Understanding The World card

[Girl Archer]

I know the traditional meanings include completion, fulfillment, satisfaction, endings but if we explore this card deck-wise, I am sure we could come up with many explanations.

What does the world mean when it comes up as the outcome in a love reading? Does it mean that this relationship would go full circle, and then end, or that it would be very emotionally and every way fulfilling for both parties involved? I keep getting the World a lot, especially for my First Job. I wonder what it could be. The End- of my job hunt as it were , but that this job would bring me emotional satisfaction along with the financial. Maybe that this job would actually involve some travelling around?

Sweet twilight deck - World card

The World card looks so sad here, the tears gathering, collected by that small girl holding up a cup. The useless LWB says, the world with all its possibilities is now yours. I can't quite wrap my head around this. Little help?

Phantasmagoric Theater deck - World

This seems like a much happier card. you have the sun, the Moon and the plant which suggest emotional renewal, happiness, satisfaction. that comically bloated head and the wide smile there, along with the trees, makes me wonder if this card also carries a message of "Being one with Nature". Totally at peace.

Deviant Moon- World

Slightly freakish looking card, the bare breasts probably show openness and embracing oneself fully. this card has more of a fiery element to it, the two fiery rods held in her hand. Indicating her usage of her potential fully, aided perhaps by the spirit guides? the lion, the bull etc?

can anyone else think of anything else?

[nisaba]

Originally Posted by Girl Archer

What does the world mean when it comes up as the outcome in a love reading? Does it mean that this relationship would go full circle, and then end, or that it would be very emotionally and every way fulfilling for both parties involved?

To me it would usually say that the relationship will come to an end, but that the end of it will ultimately be a relief and a blessing to both people. Not all relationships are wonderful, and not all break-ups are a tragedy.

I keep getting the World a lot, especially for my First Job. I wonder what it could be. The End- of my job hunt as it were , but that this job would bring me emotional satisfaction along with the financial. Maybe that this job would actually involve some travelling around?

Yup. or you might end up behind a desk sending emails to your employer's clients all around the world. Or you might flip burgers in a certain world-wide hamburger joint I could name.

The World card looks so sad here, the tears gathering, collected by that small girl holding up a cup. The useless LWB says, the world with all its possibilities is now yours. I can't quite wrap my head around this. Little help?

<sadly> Yup, flipping hamburgers for sure. Never known a happy person to work in Maccas. <grin>

[kwaw]

Originally Posted by Girl Archer

I keep getting the World a lot, especially for my First Job. I wonder what it could be. The End- of my job hunt as it were , but that this job would bring me emotional satisfaction along with the financial.

Yes, as the last card it does represent a type of ending, but in the sense of achievement, fulfillment. It is the fulfillment of the final objective of one's actions, desires which in this case, the pursuance of a job, is a job and thus the end of one's job hunt.

What does the world mean when it comes up as the outcome in a love reading? Does it mean that this relationship would go full circle, and then end, or that it would be very emotionally and every way fulfilling for both parties involved?

What is the final objective of love, as it were? One may be a union perhaps, to marry and raise a family? In which case one possible reading in a love context would be a marriage/partnership. (This card is thematically linked to the concept of the New Jerusalem - the Bride.) I have often found it to represent pregnancy in relationship questions. It is the fullness of being in two souls as one.

In sequential context the card refers to the final objective of providence, the action of the divine in human affairs, the purpose of which is to bring things to their perfection. In a Christian (Roman Catholic) eschatological context a return to paradise, to the state of things as they were 'before the fall'; in cabalistic terms, the reparation of god-head and the relationship between humanity and the divine.

[Thirteen]

The World card is often seen as graduation and/or travel. In regards to a job, it often means that you'll have to travel to find that job, or maybe go back to school and get more training as the job world wants someone for the next level up--not at the level where you are.

As for love and relationships: there are times when we find ourselves in a relationship that has gone as far as it can go as is. If it wants to continue, it must "graduate" to the next level, the "master" level as it were. Which is why many a man or woman will say, "If we're going to stay together, then it's time to get married" or "it's time to buy a house" or "it's time to start a family"--something like that. At that point, those in the relationship decide, do they want to do that? Are they ready to be in that "master" class of committed couples? If not, then the relationship is over. If so, then the relationship graduates, earns it's "Masters" (or Ph.d if you like) and goes out into the world to teach others what being in a relationship means.

The World is about completing a phase, usually a long, slow, complex phase. But it isn't the end of the world It's the end of that turn of the World, from child to adult, from student to master. It is also travel, and as such represents the other end from the Fool. The Fool is the child wandering everywhere, knowing nothing. The World is the adult traveler, wandering everywhere, knowing everything.

