a completed cycle
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Tarot Alley uses the Rider Waite type of deck for our meanings, symbols, interpretations, etc.
The World represents a completed cycle through the Tarot and a new beginning for the world doesn’t end, it keeps spinning.
The completed cycle involves so many events and each step along the path brings us closer to this moment.
It starts with the Fool and a new beginning. Then moves through many events including a solitary inner search with the hermit, the complete destruction of something with the tower, and many more. Finally, it ends here with the World and a graduation or completion of this cycle.
But this isn’t the end because the World always keeps spinning. And so the World leaves us to step back into the Fool and begin again.
Take a look at the Rider-Waite World displayed to the left (or above).
What is your first impression?
Who is this person? What are they doing? Where are they? What do the creatures in the corners represent? What does the other imagery say to you?
There’s no right or wrong answer here, just your interpretation.
Astrology: Saturn
Element: Earth
Numerology: 21 = 2+1=3 (productivity, results)
Common Symbols
- Something Circular to represent cycles and completion
- a Dancer to represent self-expression
- Flags to represent movement
Keywords & Concepts
- Completion
- Wholeness
- Achievement
- Endings
- Celebration
- Success
- Closure
- Graduation
- Freedom
- Rebirth
the World for Personal Growth
For most challenges, both intuitive and logical approaches exist. Most of us favor one over the other, but the secret to true mastery involves learning to wield both with perfect facility. Identify your least favorite approach, and then speed your growth by giving it special attention.
Ask Yourself:
- For you, what would having it all mean?
- How aware are you of your own connectedness to the world around you?
- What keeps you from having it all right now, today?
- If you examine the current situation in light of past events, what next step makes the most sense?
- What do you need to bring together?
- How can you promote the stability of your solution?
- In your own situation, what would be the best ultimate outcome?
- What might happen if you put both your magical and practical powers to work today?
Interpreting the World
The World represents completion. You’ve endured, worked hard, learned, grown, and completed everything you need to finish something – or you will soon.
Now is the time to celebrate. Bask in your glory. Feel pride. This is your time! Look around you for some amazing opportunities that wouldn’t have been available if you hadn’t completed this cycle.
The Reversed World
How you read reversals is a personal choice. You can ignore reversals and read them as if the card is upright (this is what I often choose to do) or you can interpret reversals as variations of what they would mean upright. There are 3 common ways to read reversals: as a negative interpretation, as an opposite interpretation, or as a block on the upright interpretation. Check out How to Read Reversals for more information.
Negative: A negative reversed World suggests failure or lack of completion. Unfortunately, you haven’t been able to complete whatever it is you’re working on.
Opposite: An opposite reversed World means failure or lack of completion. Unfortunately, you haven’t been able to complete whatever it is you’re working on.
Blocked: A blocked reversed World indicates something is preventing you from finishing. Take a breath and work through the blockage so that you can reach completion and celebrate!
Examples of the World
Specific Interpretations
Specific situations are the general interpretation (from above) used for a specific situation (love, career, etc). There is no need to memorize these (or even look them up) if you understand the general interpretation. However, here are some basic interpretations for some specific situations:
Love & Relationships
When it comes to love and relationships, the World is a very positive card suggesting you’ve achieved something positive.
If you’re in a relationship, the World represents reaching a relationship goal or milestone that’s important to you. Congratulations. Take some time to enjoy it and celebrate.
If you’re single, the World suggests that dating opportunities are opening up to you. You’ve succeeded and that success is attractive.
Reversed
Negative: A negative reversed World suggests a negative milestone in your love life likely in the form of some type of ending and heartbreak.
Opposite: An opposite reversed World means a negative milestone in your love life likely in the form of some type of ending and heartbreak.
Blocked: A blocked reversed World indicates something is preventing you from achieving positive things in your love life. You’ll never achieve positive outcomes if you don’t figure out what it is and fix it.
Professional Life
Professionally, the World represents achieving your goals due to hard work and diligence. However, it’s also a warning not to lose focus or engage in risky actions and choices.
Reversed
Negative: A negative reversed World suggests being so close to reaching your goals but making a bad choice or taking an extreme risk or just getting lazy and failing. Watch yourself carefully right now.
Opposite: An opposite reversed World means you won’t be achieving your goals. Perhaps they’re unrealistic and it was never going to happen. Or perhaps something has stood in your way.
Blocked: A blocked reversed World indicates something is preventing you from achieving your goals. Unless you want to remain stagnant in your professional life, you’d best figure out what the blockage is and remove it.
Health & Wellness
The World represents a period of health and wellness. If you’ve recently been ill or injured, you should successfully complete your treatments and experience a new healthy outlook.
Reversed
Negative: A negative reversed World suggests you haven’t been taking your health seriously and have unresolved health issues. If you don’t address them soon, the cycle will complete but not in a positive way.
Opposite: An opposite reversed World means a period of illness or injury.
Blocked: A blocked reversed World indicates something is preventing you from stepping into a new and healthy life. This is a great time to explore alternative treatments (although that doesn’t not mean abandoning your current medical advice).
the World Tarot Card Meaning
The World represents a completed cycle. You’ve made it through the entire Major Arcana, where to next? It’s time to start another cycle with the Fool.
Once you feel comfortable with the World tarot card meaning, check out the next card in the tarot deck: Ace of Coins Tarot Card Meaning.
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