Upright Meaning
The World points to the fulfillment of our desires, the arrival of our dreams, and to goals attained. These things are all the sweeter by being most often brought about by our own efforts, whether in the practical sense of, for example, hard work and study or through work on self-development, to understand what has held us back in the past. Perhaps negative self-talk had become a habit or a fear of new experiences; in recognizing these things we have subsequently been able to make a change.
In a reading, The World hints at deeply felt satisfaction and contentment, and a sense of our own hard-won personal power and resilience. This is a card of optimism, wonder, and great joy. The dancer on the card reminds us that anything is possible, all things are achievable, and that, ultimately, karma dances beside us.
Reversed Meaning
The World is a card of such powerful positivity that, even when reversed, its joyful aspect is not wholly diminished. Most often the reversed card suggests that, while we may perceive that things are not going our way, or that work towards our goals has slowed, this is an illusion. In reality, once we are ready, The World is there, waiting and beckoning before us, and it is simply our state of mind that must change, to acknowledge this truth and begin our upwards journey once more.
The World is a card that whispers of the wonders of the Universe, and that assures of the presence of these wonders in our own lives. Of all the cards in the Major Arcana, it is no coincidence that the figures of The Fool and The World are the only ones that are moving while the rest are depicted in static poses. The dynamism and hope inherent at the start of the journey can be seen again at its conclusion. And yet, in truth, The World does not so much represent an end, as a beginning, for this is a card of limitless potentiality.