[starrystarrynight]

Originally Posted by Thirteen

...As for love and relationships: there are times when we find ourselves in a relationship that has gone as far as it can go as is. If it wants to continue, it must "graduate" to the next level, the "master" level as it were. Which is why many a man or woman will say, "If we're going to stay together, then it's time to get married" or "it's time to buy a house" or "it's time to start a family"--something like that. At that point, those in the relationship decide, do they want to do that? Are they ready to be in that "master" class of committed couples? If not, then the relationship is over. If so, then the relationship graduates, earns it's "Masters" (or Ph.d if you like) and goes out into the world to teach others what being in a relationship means...

Yes, as Thirteen says; however, from a practical or experiential viewpoint, I'd point out in a learning forum such as this, that it has much more often been "my" experience that if a seeker is asking about a relationship in a reading in which the World displays prominently as a near future or an outcome-type card, it [again, ususally] means the relationship is going to end. That may be because when a seeker comes looking for answers, it is often because things are going wrong already in a relationship. Since readings most often are not that forward-reaching in scope (timewise)--maybe only 3 to 6 months--if the World were to come up to represent moving the relationship on to the next level (marriage, engagement, new baby or the like), the seeker usually already intuitively knows it is heading in that direction and wouldn't be asking.

Of course, you don't want to presume anything, so, this is when it's very important to consider and pit the energy of the rest of the cards in the reading against the possibilities of the World's energy.

...Just something to consider...

[Anna Supertramp]

Yeah, it's a tricky card for me, too, especially regarding relationship readings. I guess if the querent is in a relationship where they are stuck and want to get out, the world as an outcome would mean they will get out, but if the querent is coming in, asking about whether they will ever find someone who 'means the world' to them, and that card shows up with them as an outcome, it would have a different meaning.

[Girl Archer]

Originally Posted by kwaw

Yes, as the last card it does represent a type of ending, but in the sense of achievement, fulfillment. It is the fulfillment of the final objective of one's actions, desires which in this case, the pursuance of a job, is a job and thus the end of one's job hunt.

What is the final objective of love, as it were? One may be a union perhaps, to marry and raise a family? In which case one possible reading in a love context would be a marriage/partnership. (This card is thematically linked to the concept of the New Jerusalem - the Bride.) I have often found it to represent pregnancy in relationship questions. It is the fullness of being in two souls as one.

In sequential context the card refers to the final objective of providence, the action of the divine in human affairs, the purpose of which is to bring things to their perfection. In a Christian (Roman Catholic) eschatological context a return to paradise, to the state of things as they were 'before the fall'; in cabalistic terms, the reparation of god-head and the relationship between humanity and the divine.

thanks kwaw, that was well explained and also very, very informative even if I had to wiki up some stuff quite a bit, your response was a rather delightful read

Originally Posted by Thirteen

The World card is often seen as graduation and/or travel. In regards to a job, it often means that you'll have to travel to find that job, or maybe go back to school and get more training as the job world wants someone for the next level up--not at the level where you are.

both are true, insofar as I am concerned, now. I am going back to school to get more specialized skills plus it is my hope that I get placed somewhere outside the city I am in. I have been here for more than two decades and it is now getting boring and I would like to get out more and see what else the World's got to offer me

As for love and relationships: there are times when we find ourselves in a relationship that has gone as far as it can go as is. If it wants to continue, it must "graduate" to the next level, the "master" level as it were. Which is why many a man or woman will say, "If we're going to stay together, then it's time to get married" or "it's time to buy a house" or "it's time to start a family"--something like that. At that point, those in the relationship decide, do they want to do that? Are they ready to be in that "master" class of committed couples? If not, then the relationship is over. If so, then the relationship graduates, earns it's "Masters" (or Ph.d if you like) and goes out into the world to teach others what being in a relationship means.

This was my Aha! moment. Thanks Thirteen!

The World is about completing a phase, usually a long, slow, complex phase. But it isn't the end of the world It's the end of that turn of the World, from child to adult, from student to master. It is also travel, and as such represents the other end from the Fool. The Fool is the child wandering everywhere, knowing nothing. The World is the adult traveler, wandering everywhere, knowing everything.

Originally Posted by starrystarrynight

Yes, as Thirteen says; however, from a practical or experiential viewpoint, I'd point out in a learning forum such as this, that it has much more often been "my" experience that if a seeker is asking about a relationship in a reading in which the World displays prominently as a near future or an outcome-type card, it [again, ususally] means the relationship is going to end. That may be because when a seeker comes looking for answers, it is often because things are going wrong already in a relationship. Since readings most often are not that forward-reaching in scope (timewise)--maybe only 3 to 6 months--if the World were to come up to represent moving the relationship on to the next level (marriage, engagement, new baby or the like), the seeker usually already intuitively knows it is heading in that direction and wouldn't be asking.

Of course, you don't want to presume anything, so, this is when it's very important to consider and pit the energy of the rest of the cards in the reading against the possibilities of the World's energy.

