The World Tarot Cards KeyWords#
Before diving deeper into the upright- and reversed card meaning of the World, and its connection to love, work, and life, below a quick overview of the most important words connected to the last card of the Major Arcana list.
Upright | Fulfillment, harmony, completion, integration, travel, unity |
Reversed | Incompletion, shortcuts, delays, emptiness |
Yes or No | Yes |
The World Tarot Card Description#
The World card shows a woman wrapped in a purple scarf that covers her pelvis and flaps behind her shoulders and below her feet. She is dancing inside a wreath holding batons in each hand, symbolizing balance and evolution in movement.
The accomplishment and unity that she represents is not one that is static, but ever-changing, dynamic, and eternal. It marks either an end or a beginning, and a change from one place to another: a journey. The flow goes on and it never stops.
The infinity of this cycle is also emphasized by the green wreath and the red ribbon on top. In addition, the wreath is a symbol of success and accomplishment.
The four figures in the clouds also appear on the Wheel of Fortune. They are associated with the fixed signs of the zodiac (Scorpio, Leo, Aquarius, and Taurus) as well as the four elements and the four Evangelists.
Together, they symbolize the harmony between all of their energies and they will bring balance to your journey from one phase to another.
The absence of any solid ground on a tarot card named “the World” might seem ironic, but the illustration actually represents the feeling that you get when you have conquered your world.
The World Tarot Meaning#
To encounter the upright World card in a tarot reading is to encounter success and accomplishment. It means that a long-term project, period of study, or any other major event in your life has come full circle and that you accomplished your goals and aspirations.
Despite the difficulties and hardships you’ve encountered, you stood strong and persevered. The seeds you have planted are now blooming and you are reaping the fruit of your labor. Everything has come together, and you are in the right place, doing the right thing, achieving what you have envisioned.
If you do not yet recognize a point of completion, the World can invite you to review what remains and continue deliberately. It does not predict when completion will arrive.
Be proud of what you’ve learned along the way, the progression you’ve made, and your achievements so far. Reflecting on what you’ve already accomplished, may just be what you need to bring your project to completion.
To encounter the World card in a tarot reading is to encounter success and accomplishment.
The upright World tarot card also represents the moment your inner and outer world (self and other) come together. There is unity and wholeness in your life, which makes you feel enlightened.
Your individual self is connected with all other things in life and together you dance along with the flow of life: the ups and downs, the delights and the difficulties.
Money and Career Meaning#
The World card in a career context can literally indicate world travel or traveling for work. Perhaps you’re planning to move to another country, to study abroad for a while, or to leave your job to go on a sabbatical?
This card tells you to see this as an awesome opportunity! You can learn from other people and cultures all over the world and increase your universal understanding.
The World can symbolize completion or recognition, but it does not predict financial improvement. The World represents a personal effort in all areas for success.
Love and Relationships Meaning#
The World tarot card represents fulfillment and doing (and having) what we desire. If love and romance are what you wish for the most, pulling the Wolrd card is a good sign.
This phase in your life will be one in which you bring all parts together and achieve a feeling of balance and wholeness.
If you are single and want to continue that lifestyle, there is nothing wrong with this. But if you want to meet your soulmate, the World can symbolize connection across distance, but it does not predict a relationship.
If you are already committed, this could be an opportunity for you two to work in unison and create a beautiful life together. If intimacy has been difficult, the card can prompt reflection on what might support improvement.
Health and Spirituality Meaning#
The World is mostly viewed as an action card, but it can also represent personal growth. Look to your dreams for insight on what your Higher Self wants you to know.
Keeping a notebook handy to write down these thoughts is a good strategy as is purchasing a dream interpretation book.
In health readings, the World can symbolize completion or integration, but it cannot forecast improvement. Evaluate treatment options with a qualified healthcare professional.
The World Reversed#
A reversed World card in a reading indicates a general feeling of emptiness. You may have completed certain projects and achieved your goals, but you still do not feel whole.
What is missing? What makes you yearn for more? The things that you did, do they truly reflect who you are? Ask the tarot these questions, they may lead to what you are looking for.
Another meaning of the World reversed is that you are looking for closure on a personal issue. Are you still emotionally attached to a previous relationship? Do you want to run a marathon while you have knee injuries? Are there any other unresolved issues?
Although you have the desire to go back to the past and achieve your goals, you know deep within your heart, that you have to move on and enjoy where you are right now. You need to let go of the past. This can be extremely difficult, but in the end, you will feel better.
The World reversed can be an indication that you are looking for closure on a personal issue.
The reversed World card can also represent the incompletion of a certain task, goal or project. While you were on your way to completing it, something has stopped you. What is it that is blocking you? You are already so close!
Get yourself together, regain your focus and try to fulfill the last steps. Just think of how good it feels to achieve what you aimed for.
The World: Yes or No#
Beyonce said that girls run the world, but it goes a lot deeper than that. We are all in charge of our own experiences and can contribute much to society.
Many readers describe the World in a yes or no reading as YES-leaning because it symbolizes completion and integration. That convention does not guarantee that an undertaking will be worthwhile or successful.
Important Card Combinations#
Travel and exploration, that’s what the World tarot card is all about. Also in combination with other cards, this theme is present.
What’s important is to look at the other cards in your spread, to learn more about the specifics of this journey: it may be a romantic getaway, a spiritual journey, or even the end of a long journey.
Below we wrote down the most important World tarot card combinations.
The World and the Hermit#
When the World and Hermit are in tandem, isolation, and loneliness are present feelings. These two are opposite cards in a sense, the World representing travel and exploration and the Hermit being alone in silence.
With this combination, the World is overshadowed by the Hermit, leaving the person they represent feeling a bit stuck.
Thankfully, these two have a positive message to deliver: find a way to take what you’ve learned through your spiritual journey and share it with others. Sharing what you have learned may offer a sense of purpose.
The World and the Fool#
Both the World and the Fool are ‘traveling’ cards so it makes sense that together they represent globetrotting.
If you’ve been itching to go on vacation or make a cross-country (or ocean) move, it seems to be in the cards for you. Just make sure you do some budgeting and planning before you set sail.
The World and the Lovers#
The Lovers and the World represent romance shaped by distance or travel; the pair does not predict a relationship.
In an established relationship, the World can symbolize renewal or completion of a cycle. It does not predict that the relationship will renew or prescribe a romantic getaway.
The World and the Sun#
One of the best combinations in the deck, the World and the Sun represent success and a ‘light at the end of the tunnel after a long journey or struggle.’
If you’re needing a boost of optimism, these cards showing in your reading is just that. The pairing can symbolize optimism about a project or plan, but it does not establish the outcome.
The World Tarot Art#
I got to confess something: when it comes to Tarot Decks, I’m kind of a hoarder. And there are so many awesome decks out there, here is a list of top tarot decks rated by our voters.
Below you can find a small selection of beautiful World tarot cards. If you drew a tarot card yourself and want to share this, I would love to hear from you!
The Modern Way Tarot 
Elsa Ophelia 
Sonia Lazo 
Natural World Tarot 
Bad Bitches Tarot 
Erick Hernandez 
Mystic Mondays Tarot
The World Tarot Card in a Reading#
That’s all for the World tarot card meaning. If this card appeared in your reading, it can symbolize completion or progress toward a high goal without predicting the outcome.
The image of planted seeds can symbolize gradual progress toward a vision, without guaranteeing that everything will come together.
I hope this meaning made sense to you and I’m super excited to hear about your experiences with the World tarot card meaning in the comments below! It would mean the world to me.
