The Star: Modern RWS Tarot Card Meanings
‘KEY XVII: The Star’, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
The Star Upright
Keywords
Hope, Inspiration, Healing, Renewal, Serenity, Faith.
This card is often said to come after the destruction of The Tower via the ‘Fool’s journey’ through the Major Arcana.
Correspondences
Zodiac Sign
Aquarius
Element
Air
Yes/No
Either, depending the reality of the situation.
Generally
A period of hope, healing, and inspiration. Feeling a renewed sense of purpose after a difficult time, a moment of profound peace and serenity, a wish coming true.
In a Love Context
A relationship that is a source of hope and healing. A deep, spiritual connection with a partner, finding love after a period of loneliness, a relationship that feels divinely guided.
In a Money/Career Context
A renewed sense of hope and inspiration in your work. Finding a career that aligns with your true purpose, a creative project that is divinely inspired, a period of financial calm after a storm.
In an Intellectual Context
A moment of profound creative inspiration. A brilliant idea that seems to come from nowhere, a period of inspired writing or art, a renewed passion for your studies.
In a Spiritual Context
A renewal of faith and a deep connection to the Divine. A feeling of being blessed and guided, a profound healing experience, a moment of pure spiritual serenity.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Have faith. Follow your inspiration. Allow yourself to heal. Open yourself to hope.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A period of peace, healing, and renewal. A wish will be granted. A hopeful new beginning.
As Obstacles
An unrealistic hope is blocking a practical solution. A "head in the clouds" attitude is preventing you from taking action.
As Hidden Energy
A hidden source of hope and inspiration is available. An unacknowledged potential for healing.
As Resources/Alliances
Your own faith and optimism. An inspiring and hopeful person. A connection to the Divine.
‘The Star’ Reversed (Modern Meanings)
Reversed Keywords
Despair, Hopelessness, Lack of Faith, Creative Blocks, Disconnection
Generally
A loss of hope, despair, or a lack of faith. Feeling pessimistic and discouraged, a period of creative block, a sense of being disconnected from your purpose.
In a Love Context
A relationship that has lost its spark. Feeling hopeless about finding love, a partner who is pessimistic and uninspiring, a period of emotional disconnection.
In a Money/Career Context
Feeling uninspired and hopeless about your career. A creative project that has stalled, a period of financial despair, a job that feels meaningless.
In a Spiritual Context
A crisis of faith. Feeling disconnected from the Divine, a spiritual practice that feels empty and meaningless, a period of spiritual despair.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
A warning against giving up hope. It is time to reconnect with your inspiration or to find a new source of faith.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A period of hopelessness and despair. A creative project will fail. A loss of faith.
As Obstacles
Your own pessimism and lack of faith is the primary hindrance. A creative block is preventing progress. A situation is genuinely hopeless.
As Hidden Energy
A hidden despair is undermining the situation. A secret loss of faith is driving your actions.
As Resources/Alliances
Help comes from accepting a difficult truth. A necessary reality check. The end of a period of false hope.
The RWS Star in Key Card Combinations
Combinations with Major Arcana
The Star & The Moon
The Star (↑) & The Moon (↑): Finding hope and guidance in a period of confusion and fear. An intuitive insight that brings inspiration.
The Star (↓) & The Moon (↑): A period of fear and anxiety that is causing a loss of hope. A creative block caused by hidden fears.
The Star (↑) & The Moon (↓): A moment of inspiration that reveals a hidden deception. Finding the truth in a confusing situation.
The Star (↓) & The Moon (↓): A situation of complete hopelessness and paranoia. A creative block caused by a deep-seated, irrational fear.
The Star & The Sun
The Star (↑) & The Sun (↑): A period of profound joy, success, and inspiration. A wish coming true in a spectacular and public way. A perfect creative partnership.
The Star (↓) & The Sun (↑): A successful outcome that feels empty and uninspiring. A public success that does not bring personal happiness.
The Star (↑) & The Sun (↓): A period of hope and inspiration that is hit by a disappointing setback. A creative project that fails to achieve public recognition.
The Star (↓) & The Sun (↓): A situation of complete despair and pessimism. A creative block that leads to a loss of all vitality.
Combinations with the Suit of Cups
The Star & The Two of Cups
The Star (↑) & The Two of Cups (↑): A divinely guided and harmonious relationship. A soulmate connection. A partnership that is a source of great inspiration.
The Star (↓) & The Two of Cups (↑): A good relationship that is being undermined by a lack of faith or hope.
The Star (↑) & The Two of Cups (↓): A hopeful new beginning that is blocked by a disharmonious partnership. An inspiring connection that ends in conflict.
The Star (↓) & The Two of Cups (↓): A relationship that is both hopeless and full of conflict. A complete loss of faith in a partnership.
Additional Notes On The Star
A.E Waite’s Original ‘Star’ Card Meanings
Upright: "Loss, theft, privation, abandonment; another reading says-hope and bright prospects. Reversed: Arrogance, haughtiness, impotence." Pictorial Key To The Tarot (1911).
RWS ‘Star’ Card Symbolism
A.E Waite’s Star card depicts a naked woman kneeling by a pool of water under a large, eight-pointed star, which is surrounded by seven smaller stars. She pours water from two urns, one onto the land and one into the pool. The ibis perched on a nearby tree is a symbol of Thoth, the Egyptian god of wisdom.
Question: Why are Waite's ‘Star’ meanings so different from the modern ones?
Waite's upright meanings for The Star are notoriously negative and seem to contradict the hopeful imagery of the card. This is a subject of much debate among tarot scholars. Many believe that Waite was deliberately obscuring the true esoteric meaning of the card, which is more aligned with the modern interpretation of hope and renewal following the destruction of The Tower.
Meditations on The ‘Star’ Card
What is my greatest source of hope and inspiration right now? Where in my life do I need to allow for a period of healing and renewal? Am I listening to the quiet voice of my Soul?
