Sun and stars in tarot quiz: the lights on the cards
Dawn behind Death's rider, an eclipse over the Ten of Swords, a star above the Chariot: find where suns and stars shine on the cards and what they promise.
- 5 questions
- ≈ 2 min
- +5 bronze keys for a flawless run
What do the sun and stars mean on tarot cards?
This quiz checks whether you remember where suns rise and set, stars burn and the moon shines on the Tayna deck, and how to read those lights. You will match a card to the sky above its figure, choose the right meaning and take apart a couple of common mistakes. Every detail comes from the descriptions of our own artwork.
Lights in the sky show time and direction. The sun is day, clarity and life running its course. A star is a guide and a hope, something to steer by even when only part of the road is visible. The moon is night, feeling, intuition and whatever has not fully shown itself yet.
Sunrise, sunset and eclipse: how do you read them?
A rising sun nearly always says the darkest part is behind you. It comes up in the distance behind Death's rider and over the sea on the Ten of Swords, two cards people tend to fear. That is exactly where dawn matters most: after every ending, a new day arrives.
A sunset reads more calmly than it looks. It marks the end of a day, not of a life: the work is done, the last stretch is near, and you can look back on the road. An eclipse is a special case: the light is covered, yet its edge already shows.
Stars above a figure point to a higher guide. They shine over the Chariot's driver, form a golden net around the Magician and blaze as one great eight-pointed star over the girl by the pool. Many stars speak of a goal bigger than one step; a single star speaks of quiet faith.
How the quiz works
Each run draws five questions from twelve, with the answers shuffled. After every answer you get an explanation and a link to the card page. Keys come for a flawless run, and you can come back as often as you like.
All questions and answers
Open after you play: the full question set with right answers and explanations.
1. On which card does the Milky Way stretch above a grey-bearded old man?
Right answer: The Hermit
The Hermit: a starry sky with the Milky Way and a thin moon, while the lantern in his hand lights only a few steps.
2. What does the sunlike halo around the Hanged Man's head mean?
Right answer: Insight without a fight
The halo is understanding that arrives once you stop struggling and let the world turn upside down.
3. On which card does a starry night sky hang over a traveller bent under his load?
Right answer: Ten of Wands
Ten of Wands: a starry night above the traveller, and the village houses already in sight ahead. The road is nearly done.
4. A sunset on a tarot card always means an ending and loss.
Right answer: Myth
The sunset over the Knight of Pentacles' fields is a day honestly worked to its last hour, not a loss.
5. What do the sun and the moon in one picture on Temperance mean?
Right answer: Light and dark can join
The sun and moon say what the cups say: day and night, light and shadow can be joined once you find the measure.
6. On which card does a huge full moon rise over a castle with sharp towers?
Right answer: Knight of Cups
Knight of Cups: the moon and the distant castle say a dream is calling him, and it needs real ground beneath it.
7. What does the blue globe of Earth in the starry sky behind the World's dancer mean?
Right answer: Life gathered whole
The Earth behind her and the four figures in the corners are every element and side of life, gathered at last.
8. On which card does the sun shine over mountains behind a traveller?
Right answer: The Fool
The Fool: the young traveller stands at the cliff's edge with the sun shining over the mountains behind him.
9. What do the stars above the Chariot's driver speak of?
Right answer: A higher guide
The stars over the driver recall a higher guide for the journey, while a golden road shines ahead.
10. The sun only appears on The Sun card itself.
Right answer: Myth
It shines behind the Fool, rises on Death and over the sea on the Ten of Swords, and sets behind the Nine of Wands' hills.
11. What does the sun setting behind the ridge on the Nine of Wands mean?
Right answer: The last stretch is near
It has been a long day, but the last stretch is close: the man is weary, yet he stands upright.
12. On which card does a warm sun rise on the horizon beyond a house on a hill?
Right answer: Ten of Cups
Ten of Cups: a rainbow, dancing children and the sun on the horizon, fullness that comes after a long road.