The Hebrew letter, Tzaddi, is attributed to The Star. Tzaddi means fishhook, or that which is used to pull a fish, Nun (Death), out of water, Mem (The Hanged Man). * Water is the great unconscious and the fish symbolizes abundance, growth, and productivity. The fish is also a symbol of the place where the material world intersects the spiritual world (see The Hanged Man, Part II). And so we must use the fishhook of meditation or prayer to delve into the great unconscious and discover the hope, healing, and inspiration of The Star.
Aquarius is associated with The Star. Natives of this fixed air sign are idealistic, eccentric, egalitarian, humanistic, intelligent, and stubborn. They are the rebels that oppose the bondage of the status quo and give us hope and inspiration. They are also capable of the mental focus necessary to meditate or pray effectively. The sign’s glyph of two wavy lines one over the other is an image of the magical axiom “As above, so below” and reminds us of the star’s message. Even Aquarius’s symbol, the Water Bearer—bringer of spiritual and material refreshment, echoes the imagery of The Star.
A beautiful, naked woman, kneels by the pool of the great unconscious. Her knee rests on solid ground, indicating material stability, but her foot rests on the water, indicating a faith in visions and dreams which are the products of the unconscious, gifts of the Goddess. With her right hand she pours life-giving water into the subconscious, the cosmic mind stuff. With her left hand she pours the water of inspiration onto the material world. It divides into five channels, one for each of the senses, as it soaks into the thirsty earth. It waters the tree of the mind, in which dwells the scarlet ibis, or Thoth, the Egyptian god of magic and mental clarity. The
card’s number is 17, which reduces to 8, the number of Strength. To achieve the mental stillness and perception necessary for meditation and prayer, the woman will need the skills learned in the Strength card. Behind the woman are eight 8 pointed stars, one large star surrounded by seven smaller ones, symbolizing the self surrounded and supported by the seven chakras, planets, colors, and sacred metals. The eight pointed stars are symbols of the wheel of the year, the interweaving of order and disorder in the universe to create an ultimately harmonious and balanced design.
These images and attributions underscore the meaning of The Star: divine inspiration, cosmic creativity, and hope combine and help us achieve our fondest dreams and find our true selves.
The Star is a most fortunate card. Depending on where it appears in the spread, it tells the reader that the querent has been, is, or will be inspired to achieve a goal. It also suggests that she is coming out of a hard place in her life, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, feeling hopeful, and/or opening up to many possibilities. This card assures the seeker that the universe is aware of her desire and will support it by sending help and inspiration in various forms. Even reversed it is still fortunate, although the querent must be reminded that, like Aquarius, this card looks to the future. It doesn’t guarantee success; it only tells us that success is possible, but hard work, dedication, and single-mindedness are necessary.
In the hero’s journey, The Star is any ally, mentor, or phase of the journey that gives the hero hope and inspiration.
Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyon, is the quintessential Christian allegory. It begins with Christian, the main character of the first part, asking the Evangelist how to get rid of the burden he is carrying on his back. The Evangelist directs him to the Wicket Gate, but Christian can’t see it. So the Evangelist tells him to go toward the shining light, which Christian thinks he can see. With this inspiration, Christian begins his journey to the Celestial City.
When Dorothy finds herself trapped in the land of Oz and unable to return home, Glinda the Good floats down from the sky in a shining
pink bubble, gives her the ruby slippers, and tells her to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City. With this hope and inspiration, she begins her journey home.
In Frank Capra’s heart-touching Christmas drama, It’s a Wonderful Life,Clarence Odbody, angel second class, is an ally who is The Star. Small town banker George Bailey has reached his darkest hour and the angel stops him from committing suicide by showing him what a horrible place his hometown, Bedford Falls, would have been without him, inspiring the despondent banker to keep on trying.
The hero is The Star in the Broadway musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. Despite self-doubt, betrayal, and simply being human, Jesus finds his star of divinity and makes it shine, inspiring his apostles and giving them hope.
And, of course, anyone over the age of fifty remembers Jiminy Cricket assuring us that “When you wish upon a star your dreams come true.”
The Star is vital to the hero’s journey. Without it the hero would never be able to look death and destruction in the face and overcome against all odds. He would quit, and there would be no happy ending.
* The Tarot, A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages, Paul Foster Case.