Card of the Week: The World

“Go into the world and do well. More importantly, go into the world and do good.” - Minor Myers Jr.

Yayyy! We made it all the way to the end of the Major Arcana. Whether you're just reading what the cards mean, experiencing the energy for yourself, or both, this is no easy feat and you should be extremely proud of yourselves. And feeling proud and accomplished is what the World card is all about. This card is a celebration for you making it to a major milestone in your spiritual journey. The imagery on this card is usually of a woman with a lion, bull, eagle, and man in the corners. These represent the four fixed signs: Leo, Taurus, Scorpio, and Aquarius (similar energy/imagery to the Wheel of Fortune) and four different directions one can choose from.

“In each hand, she holds a double-ended wand that points both upward and downward, suggesting ‘as above, so below.” (Shannon and Alexander 122) This card represents cycles closing out and things falling into place. Since this is a wrapping up type of energy, it can feel a little heavy and sometimes foggy. It’s like running a 10k marathon and finally being able to see the finish line; you are so close, yet so far away. This is usually the time where doubt and fears rear their ugly heads, but do not allow them to mess up your flow and consistency. You have been through and learned so much and no one can take that from you. Once you make it to that finish line, pat yourself on the back and take a break because one cycle closed so that another one can begin. You got this!

Upright

Past: You have recently ended a major cycle in your spiritual journey and have probably already begun embarking on something new. Since our spiritual journey is never really over, this closing of a cycle is one you will experience numerous times. At this time, you could feel quite powerful and connected to energies and forces that are unseen. I would compare this energy to someone who just recently graduated with all the skills and knowledge they need to get their dream career. You still have to apply yourself, of course, but you can be certain of one thing: you are more than prepared.

Present: The World card in a present position is letting you know the world is your oyster. Whatever new endeavor you are thinking about embarking on, just do it. If you have been feeling stagnant and afraid to make a move and this card comes out, that is your spirit team telling you that all external circumstances are supporting you making a move. The only things getting in the way are your own doubts. At this time, you have learned so much about your inner self and now have a better handle on internal conflicts. Simply put, you are making matters work for you that at one point stressed you out. Good work!

You could also have gotten a new, more sophisticated job that requires you to travel more and learn about something new to you. This is a very refreshing and promising energy to be in and it’s best to take advantage of it by just trusting in the unknown, taking a leap, and starting anew.

Future: You could be moving soon or just traveling to new land. You could also be picking up a new subject to learn about or a new language to master. If this card comes out in the future position, that is a sign that you are right on track to close out a part of your spiritual journey. Soon you will be rewarded for all your tough decisions and hard sacrifices and the pieces of your puzzle will all fall into place. Just keep going and don’t try to switch up what you are doing too much because it has been working for you.

Reversed

*Disclaimer: Reading tarot cards in reverse is totally up to the reader. There are many who choose not to. There is no right way to do it; go with your intuition. For some readers, a reverse means that the energy of that card cannot manifest into reality due to a block. So if you are someone who chooses to not read reversed cards you may skip this part, however if you are that reader, keep reading!

Remember to always be authentic with your spiritual practices.*

At the time of you pulling the World card in reverse, life might seem a little hectic and chaotic. You could have so many directions and paths being presented to you and you have no clue which one is the “right” one. If you are someone who believes things should be black and white and always go the way you thought it up in your head, then this can be a tough energy to be in. The World card in the reverse is just a reminder that life can get a little crazy and out of our hands. However, do not give up: just change your perspective and try to be more open-minded and less rigid. You will be surprised how your life starts to have more order once you acknowledge your control in just changing things around—even the things you thought were set in stone and immovable.

Advice

When the World card comes up in an advice position, your spirit team is asking you to reflect on how you want to show up in the world. How do you want your world to look? Since this is the last Major Arcana card, it causes you to reflect before you embark on anything new. Over the course of this journey, what have you lost and what have you gained? You could be in an impulsive energy and your spirit guides just want you to carve out more time to assess the situation before making any serious decisions. These questions are not meant to bring up any guilt or regrets, but rather to tie up any loose ends or any matters that you might have skipped over throughout the journey in hopes of getting to the finish line faster. Now is that time to sit with yourself and make sure you are prepared for the next phase of your journey.

Work Cited

Shannon, Mary, and Skye Alexander. The Only Tarot Book You'll Ever Need: A Modern Guide to the Cards, Spreads, and Secrets of Tarot. 1 ed., vol. 1, Avon, Adams Media, 2019. 1 vols. - Symone Smith, @aquaa_cunt