Horses in the Sun card?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 20 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kiama	20 Aug 2003
Nearly all the Sun cards I come across have a kid riding a horse... But why? What on earth does that mean? I've tried using my own meaning of a horse (intuition and movement) but it doesn't seem to fit into this card at all. Any ideas? Kiama

bunnyhop	20 Aug 2003
movement into a better stage of life? to "the sunny side of the street?" back in the day it was better to have a horse than be without one. maybe it's a symbol for power, status, or just stability (the nice things i see when the sun comes up in a reading). but that's just me. i could be wrong... good ?. i'm interested to see what others have to say.

Mimers	20 Aug 2003
Hi Kiama, The horse, to me, represents freedom, especially with a naked child on the back of it. Think of how free we were to be ourselves when we were children. No learned behavior. Could even run around naked and that was cute. When I think of riding on a horse, I think of being free. There is no sadle in the sun card either. Free and natural. Here is another view straight from Pictures from the Heart: A Tarot Dictionary by Sandra A. Thomson: Dedicated to the god Mars, the horse psychologically represents the instinctual aspects of a person and refers to power. A horse and a rider together may symbolize the union or the workings of the conscious (rider) and the unconscious or instinctual (horse). Add this together with the other attributes of the sun card: happy naked kid - freedom of expression No saddle - freedom from restraints banner - victory outside a wall - freedom again sunflowers - bright sunshiny day Mimers

Major Tom	20 Aug 2003
I quote Paul Foster Case from The Tarot who claims to quote A.E. Waite's first edition of Key to Tarot (I do have a copy of the Pictorial Key to the Tarot but cannot find it in that): "He rides a horse, symbol of solar energy, similar to the horse of Death. He rides without saddle or bridle, because he represents perfect balance.... He leaves behind the artificial erections of race-consciousness, and fares forth free and joyous on his journey home." Wasn't Apollo's chariot drawn by white horses?

Elle	20 Aug 2003
'Race-consciousness'? Why that of all things? Just wondering what the author was referring to... Warmest, Elle

Major Tom	20 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Elle 'Race-consciousness'? I think the author was referring to the human race. ;)

isthmus nekoi	20 Aug 2003
On the female side: Horse can be viewed as a symbol of the Self archetype, or a great mother archetype (via its association w/horse goddesses Rheannon, Epona etc). Another connection I recall is the chinese character for grandmother is woman+horse. The Cantonese pronounciation for both 'horse', 'mother' and 'grandmother' sound like: Ma or Ma Ma the only difference being tonality. If you subscribe to the notion of the Moon card representing a dissolution of the conscious mind/ego into the great "mother" then the sun card may represent the reconstitution of the ego, now riding the Self (as opposed to being absorbed in it), like Mimers says, conscious and uncon working together under the direction of the conscious. Other motifs of this triumph that could resonate are images found in Mithraism (Mithras defeats bull), or ..... darn it.... can't recall the name... some saint slaying a dragon.... St. George??? The funny thing is that in Vertigo, it looks like the Sun kid is riding a dog. Perhaps from the Moon. On the male side: Yes, Apollo's chariot was drawn by horses! Apollo also ruled the Oracle, and horses are associated w/these as well although not sure how that goes back to the Sun card/tarot as Oracle stresses words.

lunalafey	20 Aug 2003
there is nothing more delightful than to hop on the back of a horse and RUN FREE!!!! To me the hores is a symbol of prestige and power....This is not saying that joy comes from the power but that there is enough purpose & direction in ones life- being on top of things, that one can take the time to soak in the Sun.

Inana	21 Aug 2003
I have still another different take that can be added to the ones im reading here. To ride a horse is a symbol of mankinds power over the nature and the wild side of the life represented by the previous card: The Moon. When human societies started to use animals for their needs and works, they started to develop faster. Using the intellect to dominate the other species, taking profit from what the world offers, inserting order and control in the wildness... (wasnt that bad when it started) that's one of the basis on the human society. Probably the child feels united to the horse, and the horse likes the child, but still who is on charge? The Sun is showing you are controlling (to ride) in an easy way (child) your insctincts (horse). You are in control of your life. The child is naked cause he is an animal too, thats his true nature, but he is acting like he has learned from society. Thats why he is in a manufactured garden, not in a forest, thats why he wears that flag or wathever is that robe. All is transformated by human power in this card, all is somehow artificial, like mankind nowadays. Adapting the world to our own needs: civilization is how we call it. Uh? Wasnt I talking about horses?

Inana	21 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Mimers Here is another view straight from Pictures from the Heart: A Tarot Dictionary by Sandra A. Thomson: Dedicated to the god Mars, the horse psychologically represents the instinctual aspects of a person and refers to power. A horse and a rider together may symbolize the union or the workings of the conscious (rider) and the unconscious or instinctual (horse). Ops. I should read all the replies before answering... Anyways, now im thinking ¿Dont you see a conection with the Chariot here? Making work together the conscious and unconscious, the rational and the instinctual.

jmd	21 Aug 2003
The comment about 'race-consciousness' I do think has to be taken at face value in the context in which it was written or spoken, even if we do not agree with it or would express it radically differently. In incarnation, the vehicle we ride - our bodies - has particular dispositions, some of which may be genetic (and there may be variations across gene pools) and others socio-cultural. These are the ones which the individual rides forth and controls towards the Freedom of the light of the Sun. I personally prefer depictions of the Sun card which have two individuals, rather than the rider-&-horse, but this latter has certainly also lead for important reflections. For example, in the Celtic Dragon Myth (or is it in the King of Ireland's Son?) the important elements of the rider, the faithful dog, the strength of the horse, and the falcon, all play important stellar-lunar-solar functions... well worth a read. The horse, if we think of its majestic maned freedom, certainly reminds one of the the solar majesty of mid-day!

The Horses in the Sun card? thread was originally posted on 20 Aug 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.