Interpreting The World

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 Oct 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Proserpina	13 Oct 2004
Hi all! Over the last few weeks I've been doing quite a few readings about whether a certain person and I would be able to reconcile (a lot of drama happened between us) and possibly move forward as friends or even lovers. I've repeatedly drawn The World card in the outcome, and it's throwing me for a loop. I normally interpret this as a positive card, but the other thing that occurs to me here is that it is the last card of the Majors and can signify completion of a cycle. So, I'm not sure whether to interpret this as a possibility that we will indeed be able to move on from this, or that this is the completion of our cycle and we have done all we were meant to do together and now will go our separate ways. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks so much! ~P

Imagemaker	13 Oct 2004
I don't know what deck you're using, or how you're asking the question, but in looking at the RWS, I see a woman leaping forward. I'd probably take it as a sign that you've finished that cycle and now have the skills, knowledge, and experience to move on. Since you're getting the card repeatedly, it seems that the tarot has no couples cards (like 2 Cups or Lovers) to offer on the topic. Try asking a question about your path beyond the World card, and see what arises.

Cerulean	13 Oct 2004
...and the suggestion came up on Moonchild's comparison of the World cards... "For this moment, the World and and everything in it is yours. A major element of happiness is wholeness - the sense that everything is working together in harmony. Not in a static way, but with dynamic balance. Involvement is also important. To be happy, we must feel connected - engaged with what is around us. There is also accomplishment - knowing that we have goals and are moving toward them successfully. When all these elements come together, we feel fulfilled and blessed. --Joan Bunning" http://www.moonchild.ch/Tarot/major/World/World.html Perhaps in the context of you and the friendship/relational questions with the person in question, there was a harmony between you--or the potential--and the idea of a kind of fulfillment is still there as an open question. The ambiguity can be frustrating, but I sense you might be reflecting the situation as it is--an open question of completion or reconciling. But the question of how and is this possible might be very influenced by the other cards around the World. But give yourself and the person some time to see if this a reflection of energetic hope hovering around you both...in the meantime, there are positive indications that you should continue on your path to rebuild your world and your movement toward wholeness. If this doesn't sound accurate, please forgive the suggestion...perhaps the website suggested might give you more quotes or ideas to assist in you refining the meaning of the World for your uncertainty... Best wishes, Cerulean

firemaiden	14 Oct 2004
Proserpina, I am so glad you have started this thread on the World card, I'd love to think through the possible meanings again. How do we interpret the World Card? completion? unity of all things? death? rebirth?

Ace	14 Oct 2004
I see the world as endings and beginnings. It is breakthroughts but you can't look back. What do you want to have happen between you? Right now, the past is DEAD. This is a clean slate. My thought is treat this person as though you never dated. Go to them (if you want) and say it like that, then do an introduction. Hi, I am Prosephina what is your name? I read this card as clean slate, so you can't hold their past against them. You must forget it now. If you can do that, and the two of you can find NEW common ground, go for it. If you want a future together bad enough, you will get it! So becareful what you wish for!

SFGMaster	14 Oct 2004
To me The World is completion in the sense that everything is put into its right place, more so than a sense that everything is finished. I guess, not "completion", but "completeness". Not so much that there is nothing left to be done, but more that there is nothing that is missing. There's almost a "happily ever after" quality to it--it implies perhaps that all the struggles to get to the perfect point of fulfillment have now been endured and you have finally become your complete self. For the former concept (things are over, finished, and it's time for a new beginning), I'd expect to see cards like 8:CS, 6:SS, or maybe even Death, rather than The World. But, that's only my opinion; if you as the reader feels strongly that it means something else in this case, then maybe it does.... --:TKNC

SteveGlick	14 Oct 2004
I agree with the idea of the world as the completion of cycles, but I also see much more than that, and if you think about it or look at it as a combination of several of the trump cards together, it might make more sence.. (just a note, all my interpretations are based off the RWS deck) Things to note about the card. She has two wands, If you think about the trumps that have these wands, there are, The Magician, The Hierophant, and The devil. It could be talking about a balance between all these forces. With these two wands, one is raised and one is lowered, this talking about a type of balance, much like Temperance. You also have the presence of the 4 parts of the zodiac wheel, which is present in the Wheel of Fourtune. Which talks about the ebb and flow of all things. By just looking at this, you can see there are many forces at work for this card. When I see it in a reading, it usualy talks about alot of things, I like to view the card as something like a Harmony. it talks not only about the balance, but the forces behind it, and the constant change within it. I would say that in your particular case of this reading, maybe things are out of balance, maybe you are fealing the combined forces of all these other trumps (and there are other trumps you can link to this card through symbolism, but I will leave that alone for now). I would say, consider the idea that maybe its trying to tell you to not only view your relationship as just a relationship, but as a whole between you. To view the balance, the change, and the forces at work within the relationship, and by seeing "The big picture" it might make sence. Hope this interpretation helps :)

RedMaple	15 Oct 2004
With the World card, all things are possible. What is it you really want? Given that we cannot change anyone but ourselves, is reconciliation what you really want? I think the World is saying you can have that, but be sure it's what you want.

