The Star
The Star is major arcanum XVII of the tarot. It represents hope after the storm, divine inspiration, luminous faith, subtle guidance and gifts from heaven. Associated with Aquarius, it embodies the goddess who pours her waters upon the earth.
Origin and symbolism
In traditional decks, The Star shows a naked woman kneeling beside a pond, pouring water from two vessels: one onto the earth, the other onto the water. Above shines an eight-pointed star, surrounded by seven smaller stars. The mythological correspondences evoke Isis, Aphrodite Urania, or the Star Goddess of esoteric traditions.
The Star appears after The Tower. After the violent collapse, the star is the first ray of light: hope after loss. The woman is naked (without defences, totally open), kneeling (humble), pouring waters that return to the cycle. One leg in the water (the emotional), the other on the earth (the material): integration. The greater star is the octogram, an ancient initiatic symbol.
Meaning in a spread
Appearance in a reading: realistic hope, soft gifts from the universe, luminous faith, healing after a crisis, creative inspiration, spiritual guidance, connection with the divine, return of confidence. It is one of the most loving cards in the tarot. It announces that after the difficult comes a period of silent but real light.
In shadow: naive idealisation that denies problems, waiting passively without acting, escapist faith that does not help do what is to be done, living only on potential without manifesting anything. The Star's trap is to confuse hope with empty waiting.
Also known as
- L'Étoile
- The Star
- Hope