The World is the last Major Arcana, number 21.
The World is a card of great movement, very dynamic, with a highly positive meaning. When The World appears upright, we can only smile, and even in the reversed position, we can find valuable and accurate meanings.
Card Correspondences:
Kabbalistically, this card is associated with the planet Saturn, the letter Shin, and the number 300.
Esoterically, it is linked to the astrological sign of Scorpio, the element Water, and the season of winter.
In numerology, it represents the number 21 and 3 (21 = 2 + 1 = 3).
Graphic Description of the Card:
The World card shows a dancing figure at the center, a naked woman, rejoicing at the completion of the journey and celebrating not just the realization, but also the new beginnings it promises.
The woman has one leg crossed over the other, just like The Hanged Man. She is, in a way, his opposite: while The Hanged Man looks infinitely inward, the woman on The World card seems to look infinitely outward.
In each hand, she holds a wand or staff, symbolizing evolution and balance. She is surrounded by a thick green wreath, a symbol of success, victory, and achievement, tied with red ribbons of eternity.
The red ribbons form the infinity symbol, representing the endless rewards of positive efforts in improving ourselves and those around us. Inside the laurel wreath, there is a star of light that indicates the attainment of enlightenment or cosmic awareness.
The figures in each of the four corners of The World card are the same ones that appear on The Wheel of Fortune. Interestingly, The World card is closely linked to The Wheel of Fortune, reflecting the cyclical evolution of time and human experience.
The four figures (a lion, a bull, a cherub, and an eagle) represent the four fixed signs of the zodiac (Leo, Taurus, Aquarius, and Scorpio).
These are also symbols of the four elements, the four suits of the Tarot, the four cardinal directions, the four seasons, and the four corners of the universe. All these figures are visible and make up the power of the dancing woman.
The World Upright:
General Meaning:
Completion of cycles, integration with people and places in life, achievement, and travel. It’s a card of great success, accomplishments, and victories. Luck is on your side.
This is a moment of great fulfillment in all areas of your life, or at least in those that you consider important and essential.
The World card indicates that all your efforts have borne fruit. Now is a time of closure, of reaping what you’ve sown.
It signifies both the culmination of certain processes in your life and the beginning of new, much better ones, where you’ve gained wisdom, experience, solidity, and confidence.
This is a moment of great significance, perhaps more than you realize. If you look back at the problems and struggles of the past, it might seem impossible that you’ve come this far—but here you are! The world is at your feet now.
This can represent your whole life as a whole or maybe just the areas you consider most essential, like your love life, career, financial growth, or studies.
The World is a favorable card on all levels, but more than that, it indicates that you’ve gained a new perspective on the world. Now you feel like part of it, and that your actions matter, even if it’s just a small contribution.
You feel unity and wholeness, and you’re ready to offer your help, your experience, and your hard-earned wisdom to make the world a better place. You’re committed, you feel it, and you resonate with the whole.
This card can also have a very specific meaning related to travel. It may suggest an upcoming trip, either for pleasure or vacation, or for professional or career growth.
You might be in contact with people from abroad or even be considering moving, whether to another city or another country. Whatever the destination or duration, the experience will be wonderful, enriching, and will promote great growth for you, both spiritually and existentially.
If The World appears when explaining a final result, it will be excellent. It’s guaranteed success—your goals and desires will come true.
When describing a particular situation, this card indicates that it’s highly favorable and promising. The wind is blowing in your favor. The situation is open to growth in all ways.
If it refers to a person, The World tells us they are joyful, happy, and they spread that energy. They’re charismatic and magnetic. Their many qualities benefit themselves as well as those around them. It could also indicate someone who is thinking of you, often from afar.
Love:
In love, this card is excellent, as it announces all kinds of commitments and unions, weddings, and celebrations, even the conception or arrival of a child. The love will be honest and deep. You’ll feel loved, cared for, and spoiled, and you’ll also feel that your love for others is overflowing.
If you’re single, The World says you’re very close to meeting someone who will be essential in your life, possibly from another city or country, or maybe from nearby but with whom you’ll move away. The relationship will be very connected physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Work:
In work, The World points to two possibilities: either the long-awaited recognition finally comes your way, with progress and profit, or if you’ve been working hard and still haven’t received what you want or deserve, you’ll decide it’s time to do things on your own terms.
This will be a great move, no doubt. If you’ve been stuck in a job or your work, you now have the courage and confidence to take control and claim what you deserve.
There are possibilities of traveling abroad for work or having some sort of connection with foreign countries, like opening a branch of your company, joining a franchise, forming a partnership with someone abroad, and so on. It’s an ideal time to change jobs if you wish. Success and recognition are on the horizon. Promotions are possible.
Money:
Regarding money and finances, it’s an ideal time to make or strengthen investments, especially if they involve foreign ventures. All the difficulties you’ve gone through are starting to fade, making way for financial stability and growth.