Proserpina	19 Oct 2004
Thanks for your suggestion! When I looked at the situation beyond that, I got Death. And no couples cards have come up, so yes, I do think this cycle is over. I've had the same results with both the Robin Wood and Celtic Dragon decks. ~P Quote: Originally posted by Imagemaker I don't know what deck you're using, or how you're asking the question, but in looking at the RWS, I see a woman leaping forward. I'd probably take it as a sign that you've finished that cycle and now have the skills, knowledge, and experience to move on. Since you're getting the card repeatedly, it seems that the tarot has no couples cards (like 2 Cups or Lovers) to offer on the topic. Try asking a question about your path beyond the World card, and see what arises.

Proserpina	19 Oct 2004
Thanks, Cerulean! Yes, that's exactly what I was trying to figure out- reconciliation or completion. I'm feeling like this cycle has been completed and it's now time to put myself out into The World and seek new opportunities. Thanks for posting that website too! ~P Quote: Originally posted by Cerulean ...and the suggestion came up on Moonchild's comparison of the World cards... "For this moment, the World and and everything in it is yours. A major element of happiness is wholeness - the sense that everything is working together in harmony. Not in a static way, but with dynamic balance. Involvement is also important. To be happy, we must feel connected - engaged with what is around us. There is also accomplishment - knowing that we have goals and are moving toward them successfully. When all these elements come together, we feel fulfilled and blessed. --Joan Bunning" http://www.moonchild.ch/Tarot/major/World/World.html Perhaps in the context of you and the friendship/relational questions with the person in question, there was a harmony between you--or the potential--and the idea of a kind of fulfillment is still there as an open question. The ambiguity can be frustrating, but I sense you might be reflecting the situation as it is--an open question of completion or reconciling. But the question of how and is this possible might be very influenced by the other cards around the World. But give yourself and the person some time to see if this a reflection of energetic hope hovering around you both...in the meantime, there are positive indications that you should continue on your path to rebuild your world and your movement toward wholeness. If this doesn't sound accurate, please forgive the suggestion...perhaps the website suggested might give you more quotes or ideas to assist in you refining the meaning of the World for your uncertainty... Best wishes, Cerulean

Proserpina	19 Oct 2004
I did in fact get both Death and the Six of Swords when asking what was happening beyond the World... so yes, I do indeed think this cycle has ended. Good observation about those cards- thanks! I also love the idea of now being able to become my "complete self" as the outcome of this. ~P Quote: Originally posted by SFGMaster To me The World is completion in the sense that everything is put into its right place, more so than a sense that everything is finished. I guess, not "completion", but "completeness". Not so much that there is nothing left to be done, but more that there is nothing that is missing. There's almost a "happily ever after" quality to it--it implies perhaps that all the struggles to get to the perfect point of fulfillment have now been endured and you have finally become your complete self. For the former concept (things are over, finished, and it's time for a new beginning), I'd expect to see cards like 8:CS, 6:SS, or maybe even Death , rather than The World . But, that's only my opinion; if you as the reader feels strongly that it means something else in this case, then maybe it does.... --:TKNC

RedMaple	20 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Cerulean A major element of happiness is wholeness - the sense that everything is working together in harmony. Not in a static way, but with dynamic balance.--Joan Bunning" Cerulean, The quote made me think of the word "Shalom," usually translated as "Peace." The root of the word "Shalom" (Hebrew words come from three-letter roots) is "Shin-Lamed-Mem", and means wholeness, so Shalom is a peace that comes from being whole and complete(as opposed, for example to an idea of peace as the absence of war or conflict.) So, the World card, the Shalom card -- a new level of meaning for me. Thanks. RedMaple

Sillanza	22 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Proserpina I did in fact get both Death and the Six of Swords when asking what was happening beyond the World... so yes, I do indeed think this cycle has ended. ~P Funny ... these are the same cards that I drew when I asked if the Yankees were going to win the 7th game of the ACLS! And we all know how that turned out. :) Now it sounds like you know your answer, but I was going to suggest that sometimes the simplest thing to do when you get a card like the World, is to ask "what is the energy that surrounds this situation's outcome?" And then draw a card at random from the deck to cross the World. Sometimes this will put a finer point on the answer.

The Interpreting The World thread was originally posted on 13 Oct 2004 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.