The World is the twenty-second card in the major arcana and represents the completion of a cycle, accomplishment, fulfillment, endings, karmic lessons and a closed chapter. The World is represented by the number twenty-one which breaks down to the number three, so each number will have connections to the meaning of this card. The number twenty-one is connected to things like diligence, determination, success and achievement.
The World is connected to the element earth and the planet Saturn, as it’s associated with karma, life lessons, commitment and discipline. This card can also represent the achievement of a goal or something significant in your life. It can show a level of growth, maturity and learning that has been achieved after the completion of a cycle.
The World card represents the end of a process or the attainment of a goal where you can now bask in the glory of your efforts. With this card comes the knowledge and wisdom you gained during your journey which will help you through the next cycle being created in your life, which is represented by the Fool card.
The World Meaning
This card represents the end of a karmic cycle and the wisdom you’ve now achieved from all of your experiences. Now that you’ve completed this journey you can enjoy the rewards of your efforts. These “rewards” can come in many different forms such as physical (material), mental or emotional.
The image on the card shows a naked woman draped with a purple cloth who’s holding batons while dancing inside of a laurel wreath. Around her there’s a lion, eagle, bull and angel which represent the four fixed zodiac signs which are Leo, Scorpio, Taurus and Aquarius.
So the World can represent a journey, long-term project, period of study or process which is now complete and will allow you to level up in some way. The World also represents the challenges you had to overcome and that now you’re wiser because of it. This card signifies the closing out of one chapter so that a new chapter can begin.
Therefore, when the World comes up in a reading it represents the end of something where you can now look back and see just how far you’ve come. Alternatively, the World can also represent things like travel, fulfillment, the whole package and closure. Always look to the cards around it for clarification or to get a deeper meaning.
Upright
Completion of a cycle, endings, accomplishment, fulfillment, the whole package, karmic lessons, closure, the closing of a chapter.
Reversed
Resisting an ending, taking the easy way out, allowing fear to make your decisions for you, not following through on a commitment, flaking out.
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THE AWAKENED SAGE 