The World Symbols

Card Type: Major Arcana
Hebrew Letter: Tave

In this article The World Symbols, I refer to The World card from the Rider Waite Tarot deck, also known as the Waite-Smith, or Rider-Waite-Smith, or Rider tarot deck.

The symbolism found on this trump card is primarily drawn from mythology, Christianity, alchemy, astrology.

The World: Key Symbols

Dancer, purple sash, wands, laurel wreath, man, lion, eagle, bull

“It represents also the perfection and end of the Cosmos, the secret which is within it, the rapture of the universe when it understands itself in God.”

A.E.Waite
The Original Rider Waite Pictorial Key to The Tarot

The World Symbols Meaning & Imagery: cartomancy symbol meanings, mythological allegories and myths.

Complete A-Z List: Tarot Card Symbols

Compare The World Tarot Card Symbols with Historical Decks

The Rider Waite World card borrows heavily from the Marseille Tarot. Waite himself says, “this final message of the Major Trumps is unchanged – and indeed unchangeable – in respect of its design”.

In both instances the naked World dancer moves encased within a victory wreath. The four corners of the card contain tetramorphs, mystical creatures of antiquity and mythology depicting a bull, lion, bird and human face.

The dancer holds dual magical wands, as opposed to The Magician who only holds one.

What Does The Dancer Symbolize in The World Tarot Card?

Dancer

The dancer symbolizes the fetus waiting to be born again, as the Fool prepares to start over through the procession of the Major Arcana. However, this is no babe starting from scratch, we are presented with a woman at her height of beauty and youth. She signifies the next stage of evolution.

Some occultists claim that the figure is a hermaphrodite, because her sexual gender is hidden by the scarf. They say she is the union of male and female, and that sexual identity is no longer relevant or defining. The dancer perfectly integrates aspects of the male and female. Wouldn’t this card be a suitable iconographic image for gender fluidity in todays times! The dancer is both the bride and bridegroom.

Purple Sash

The purple sash is the color of divinity and wisdom. It evokes the images of a Catholic priest who puts on a purple stole when offering the sacrament during mass. The sash curves in the figure of eight, suggestive of the cosmic lemniscate or infinity sign.

Red Hairband

The dancer wears a red hairband, which draws fire energy to her head area. It symbolizes that her mind and conscious is active. This is not someone who exists only in the spiritual realm.

Two Wands

The dancer holds two double-sided wands, which represent the polarity powers of involution and evolution. Involution is the decent of God into the soul or consciousness, and evolution is the assent of the soul back to God or the creator.
⭐Wands also appear here: The Magician Symbols

Crossed Legs Symbolism

The dancer crosses her legs in a similar manner to the Hanged Man. However, the triangle he represents is under the cross of the tree, symbolizing he is still bound by earthly things. The dancer is reversed, she forms a triangle pointing upwards, from the tip of her head to her two outstretched hands. Thus the triangle of Spirit now overturns the cross of the material earthly plane.

The triangle forms the alchemical symbol of Sulphur, implying that human consciousness has arrived at its highest level of awareness.

⭐See also: Hanged Man Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Laurel Wreath in The World Card?

Laurel Wreath

The woman is surrounded by a large laurel wreath, traditionally a symbol of success and victory. The implication here, on the Fools Journey, is that there is cause for celebration. This is the end of the road before a new era begins. The wreath forms the shape of a zero, which is the number of The Fool card.

The wreath also symbolizes the womb, signaling that the woman is like an embryo waiting to be reborn.

The oval shape of the wreath is also used by the Golden Dawn in their Tattva cards. These colorful cards were designed to aid the development of clairvoyance through visual meditation, and one of the symbols in the cards is an oval. The oval corresponds to the Akasha, ether or spiritual realm (see Akashic Records).

See Shamanism for more information on Tattva cards.

⭐A laurel wreath also appears here:  The Chariot Symbols, Ace of Swords Symbols, Seven of Cups Symbols, Six of Wands Symbols

Two Red Ribbons

The red ribbon bindings at the top and bottom of the wreath indicate completion, the circle has been made complete.

It also reminds one of the ancient quote, “as above, so below”.

Who Are The Four Figures in The World Card and What do They Symbolize?

The four beasts represent the four living figures or hayyot, which are a class of heavenly beings in Jewish mythology. According to both Jewish and Christian tradition, the creatures vary by description. In this card we see the four tetramorph, a lion, man, eagle and bull.

These creatures represent the four seasons, as well as the four elements of Fire, Air, Water and Earth. Their presence implies that they are the cornerstones of a balanced life.

Man

The blond-haired man represents the astrological sign of Aquarius, winter season and the element Air.

Lion

The Lion represents Leo, summer and fire.

Eagle

The Eagle represents Scorpio, autumn and water.

Bull

The Bull represents Taurus, spring and earth.

⭐Tetramorph also appears here: Wheel of Fortune Symbols

What is The Meaning of The Blue Background?

The blue background is the cosmic mind or ‘Universe’ as it has come to be known in the New Age. The dancer is able to manipulate this realm easily with her two wands.

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Karina, author of Tarot in 5 Minutes.

The Ultimate Guide to The World Symbols