Tarot: The Star
from Episode 39: Fortune & Flora - The Star and the Dandelion
The Star card represents hope, inspiration, and spiritual guidance. It suggests that you should have faith in the future, stay true to your authentic self, and trust in the positive forces working in your life – and these could be the same force that brought down the tower, or something completely different, now free to come into your life, now that the tower has fallen. This could be a case of one door closing just so another one can open.
Transition from the Tower to the Star
1. The Tower (Card XVI):
Tower card is associated with sudden and dramatic upheaval or change and the breaking down of old structures, beliefs, and illusions. When the Fool encounters the Tower, it represents a moment of crisis or realization that shatters their existing worldview. It can be a chaotic and unsettling experience, symbolizing a necessary disruption for personal growth.
2. The Star (Card XVII):
The Star card comes after the Tower and brings with it a sense of hope, renewal, and healing. It follows the chaos of the Tower, offering the Fool a moment of respite and a glimmer of guidance. Here is how the transition occurs:
Release and Letting Go: After experiencing the Tower's destruction, the Fool learns the importance of letting go of what no longer serves them. The Tower experience forces the Fool to release attachments to false beliefs, ego, and material possessions.
Connection to the Divine: As the dust settles, the Fool looks up to the Starry sky in the Star card. The Star represents a connection to the divine and a sense of higher purpose. It's as if the Fool is guided by a higher power or cosmic wisdom. This card encourages the Fool to trust their inner guidance and intuition.
Renewal and Healing: The Star card signifies healing and rejuvenation, providing the Fool with a sense of peace and calm after the chaos of the Tower. It's a time of self-nourishment, both physically and spiritually.
Hope and Inspiration: The Star brings hope and inspiration, encouraging the Fool to have faith in the future, even in the face of difficulties. The Star serves as a guiding light, offering a sense of direction and purpose.
Balance: And finally the transition from the Tower to the Star can be seen as a restoration of balance. The Tower's destruction brought chaos, but the Star brings harmony and equilibrium. The Fool learns to find balance between the upheaval of change and the peace of spiritual connection.
It’s all about Balance in all things, as it seems to always come back to that…
In summation, the transition from the Tower to the Star in the Fool's Journey represents a profound shift from chaos and disruption to hope, renewal, and spiritual connection. This is that pivotal moment where the Fool learns the importance of letting go, trusting their intuition, and finding inner peace and inspiration. Some of these tools and lessons the Fool has already picked up along their journey - and he is now tasked with and able to rise to the challenge. All of this, in combination with this new experience, has now become a part of the Fool's resilience and ability to navigate through life's challenges with newfound wisdom and insight.
Symbolism in the Star (RWS system)
At the center of the card is a naked woman, kneeling by a small pool of water. Her nudity symbolizes purity, innocence, and vulnerability. She is unashamed of her true self, suggesting honesty and authenticity.
She holds two jugs in her hands. She uses the jug in her left hand to pour water onto the land, and the jug in her right hand to pour water back into into the pool. These jugs are said to symbolize the flow of spiritual energy, knowledge, and inspiration from the higher realms (the universe or divine) into the material world (the land). This represents a connection between the spiritual and material worlds.
The woman’s stance or posture may differ in some cards, but most commonly she is seen with one foot just slightly submerged in the water, representing feminine power and spiritual strength, and the other foot firmly places on land, representing practicality and a connection to the earthly realm.
Above her is a large shining star seems to dominate the night sky, surrounding by seven smaller stars. The largest of the stars is often referred to as the “Star of Hope” or the “Guiding Star,” symbolizing destiny, divine intervention, and a sense of purpose in life. This star serves as a beacon of hope and guidance, leading the way through dark times.
The seven smaller stars are sometimes attributed to the seven chakras - but we must also keep in mind that there are 8 total stars and the number eight is associated with balance and infinity, suggesting an endless source of inspiration and spiritual energy.
On some cards, you may spy a bird or a butterfly perched in a tree or flying. It symbolizes freedom, a sense of transcendence, and the ability to rise above earthly matters to gain a higher perspective. The tree can be said to represent life and growth, nature and the tree of life.
Occasionally, the landscape around the woman and her little oasis is barren and rocky, representing the challenges and obstacles that one may encounter in life. The water flowing from the jugs symbolizes the ability to nourish and rejuvenate this harsh terrain, bringing life and growth to difficult situations.
So, we can see from its rich symbolism that the Star card is a strong indicator of hope, inspiration, and spiritual guidance even in rough terrain or dark and trying times. It immediately offers encouragement for you to have faith in the future, stay true to yourself, and trust in the universe's benevolence. Finally, it suggests that, even in difficult times, there is a source of light and guidance to help you navigate life's challenges.
Numerology and Correspondences
The Number 17
As you move along in numbers, you may start to see that many of the double digit numbers gain their meaning and significance as the sum of their parts, for example: 1 and 7. While some have their own very specific meaning as well, like 12 and 13, you will really start to understand, in double digit numbers, how two forces can come together to bring about a more complex meaning. The number 17 is no exception:
Number 1: In numerology, the number 1 is associated with leadership, independence, and individuality. It signifies new beginnings, ambition, and taking initiative. It often represents the start of a new cycle or phase in one's life.
Number 7: The number 7 is seen as a highly spiritual and mystical number. It represents introspection, inner wisdom, intuition, and the search for deeper truths. It's often associated with a quest for knowledge and understanding.
