“Because the sun, according to its nature, is a foot of a man in width, it will not exceed its limits: if it exceeds its limits, the Erinyes, the messengers of Dike, will catch up with it.”
– Heraclitus ca. 540 – 480 B.C.
Tarot Card The Sun is literally a sunny card that evokes cheerful images. The Sun is associated with optimism, awareness, inner growth, self-knowledge, enlightenment, and self-improvement. The depiction by Waite and Smith, with the choice of the child on the back of the horse, also aims to express a kind of freedom (of the soul). However, the beautiful sunflowers and the large red banner cannot obscure the large gray wall; the wall is prominently present on the card. What is the symbolism of the wall? And how can the Greek philosopher Heraclitus shed light on this while he himself was called ‘the Dark Philosopher’?
Let’s first look at what Heraclitus’ quote actually wants to tell us; the quote seems to have a deeper meaning related to order, measure, and the immutable laws of nature and justice.
Cosmic Order and Measure – Heraclitus believed that everything in the universe has a natural limit or measure. The sun, for example, has a certain size and orbit that it must not exceed. This reflects the idea that everything in the universe follows a natural order.
Dike and the Erinyes – Dike (justice) and the Erinyes (goddesses of vengeance) play a role in maintaining cosmic balance. If the sun exceeds its limits, the Erinyes will punish it. This symbolizes that any violation of natural laws has consequences.
Application to Humans – This principle applies not only to the sun but also to humans. Those who exceed the natural or moral order will inevitably face the consequences.
The wall on the Sun Tarot card literally symbolizes that there are limits to what we as humans can morally do, but also to what we are capable of. No matter how free we (think we) are, there are always universal laws and boundaries. This may sound a bit depressing – as if Heraclitus is saying that everything is predetermined and that no change is possible. Yet the opposite is true: for he also famously said, “Nothing is permanent, except change.”
Heraclitus and the Sun
Heraclitus, as mentioned, had nothing to do with mythology or religion. He had a progressive theory for his time that higher knowledge could be gained by using one’s intellect (Logos). Logos – or the intellect – makes it possible to think abstractly and to make connections between nature and humans and all the opposites that existed there. However, to gain this insight, one must make a great effort: one must have an open and critical attitude, cultivate one’s own mind, and get to know oneself. This inner journey of discovery also requires courage.
The level of consciousness thus differs from person to person and from moment to moment. This idea alludes to the continuous, uniform change and cycle of things. Heraclitus’ use of imagery and language draws a comparison with fire, the sun, and other celestial bodies. This is done through igniting (haptomai), flaming (aptō), and extinguishing (aposbénnumi), which are associated with life and death.
The sun in the Tarot symbolizes that one has reached a higher level of consciousness. This is, of course, different for everyone. The main message is that you can always develop and improve, perhaps within certain limits, but that is no reason not to take the freedom to explore those boundaries.
“Freedom Consists in Recognizing Boundaries“
– Krishnamurti, Indian Philosopher (1895 – 1986)
Heraclitus the Dark Philosopher
Heraclitus was born around 540 B.C. in Ephesus (Ionia). He had nothing to do with religion or mythology, and politics did not interest him either. Not much of his work has been preserved: what we know now comes from a number of his quotes (and those of others who wrote about his work). Heraclitus wrote everything in prose, with all kinds of double meanings and wordplay. This made his work not easy to read or understand. This was one of the reasons he was called ‘dark’ (when you read his work, you were in the dark about the meaning of the story). Heraclitus did this on purpose; he believed that one had to make an effort to find ‘the truth’. The other reason he was considered ‘dark’ was his belief that everything needed conflict to progress.
According to him, everything is based on conflict, tension, and opposites. As a result, everything is always in motion: “Everything flows” (Panta Rhei). Nothing ever stays the same. Heraclitus liked to use the metaphor of the river: “One cannot step into the same river twice” (because the river has changed due to the flow).
The river metaphor, however, contains an ambiguity. Heraclitus used the river to indicate that all of nature is constantly changing (the flowing water) and yet stable (the riverbed). The form remains despite the water constantly changing. This applies to all of nature: it is constantly changing, but there is a cycle (e.g., seasons) that makes everything harmonious and gives everything its own place in the cosmos. This also applies to humans. When you accept this as a human, you experience genuine inner peace.
Heraclitus the Weeping Philosopher
Heraclitus is often depicted with tears on his cheeks. Various stories explain this. One is that he felt pity for people, which made him always look somber and also made him cry. But it is usually said that he found people so stupid (and so unbearable) that it made him cry.
It is not surprising that his contemporaries found him an arrogant man. But despite receiving much criticism, he had a very significant influence on philosophers, scientists, and writers after him (including the Stoics, Goethe, Nietzsche, and Carl Jung! The latter borrowed from the weeping thinker the concept of enantiodromia, ‘opposite course’: an abundance of one active force in the psyche inevitably produces its opposite).