World as a Person (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

The World is the card of completion, achievement, fulfillment, belonging, and perfect harmony. The card depicts a woman dancing, surrounded by a wreath. The wreath symbolizes success and infinity. The four figures around her represent the four elements: fire, water, air, earth. Together, they symbolize the perfect harmony of their respective energies.  

The World reminds us that there is fulfillment at the end of every cycle. There is a perfect someone out there for you in the Universe. The Universe hears you, and your intentions will be manifested back at you. The World reminds us to be grateful for what we have, while also letting us know that we deserve the best. 

Upright World as a Person

If the World appears in a Tarot spread as a person, that means that this person is wholesome and somebody you would describe as being “the whole package”. They’re smart, kind, funny, and physically attractive. It is astrologically associated with Saturn. Because Saturn is masculine, this card carries an active, assertive energy. We all have a little bit of both energies expressed in a balanced way, regardless of which gender we identify as. Because this is a Major Arcana card, some of these defining traits make up a major part of their identity. So, for example, being the best version of themselves will play a major role in who they are, or how they view themselves. Note that they may not reveal this side to you at the beginning stages of your relationship, to others, or ever.

For physical characteristics, the World as a person represents someone who is wholesome and worldly.  It’s almost as if this person takes a holistic approach in the way that they choose to express themselves or treat their bodies. They could incorporate treatments from different cultures into their self-care routine. They’re also thorough in that they take care of more than just your outer body, but also their souls, so they may be really into meditation and yoga. They could be very mindful in the products that they choose, taking into consideration the impact that the manufacturing of that product has worldwide. Saturn’s influence is mainly what gives this person such a sense of responsibility, everything from the labor to the carbon footprint of the shipping is something that this person worries about.

For emotional characteristics, the World as a person represents someone who is literally worldly.  They’re sophisticated, they’re experienced, and they seem to have it all. And even if they don’t appear to have the typical modern day status symbols and measures of success, they’ve matured spiritually to a level where those things no longer matter to them. They see the bigger picture. They’ve learned to no longer sweat the small stuff. They’re satisfied with who they are, what they achieved, and every aspect of their life, but not in a conceited way. They’re just very grateful people who acknowledge their blessings. 

For careers, the World can represent someone who travels internationally or meets a diverse variety of people as part of their job. This could be a pilot, a flight attendant, an international aid worker, somebody who works in an intergovernmental organization such as the UN, the EU, or ASEAN. No matter where they are in their careers, there’s always a sense of being “up there”, and there is a sense of Saturnian formality, responsibility, or authority to what they do. For example, even if this person is an intern, they could be interning at a very coveted prestigious workplace. Or, while their peers are still trying to find jobs, they have the entrepreneurial skills to do their own thing and be their own boss. Even if they’re just only just starting out and they haven’t made profit, that’s still an achievement, and they’re entitled to feel a sense of completion for what they’ve achieved so far. Saturn may also indicate a male dominated field. They may also bring a sense of completion to your workplace as a new hire, and usually they become indispensable once they show their full potential.

The World as a person represents someone who makes you feel whole. Although we should never rely on other people to make us feel complete, this person does just that. Neither of you may be perfect, but you compliment each other, and you make an excellent team. Combined you could co-create and achieve great things. If you are romantically involved with this person, this might be the type of soulmate who finishes your sentences. They almost seem to have a telepathic connection with you. This might be somebody literally from a different culture, and you learn a lot from them.

Reversed World as a Person

If the World reversed appears in a Tarot spread as a person, that means that this person is “incomplete” in some way. For example, you might notice that this person completely lacks empathy, which can be jarring when you see manifestations of their callousness. They may exhibit insensitivities toward other people’s cultures, religions, beliefs. This person may lack common sense, or there’s just something off about them that you can’t quite put your finger on. Because this is a Major Arcana card, some of these traits will be inherent aspects of their identity. Good or bad, nobody is perfect and people can change, if they choose to.

For physical characteristics, the World reversed as a person represents someone who dresses with a sense of completion. For example, this person will make sure that every aspect of their outfit is in sync. Be it color, accessories, every element of it complements each other. That’s not to say that this person over accessorizes, the Saturn influence gives this person a taste for minimalism, simplicity, and practicality. Overall, they don’t focus too much on the little things in life, they prefer to spend their energy on the bigger picture. They may be worldly, and they may incorporate different world cultures into their style, but they’re sophisticated enough to do it in a way that is not disrespectful.

For emotional characteristics, the World reversed as a person represents someone who tries to find completion and fulfillment in external sources. Sometimes this person finds acceptance and validation online. They may consistently and constantly feel unfulfilled because they have FOMO. Sometimes this indicates a person who lacks a sense of belonging. They always feel like they’re outside looking in. In some cases, this card when drawn in reverse can indicate an existential crisis. The Saturnian influence can either manifest in feeling overly responsible for things that they have no control of or they can be totally irresponsible.

For careers, the World reversed can represent someone who works in a very “localized” office or field. For example, they may work in trying to introduce an international concept to a local audience, be it by translating or by mixing it with local elements to make it more palatable. This person, for example, could work as an assimilation counselor who helps refugees and asylum seekers feel at home and welcomed. They may be in charge of an international brand opening a factory in their country, or manage a local branch of a multinational company. They may work from home. Alternatively, they could work in the same fields as the World card upright, but they may not be very well suited for those positions. So for example, this could be somebody who is required to travel internationally for their job, but they’re not too happy about it, or they get homesick often.

The World reversed as a person represents someone who makes you feel like the dynamics in the relationship are off balance. Something could feel “incomplete” about your interactions. So, for example, you always make time for them, but when it’s their turn to listen to you, they’re checking notifications on their phone. You might notice that this person isn’t always around. They’re never there just to enjoy your company, but they’re always around when they need you to drive them somewhere. This person may never seem to listen to what you have to say, for example: last week you might’ve told them that you were in financial trouble, this week they’re still asking you for money like you never said what you said last week. With Saturn’s influence, this relationship is more of a burden. It never feels quite “whole”. 

Conclusion

For love readings, the World represents completion and achievement. Where everyone else wants to be, you already are. There is wholeness, harmony, and a sense of belonging here. The World reminds us that there will always be a peak in the current cycle. Enjoy it, you’ve earned it. All of the efforts that you’ve put in are starting to pay off. You’ve hit a major milestone.

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.