The Cosmos Taketh and Giveth.
Managing the path forward with The Star.
“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff.
We are a way for the universe to know itself.” - Carl Sagan
The Star causes anxiety. There I said it.
But not in the way other cards like the Nine of Swords, Eight of Cups, or Three of Swords. Instead, the energy of this card can pull us into an array of critical decision-making, acting as a forcing function that insists we make decisions that are uncomfortable, unfamiliar, and more importantly helpful to our own growth (or sometimes regrowth).
It’s often said that you always hurt the ones you love and if that’s the case, the Universe might have an intense passion for us. In the sequence of cards of the Major Arcana, we hit quite a rough patch towards the end: Death, Temperance, The Devil, and The Tower. Each of these cards challenges us in different, albeit jarring ways. While the intensity of these cards places us in the midst of make-or-break moments, we should remind ourselves that they don’t, and more importantly can’t, last forever. By contrast, the Universe also grants us moments of lightness—a respite that allows us to rest, recalibrate, and process the intensity or trauma we’ve just experienced.
XVII. The Star. Clockwise from top left: Major Arcana Deck by Leonora Carrington, Golden Tarot, Old Style Tarot, Thoth Tarot, Tarot for All Ages.
Taking into consideration that the Major Arcana tells a loose story when the cards are placed in sequential order, The Star is a moment of silence after chaos—stillness, quiet, and peace that allows us to consider where we’d like to go or what we’d like to build next. Perhaps we thought the walls we had erected over time were perfect, ones that formed our dream home, but the Universe had another set of blueprints in mind. More simply, we can think of The Tower as the bulldozer and The Star as the blank slate or foundation upon which we rebuild our reality.
Hope is often the operative word associated with The Star card, indicating a sense of anticipation, a feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. Having fallen from great heights and hitting rock-bottom post a “Tower moment”, hopelessness will undoubtedly settle into our soul. And therein lies the challenge of The Star; what do we do next?
The Star created with the help of artificial intelligence.
While the Universe may have destroyed our world, it also encourages us to rebuild it—and not alone. It doesn't want to show us only our problems but also offer solutions. In this case, the Universe wants us to follow it, walking the path it’s shining before us. However, it’s up to us to trust it, which is a difficult challenge to accept after being slapped across the face. Once we can see and understand our path, those first steps forward are a little less frightening and transform into something more empowering.
Truly embracing The Star’s energy means accepting that hope is an integral part of our journey, even if activated by turmoil and loss. The card guides us to see a future beyond the wreckage at our feet. By finding the courage to take those initial, tentative steps toward rebuilding, we open ourselves to the possibility of a more fulfilling and purposeful existence.
Take a spin through a mini-playlist inspired by The Star—tune for rebuilding, recalibrating, and reclaiming our lives.
Listen HERE