...Just something to consider...

That is a very important point, starry! I was just about to ask that. What if someone asked me to do a love reading for them and they ended up getting this card as the Outcome? My difficulty lies in interpreting this for others, not so much for myself. Because telling someone their relationship will end or that it will END UP in marriage is two wholly different things and I don't want to end up toying with people's emotions, or subconsciously influence their relationship. We all know how they say if it is meant to be, then it will be and all that... but what if sometimes human interference spoils what should be and it only becomes a "what should have been". I know that from first hand experience, how a few "fortune tellers" and astrologers have otherwise influenced relationships that were good. But the moment someone introduces an element of doubt, it is that much harder. So, I wanted to be sure of this card. Plus, for me, it also totally depends on what deck they choose to read with.

[Girl Archer]

Originally Posted by Anna Supertramp

Yeah, it's a tricky card for me, too, especially regarding relationship readings. I guess if the querent is in a relationship where they are stuck and want to get out, the world as an outcome would mean they will get out, but if the querent is coming in, asking about whether they will ever find someone who 'means the world' to them, and that card shows up with them as an outcome, it would have a different meaning.

Interesting, thanks Anna. that is pretty much my thing too.

[Thirteen]

Originally Posted by Girl Archer

That is a very important point, starry! I was just about to ask that. What if someone asked me to do a love reading for them and they ended up getting this card as the Outcome? My difficulty lies in interpreting this for others, not so much for myself. Because telling someone their relationship will end or that it will END UP in marriage is two wholly different things and I don't want to end up toying with people's emotions, or subconsciously influence their relationship.

Actually, you can say what I tried to point out above. What the World says is that the relationship is coming to a crossroads, one where a decision will have to be made. Now if your sitter says, "You're right, I am feeling like we should marry, but he will never agree to that," then your sitter now knows her options. Either tell her partner that she wants to get married and risk a potential split, or swallow all desire to marry in order to maintain the relationship--i.e. do something to make sure the crossroads point is avoided. That may not be good for your sitter or the relationship--but that's her decision, not yours. All you get to do is point out where things are headed and what decisions she needs to make to get (or get close to) having the future she prefers.

Remember (and this bears repeating), while people may want a reader to tell them "you'll get married" as if it will magically happen if the reader says it will, the reality is that the cards don't create the future. Depending on your sitter, on the spread, you might say, "I'm seeing a big change and it doesn't look good," or "I'm seeing a big change and it looks good." But in the end, the reason you're saying such is so that the sitter can decide what to do to get to or avoid this future. Not because you're warning them that it's going to happen and there's no way of avoiding or changing it.

Yes?

[coeur]

I think of the World as a manifestation of a trinity: The Empress, The Hanged Man, and The World. To get to the World, you have to get through the entire deck--but I think the high notes or the ones that are particularly relevant are the Empress and Hanged Man. So, when you see it, you'll know that the World is kind of like the last stop. I think of it as more of a giving birth. The Empress is all feminine--love, kindness, sweetness, softness--the Hanged Man is like a pregnancy--waiting, patience, maturation--while the World is the final product. It represents the end of a cycle--but also the beginning of a cycle. It loops back to the Fool. To me, it's all about the opportunity for more, but not necessarily the promise of more. You still have to work for continued growth, but it's not like getting the Tower where, at a certain point, you're going to run into a brick wall. The World says, "You have the possibility of indefinite success--if you choose to work for it."

I think that's the essential nature of relationships anyhow. I mean, sure, we can say that all relationships have the possibility of success if we're only willing to work for it. But that's just not true. Some people go through hell to make a relationship work but it just can't workout. Certainly the obvious reason is elimination of one person by death. But, other more subtle stressors can come into play as well: distance, incompatible personalities, different values, etc. So, when I see the World, what I see is the absence of these severe limitations. Of course, it's not the ONLY card that shows the absence of these severe limitations--but it's one of the most hopeful.

When I see that card, I would say, "yes, there's a good chance that the long distance relationship can work out if both of you are willing to work for it," or "yes, there's a good chance that he will forgive you if you're both willing to work for it," or "yes, there's a good chance that the sky is the limit for your relationship if you're both willing to work for it." But it's not, to me, a promise of marriage. In other words, just because you pass Go and collect 200, doesn't mean that you're going to win the game. But, hey, you've got 200 and that's nothing to scoff at.

In other words, just because you passed the test on the first try--doesn't mean you can't still fail it on your second. So, a couple might deal with The Tower well the first time, but then fail it in another incarnation on the second try. That's life though. We encounter countless Towers and Priestesses and Deaths throughout our lives. Just passing the test once means nothing. We have to jump through those hoops again and again and again. But the opportunity to jump through them again and again is a blessing in itself. And that's what the World represents--the blessing to continue despite the fact that this is an end.