’ve found that’s how I learn best. Breaking past my limits usually gives me something to take from but other times it’s like beating a dead horse. It’s a matter of balance I’m still trying to figure out.

Tarot is a guiding light in my life. I am given advice and wisdom even in pits I fall into. I am treated with love and respect. My guides and my cards wish the best for me. Schizophrenia is just a mere blockage I can overcome. A challenge to my strengths and my passion. I have been humbled many times and I’m sure that will remain. But it reminds me where I came from and what losses I have suffered. It’s all okay in the end.

Hope this answers some of your questions! 

[Guest]

I don't like the sun, the literal sun though due to my ilness Lupus which gets triggered b the sun. I don't associate The Sun card with my ilness and for me the card means the beauty in life. I fond the card a very direct one. It shines and stands out.But sometimes the simplicity of the Sun is not so clear for some. It is to me though.

[Guest]

@KadenLena seems like an effective way of looking at things. I've only just discovered the part of tarot you say treats people with love and respect. It's taken some time to understand enough of the basics to be able to converse freely, and then when I get worked up about something it talks me down and suggests some rest.