Grumpy Suns

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Sep 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kyrielle	02 Sep 2002
I have always thought the Sun to be a card of happiness, but two of my recently acquired decks make me wonder. The Victoria Regina's Sun has an imposing face that really looks neither happy nor particularly grumpy. Don't get me wrong -- I like the card -- but I am used to smiley Suns, and joy isn't the primary emotion this card conveys to me. More like caution. The Templar has one of its winged beings sitting under the sun, but it looks like it has had its wing feathers fried off, perhaps by flying too close to the sun. Maybe it is basking in some warm, healing rays, but it seems kind of grim. Icarus with a marginally happier ending. One of my books I remember saying that the Sun was a really happy card whether reversed or upright. But everything has to have a dark side, right? These cards almost seem to emphasize the possibility of getting "sunburned" over the positives. Any thoughts? -- Kyrielle

Marion	03 Sep 2002
I just got the Victoria Regina and I noticed that right away too, especially since 19 is 'my' number. I have had readings where the sun was clearly a warning. Burn-out, over-exposure, 'too much'.

zorya	03 Sep 2002
while clarity is a good thing in the long run, sometimes it can really hurt. it's not always easy to face the truth.

Laurel	03 Sep 2002
Here's my .02 theory regarding the V.R Sun: Victorian culture didn't emphasize happiness as a spiritual or emotional value in the way modern Western culture does. Imperialism, comfort, royalty... all these other Leo traits were of more primary importance. The Sun card emphasizes the 'Regal' aspect of the Leo archetype as opposed to bliss or benediction. Laurel

Violet Gargoyle	03 Sep 2002
My additional penny: Victorian culture focused much on appearance for appearances sake, all the real action usually happened in secret or behind closed doors. I often see the VR sun as representing the Social Appearance of warth or social comradere. Happiness at dinner parties kind of thing- but not deeply representive of the things truly under the surface, which I get out of the Moon Card. Not all readings will go like this, but with the VR it tends to come up.

napaea	06 Sep 2002
My Vampire deck is this way. There are all these cards of beautiful vamps (well, as beautiful as blood-suckers can be!) and the sun shows a vampire standing by a door, being hit with the light and burning up! I always thought that the sun meant great stuff! Power. Success. Moving to a warm climate. Travel. But someone's post about it maybe meaning "too much of a good thing" really helped me out on this one. just out of curiousity: those of you with the VR deck: is it hard to get past the lack of color? i might really like the deck, it's so interesting, but i was a little put off by the non-color issue. does it make it harder or easier to read with?

Diana	06 Sep 2002
edited

Liliana	06 Sep 2002
I never thought Id like black and white either but some decks need to be that way. I thought Id want to color Book of Chaos, but once I got it i found there were a few i wouldnt mind coloring but the rest would look horrid that way. Someday i might xerox the few id like to color and do it to frame and put on the well. Victoria Regina looks the same way, I want to get it someday :) :THP

Violet Gargoyle	06 Sep 2002
The B and W thing in the VR is A-OK! Seriously, I was never bothered by the lack of color, in fact I think it helps me draw my own meanings from a readings, you know how sometimes color will give off a mood influencing how you percieve the overall picture? Now I use colored decks too, I guess it depends on the situation......

Marion	06 Sep 2002
Until I got the VR, I would have said that I preferred coloured decks. I love the VR and the engraving-type drawings are so distinctive that colour would detract from them. I have never seen a swords suit that I preferred more than that of the VR deck. The B&W gives the cards a pristine air with really remarkable imagery.

The Grumpy Suns thread was originally posted on 02 Sep 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.