The Star is card seventeen of the Major Arcana, the gentle light after the storm. Following the upheaval of The Tower comes calm and healing: hope, faith and renewal, the quiet promise that things will be well. This is a complete guide to The Star tarot card: its meaning upright and reversed, in love and career, and its astrology, crystals and symbolism. Read it as a mirror for reflection, never a fixed prediction.
The Star at a Glance
| Trait | The Star |
|---|---|
| Number | 17 |
| Arcana | Major |
| Upright keywords | Hope, faith, renewal, inspiration, serenity |
| Reversed keywords | Despair, loss of faith, discouragement, disconnection |
| Element | Air |
| Sign | Aquarius |
| Yes or no | Yes |
The Star Upright Meaning
In the Rider-Waite-Smith image, a naked woman kneels by a pool beneath a great eight-pointed star and seven smaller ones, pouring water from two jugs, one onto the land and one into the water. She is open, unguarded and at peace. The scene is one of replenishment and quiet grace, of being held under a benevolent sky.
Upright, The Star is the card of hope, faith and renewal. It is one of the most healing cards in the deck, a sign of calm after difficulty, of inspiration returning, and of a deep trust that the future is bright. It invites you to be vulnerable, to replenish yourself, and to keep faith in your dreams. When it appears, the worst has passed, and there is light to walk toward.
"The mottoes of this card are 'Waters of Life freely' and 'Gifts of the Spirit.'"A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot
The Star Reversed Meaning
Reversed, The Star can mean a loss of hope or faith: discouragement, disconnection from your dreams, or a sense that the light has gone out. It can show despondency after a hard time, or a need to reconnect with what inspires you. The reversed card is rarely a dead end; it is a reminder to be gentle with yourself and to tend the small flame of hope until it grows again. For more, see our guide to reversed tarot card meanings.
The Star in Love
In love, the upright Star is tender and hopeful: renewed faith in love, healing after heartache, a relationship blessed with openness and trust, or a hopeful new connection on the horizon. Reversed, it can point to lost faith in love, insecurity, or a need to heal and believe again before the heart can fully open.
The Star in Career and Money
In work and money, The Star upright is full of hope and inspiration: renewed optimism, a dream worth pursuing, or a calm, promising phase after a hard stretch. Reversed, it can flag discouragement, a loss of motivation, or a creative well that needs replenishing before progress returns.
The Star and Astrology
Every Major Arcana card carries an astrological correspondence, and The Star is linked to Aquarius, the fixed air sign of vision, humanity and hope. Aquarius gazes toward the future and dreams of something better for everyone, exactly the Star's far-reaching, idealistic light. You can explore how every sign and planet fits together in our guide to the planets in astrology.
The Star and Crystals
To carry the Star's hopeful, healing energy, a few crystals make serene companions. Amethyst soothes and restores faith, aquamarine brings calm and gentle hope, and selenite clears the heart and renews the spirit. These are traditional associations rather than proven properties. Our guide to crystals for every zodiac sign pairs a stone with each sign and its ruling planet.
The Star: Yes or No?
In a yes or no reading, The Star leans Yes. The verdict is Yes because the Star traditionally signals hope, renewal and faith restored, a clearly favourable and encouraging card.
The Star as Feelings
Upright, this card traditionally reflects someone feeling open, hopeful and at peace, healing quietly and trusting in what lies ahead. Reversed, it can suggest discouragement, a loss of faith, or feeling disconnected from what once inspired them.
The Star as Advice
The card invites you to keep faith and stay open after a hard time. Reconnect with what inspires you and let healing take its own gentle pace.
Is Tarot Real?
Honestly, tarot is a language of symbols and a tool for reflection, not a way to predict a fixed future. The Star cannot guarantee your wishes. What it can do is remind you to keep faith, replenish yourself, and walk toward the light you can see. Read it that way, take what rings true, and leave the rest. To continue, explore the rest of the Major Arcana or discover your tarot birth card. For a daily practice, pull a tarot card of the day.
Frequently asked questions
Upright, The Star means hope, faith and renewal. As card seventeen of the Major Arcana it is one of the most healing cards in the deck, a sign of calm after difficulty, returning inspiration and deep trust that the future is bright.
Reversed, The Star can mean a loss of hope or faith: discouragement, disconnection from your dreams, or despondency after a hard time. It is a gentle reminder to be kind to yourself and tend the small flame of hope.
The Star is a hopeful yes. It is one of the most positive cards in the deck, a sign of optimism, healing and faith in the future, so the answer leans warmly affirmative.
In love, The Star upright is tender and hopeful: renewed faith in love, healing after heartache, or a hopeful new connection. Reversed, it can point to lost faith, insecurity or a need to heal before the heart can fully open.
The Star is numbered seventeen in the Major Arcana. In astrology it is linked to Aquarius, the fixed air sign of vision and hope, whose gaze toward a better future mirrors the Star's far-reaching, idealistic light.
The Star represents hope, faith and renewal: calm and healing after the storm. It is the woman replenishing the land and water beneath a benevolent sky, the quiet promise that all will be well.