This is a great moment to start new businesses, form partnerships, sign contracts, hire staff, expand, and grow.
Luck is also on your side now, so you might find unique, highly favorable opportunities to take advantage of, as well as lucky breaks in games of chance. Money won’t be an issue when this card appears.
Health:
In health, the predictions are excellent—great vitality, energy, and well-being. Any issues you’ve been dealing with will improve or heal. If you’ve had acute illnesses, you’ll feel much better. Recovering from surgeries or illnesses will be quick and uncomplicated.
As this is a time of mental openness, you may also be interested in exploring new things, alternative treatments, or innovative therapies, and you’ll benefit from all of them in some way.
Spirituality:
This is a time of great spiritual growth. Your contact with different beliefs, viewpoints, cultures, and customs will have a strong impact on you.
You’ll be open to understanding, respecting, and learning from these different ways of life, which can greatly contribute to your own spiritual growth. You’ve now embarked on a much more complex, rich, and fulfilling journey through life.
If you want a deeper look into The World’s predictions regarding love, health, money, and work, click HERE.
The World Reversed:
General Meaning:
The World reversed represents a lack of completion, a lack of closure in all aspects, indecision, and the feeling that the world or life “owes you something.”
There is a strong sense of feeling trapped, either in a specific situation or in your own life. You don’t see any way out or possibilities.
Even though there might be reasons for this feeling, it’s not entirely true. There’s always a way out, no matter what the problem or situation is.
It’s likely you’ve made significant efforts to move forward or change, but for some reason, nothing happens. Maybe it’s because you haven’t made the right choices, or maybe you’ve chosen the easiest path, resisting the greater effort required.
Low confidence or self-esteem may have led you to look for quick or easy fixes that haven’t been the most appropriate. Don’t be afraid to set higher goals or face bigger challenges.
Any effort you make will be for your benefit and growth, so commit yourself to reaching these goals, even if the road is hard and the effort is great, because ultimately, it will be for your own good.
Although The World indicates delays and setbacks, you must not give up. Even with how frustrating this feels and how impatient you get, you need to keep fighting, stay on course, and stick to your goals and objectives, because these delays and difficulties are temporary. They will pass because everything in life is a cycle.
In its most dramatic sense, The World reversed can indicate the end of a cycle in your life. It’s common for this card to appear when a relationship ends suddenly, almost without explanation or reason.
This could be a romantic relationship, a job, an activity, a group or friendship, or even the end of a business partnership. It’s often an unexpected closure—the reasons were there, but no one could see them, or perhaps didn’t want to.
Whether this closure is positive or negative for you depends on your life situation. Sometimes an ending feels like a blessing from above, while other times, it leaves us in pieces.
Love:
In love, The World reversed often indicates sudden breakups. There is a strong need for distance and solitude now, either from you or your partner, which must be used constructively.
This distance should be well used. Things can still be saved if there is open dialogue and communication, if the truth is put on the table.
If you’re currently single, you may not be too interested in new relationships, as you may need this self-imposed solitude. It’s also possible that some occasional relationships might come your way, some with good potential, but you need to check if you’re ready for a deeper commitment.
At this moment, you may not be ready to offer that, but maybe a little further down the road, you will be. So, if the relationship interests you, try to pull yourself out of your confinement and give it a chance.
Work:
Regarding work, it’s not a good time to make job changes, take risks, or embark on new ventures. There’s little empathy and communication, and it’s possible that things are full of misunderstandings.
What you express won’t be understood correctly, or maybe you won’t know how to express it properly. So, be careful not to get into conflicts with bosses, colleagues, or subordinates.
Even if you feel trapped in your current job, wait for a better time to make changes. Now is not the best time to move the pieces.
Money:
When it comes to money and finances, The World reversed advises saving and avoiding unnecessary expenses. Protect your money as much as you can, or you might accumulate debts that will take a lot of time and effort to pay off.
While this isn’t a negative card in terms of money, precautions and control are necessary. Some opportunities for growth and gain might appear, but you need to be mentally open to them.
Your current feeling of being trapped may prevent you from seeing concrete opportunities as they arise. So, take a step back from your confinement and let the possibilities flow, because they will be there.
Health:
Regarding health, the feeling of being trapped can affect your respiratory system—your bronchi, lungs, larynx—all could be impacted.
Allergies are also possible. Anything related to “breathing” might be at risk, often as a manifestation of what you’re experiencing internally.
Spirituality:
This will be an emotionally intense time. The feelings will be strong, and they may not be pleasant.
Feeling trapped is suffocating, so you need to try everything you can to seek some sort of spiritual support, whether by reading, attending talks, praying, or going to church.
You need to know that this will pass sooner or later, and your actions and attitude are crucial in this. Make the effort to feel better. Convince yourself that you can do this and that this is only temporary—an unexpected, dark bend in the road.
Everything will be overcome, and what you now see as negative will have its positive counterpart tomorrow.
