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The World Tarot Card’s True Meaning: Love, Health & Money

The World Tarot Card’s True Meaning: Love, Health and Money

The World tarot card (XXI) represents perfection, success, and accomplishment. The twenty first Major Arcana marks the end of an important project or period in your life.

world rider-waite card

success and completion

  • Element: Earth
  • Planet: Saturn
  • Astrological sign: None, ruled by Saturn
  • Key dates: No key dates

Visual Elements and Symbolism

A nude woman floats among the clouds. Wrapped in a snaking long cloth, she exudes confidence and freedom as she dances through the air. Her raised leg resembles that of the Hanged Man (XII), a card which is in many ways her opposite. She holds a white baton in each hand and is surrounded by the green wreath of victory.

There are different creatures’ heads in each corner of the card: a lion, an ox, a winged man, and an eagle. These echo the same figures that appear in the corners on the Wheel of Fortune (X). This tetrad represents Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the four Evangelists credited for the four Gospels of the New Testament.

The World Card as a Person

As a personality archetype, the World represents someone who sees the bigger picture and understands life’s guiding forces. This person demonstrates great empathy and feels deeply connected to their surroundings.

This understanding typically gives them the desire to give back to their community in the form of charity work or public service.

world card illustration
The World — Alice Rissi

upright

The World Upright

The upright World is a sign that you are nearing the end of your journey and that you will triumph.

Your confidence is soaring, but don’t stop putting in efforts just yet. Your unbridled ambitions and meticulous planning will pay off if you remain steadfast in this final stretch.

Love and Relationships

If you are in a relationship, you are likely quite happy with your partner. You are well on the way to reaching your relationship goals, be that marriage, moving in together, kids, or whatever other hopes you’ve expressed.

However, the World does not necessarily indicate that your partner’s needs are being met. Make sure to keep the lines of communication open, and work to assure that you both feel emotionally fulfilled.

If you are single, now is a great time to go out and meet new people.

Career

You are nearing the dream position that you’ve worked so hard to attain. Continue pursuing the opportunities that will bring you closer to your professional goals.

Money

You will be rewarded for your conservative approach to finances. Avoid gambling and risky financial endeavors in favor of cautious investing and saving.

Health

The World is a lucky pull for those who have been managing a health issue. Your condition will improve and you should feel better shortly. Although you may encounter new health issues in the near future, these will be of little concern.

reversed

The World Reversed

When reversed, the World means that you have been taking the easy way out. Half-hearted efforts will only take you so far. The experience gained through hard and honest work is what you truly need.

Love and Relationships

If you are in a relationship, the World reversed is a good indication that your priorities have not been aligned with your partner’s. The two of you need to have an honest conversation about your goals.

If you’re single, you may be feeling lonely and particularly hopeless about ever finding love. You will need to be more outgoing in order to meet someone new. Let go of the past and look for a new hobby. This will help you connect with new and interesting people.

Career

Something in your life is holding you back from reaching your full potential. The goals that you’ve set out for yourself seem more difficult than they actually are.

You have a tendency to create additional obstacles for yourself. Identify the roadblocks that you’ve built up to derail your own success and get them out of your way. You have the power to reach your goals.

Money

You have let your finances slip your mind recently and this has left you in a bad position. Try rethinking your budget to reflect your current situation.

Change up your investment strategy — if you typically play it safe, small risky investments may bring greater benefits. If you typically make risky choices, try investing in a stable venture for the time being.

Health

When it comes to healing and taking care of yourself, you’re on the wrong path.

You keep trying the same tactics over and over again, and expecting different results. Perhaps you’ve been trying to lose weight through exercise but your diet needs a change. Seriously consider the difficult options that you’ve always avoided. They might hold the answers that you’re looking for.

World tarot
World Tarot — Kelsey Showalter

spreads

Your Past, Present and Future

In the past position, the World indicates that your path will lead you full circle but grant you a deeper understanding of your situation. Perhaps you will move to a faraway city only to move back home thereafter, or leave your job for a new opportunity and return in the long run. This shouldn’t be seen as a bad sign — your return will be wholly voluntary and triumphant.

In the present position, the World is a good omen and signifies that you’re on the path to success. Stick with the plan and you will be rewarded.

In the future position, the World is a sign of uncertainty. Until now, you’ve been living without a clear goal or direction. Defining success can often be a difficult process, but with a clear endpoint you will be able to find your way to success and happiness.

Important Card Combinations

The World is a fantastic draw in almost any reading. Few combinations hamper the clear road to victory laid out before you. Most cards only further define the type of success you will see and reveal who will be by your side as you triumph.

World and Justice

Alone, Justice represents righteousness, fairness and truth. When combined with the World, the duo embodies success. The systems at play in your everyday life are tilted in your favor. As a result, victory comes easy to you. Take the extras risks and follow your wildest dreams, the world is on your side.

World and Fool

The Fool embodies innocence, beginnings and opportunities. With the Fool being the 0 Major Arcana and the World being the twenty first, it would be easy to see the pair as the beginning and the end of the tarot deck, however the two are simply the meeting point in a never ending cycle. Together, these two cards signify that your life is on the right path.

World and Magician

When drawn together, the World and Magician cards paint you as an inspiring person capable of selling others on your vision. This is not surprising, as the Magician typically represents self-confidence and willpower. The World card merely helps you  project these qualities around you.

World and Ace of Swords

Everyone loves a winner, and the Ace of Swords embodies victory, power, and clarity. Like the combination with the Magician, the Ace of Swords brings supporters to your cause. Where having the World with the Magician will draw great numbers to your vision, the World and Ace of Swords will draw particularly powerful people to your side.

The World: Yes or No?

The World card is a clear yes. Success and glory await those that pull the World in essentially any endeavor they undertake.

The Universe -- Izabella Bastidas
The Universe — Izabella Bastidas

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the World card mean in a love reading?

The upright World is a sign that you are nearing the end of your journey and that you will triumph. If you are in a relationship, you are likely quite happy with your partner.

What is the World tarot card’s meaning when reversed?

When reversed, the World means that you have been taking the easy way out. Half-hearted efforts will only take you so far.

What does the World mean in a future reading?

In the future position, the World is a sign of uncertainty. Until now, you’ve been living without a clear goal or direction. 

Is the World a yes or no card?

The World card is a clear yes. Success and glory await!

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