When we combine the energies of 1 and 7 in the number 17, we get a unique blend of qualities:
Leadership and Spiritual Insight: The number 17 can symbolize a leader or individual who possesses not only practical leadership skills but also a deep spiritual insight. It suggests a person who can inspire and guide others with wisdom and intuition.
Initiation and Inner Growth: 17 can represent the beginning of a new spiritual or personal journey. It's a reminder to trust your inner wisdom and embark on a path of self-discovery and personal growth.
Balance: The combination of 1 and 7 also implies a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of life. It encourages finding harmony between individual goals and higher, more profound purposes.
Seeking Knowledge: The 7 aspect of 17 signifies a strong desire for knowledge and understanding. It and suggests a thirst for learning and a willingness to delve into the mysteries of life and existence.
And finally Luck and Good Fortune: In some cultures, 17 is considered a lucky number, associated with good fortune and positive outcomes. This belief varies across different regions and traditions.
*Remember, Numerology is a symbolic system. Its meanings are often open to interpretation and can vary depending on the context and cultural beliefs. So, the significance of 17 in a particular context may be influenced by personal beliefs, cultural associations and even intuitive interpretations.
The Element of Air
The Air element rules over communication, thoughts, ideas, breath, intellect, inspiration, fresh insight, swift movement and changeability. Air signs are intellectual and communicative experts in the ephemeral. These are the things of this world that lack physical form, like breath, language and information.
The Air element allows for freedom, liberation, and a breath of fresh air (picture a bird souring through the sky). So people born under an air sign tend to be adventurous, curious, and ever-changing, just like a breeze. They are intellectual and can tend to live up in the clouds, making it difficult for others to pin them down.
The Zodiac Sign Aquarius
Aquariuses - also water bearers - are also highly intellectual, clever and creative. They are extremely independent and don’t care for rigid instruction or supervision. They can be social but only if they truly want to be. However, if you can get them to comfortably interact, you will quickly find that they are very authentic, filled with ideas and can be a fount of inspiration. Unfortunately, their extreme independence can also result in feelings of loneliness and detachment from the world and their tendency towards stubbornness and can feed into their rebellious nature. One thing is undeniable, however. Aquariuses are driven by a sense of higher purpose.
As a water bearer, just like the star, we are seeing a free flow of spiritual energy, knowledge, and inspiration from a higher source to the earthly realm. The idea of nourishing the spirit and bringing new life to the material world, as well as idealism and humanitarianism are prevalent in both Aquarius and the Star. So too are individuality and freedom, as Aquarius values individuality and personal freedom, and the Star card reminds us to honor our unique path and authenticity.
The Star Card in a Reading
How do we put this of the above information together? What the does the Star card mean when it appears in a tarot reading?
As with all cards, there are several possible meanings and interpretations that can be indicated by the specific question asked, the placement in a spread, the surrounding cards and, of course, your own intuition.
Here are some common reading interpretations:
Hope and Inspiration: The Star card represents a sense of hope and renewal by suggesting that even in the darkest of times, there is a glimmer of light and a reason to be optimistic. It encourages the querent to believe in their dreams and aspirations.
Spiritual Connection: With a strong connection to the spiritual or divine realm, the Star suggests that the querent is in tune with their inner guidance and intuition. It's a reminder to trust in your higher self and to seek answers within – a call back to similar lessons from the High Priestess as well as the Hermit.
Guidance: The Star card often suggests that the universe is guiding you toward a particular path or destiny. It's a sign that you are on the right track and that your actions and decisions are aligned with your true purpose.
Healing and Rejuvenation: The water in the card symbolizes healing and emotional renewal, suggetsing that the querent is in a period of healing and growth, both emotionally and spiritually. It's a time to let go of past hurts and embrace a fresh start.
Authenticity: The nakedness of the woman in the card represents authenticity as well as vulnerability. It encourages the querent to be their true self and to not hide their feelings or intentions. It's a card of honesty and transparency.
Balancing Spirituality and Reality: The Star pushes for balance between the spiritual and material worlds.. something that was way off kilter in the Devil card, leading to necessary destruction in the Tower… The star encourages spiritual exploration and growth, it also reminds the querent to stay grounded and practical in their everyday life.
Wishes Coming True: In some interpretations, the Star card suggests that your desires and aspirations are within reach, and with faith and persistence, you can make them a reality.
Divine Timing: This card often implies that things are happening at the right time and in the right way and may encourage patience and trust in the timing of events unfolding in your life.
Optimism and Positivity: The Star card is a card of positivity. It advises the querent to maintain a positive outlook, even in challenging situations, as this positive attitude can attract more positive outcomes.
Renewed Faith: If the querent has been feeling disillusioned or disheartened, the Star card suggests a renewal of faith and belief in oneself and the universe. It's a reminder that things can get better.
To Sum up the Star card, we are looking at a symbol of hope.
This is the light after the dark night of the soul.
It brings inspiration and spiritual connection.
It encourages the querent to have faith in their dreams, trust their inner guidance, and believe in the positive forces at work in their life.
It's a card of renewal and optimism and it reminds us that there is always a reason to look forward with hope.
Plant Magick: The Dandelion, from Episode 39: Fortune & Flora - The Star and the Dandelion
Tarot: The Tower, from Episode 37: Fortune & Flora - The Tower and Yarrow
