Zodiac and Tarot: What Does 'The World' Really Mean?

If you've recently drawn The World tarot card(XXI), congratulations—a powerful turning point is coming. As the last card of the Major Arcana, card 21 represents finishing something, achieving something, and the path to achieving your full potential.

What does the World card mean in matters of love, career, or finances? What changes might a reversed World card bring? Does it ultimately signal yes or no?

Read on to find out more!

Upright: Completion, success, wholeness, celebration, recognition.

Reversed: Delays, unfinished business, resistance to closure, burnout.

Most Major Arcana tarot cards have symbolism at the heart of their design, and The World card is no exception. You will be happy to know that the four zodiac guardians — Taurus (Bull), Leo (Lion), Scorpio (Eagle), and Aquarius (Human) — appear in each corner, just as on The Wheel of Fortune. These represent stability through change, and I really hope they bring you joy. I'll fill you in on all the details very soon!

Woman: Embodiment of the “Spirit of All Things.” Joyful and cheerful, represented by a single ribbon symbolizing authenticity and self-acceptance.

Circle: Fullness and harvest, the time for successful reaping.

Human: Water element, emotions, spiritual gifts, inner intuition

Bull: Earth element, material world, ability to integrate and mobilize resources.

Lion: Fire element, action, creativity, passion, and devotion.

Eagle: Air element, reason, communication skills, judgment.

Infinity Symbol: Boundless resources—both material and spiritual—forming a complete cycle.

Wand: The bridge between spiritual and material realms, embodying manifestation power.

The World card is often used when people are celebrating important life changes, like graduating, travelling, moving to a new city, finishing a big project, or getting a new job.

Love: A relationship reaches a special moment — when you promise to be with someone forever, when you ask someone to marry you, or when you finally understand each other. If you are single, the World tarot upright meaning suggests that you have healed from past relationships and are ready to find a healthy love.

Career: We have achieved some great things! Promotion, recognition, completion of important goals, or expansion into global markets (especially in online business or media work). You are in the spotlight and getting a lot of praise.

Finance: Your hard work is really paying off! Great news: your finances are stabilising! Your long-term investments are maturing, and your debts are finally being cleared. You are about to step into a world of abundance and prosperity!

Tips: Accept the praise. Remember that you deserve this victory, so don't forget how well you did.

Love: If you see the world reversed in matters of love, it may suggest that you have emotional problems that stop you from trusting and committing to someone. If someone is not that interested, now might be a good time to explain the situation.

Career: You're close to success, but something is stopping you — maybe you're afraid of being seen or you want things to be perfect. Don't get stuck at the end.

Finance: Bankruptcy, not enough money coming in, not changing what you're doing even though it's not working, not making enough money, not planning for the future.

Tips: When one stage of life naturally concludes, embracing the next with joy is the best way to grow. Learn the dancer's spirit of joyful freedom. 

Absolutely! But only if you've put in the effort.

The Universe is ready and waiting to reward you, and with a bit of effort and completion, you're sure to achieve success! If you're still halfway through, the answer is simple: "Not yet — finish first."

The World tarot card is a sign that you have achieved success. Something important is ending, and a new beginning is ready to start. Celebrate your progress — you've earned it.