The Star represents the mystic Centre, or True Self – the goal of the hero’s quest. It is the Evening Star which guides the hero through the darkness, bringing the hope of enlightenment within reach.
The water on the card represents the aqua nostra – the water of life – which the alchemists saw as fire. This is the energy of the psyche which is needed to transform consciousness. The hero survived the baptism of fire in The Tower, and now must undergo the baptism of water. The woman pours the water onto the land and into the pool, signifying that consciousness and the unconscious are balanced and joined in harmony.
The tree in the background is the Tree of Life, indicating the promise of eternal life, and the bird sitting in its branches is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the divine messenger.
The hero’s faith has been rewarded and he is no longer in the darkness. He doesn’t have to rely purely on his intellect and intuition to guide him. Now he can hear the call of his Higher Self loud and clear. He is filled with insight and illumination, both consciously (the water poured onto the land) and unconsciously (the water poured into the pool).
This stage of the hero’s journey is a welcome respite from the trials that have gone before. It is a moment of grace, but we haven’t reached the Centre yet. There is still some way to go, but the star shining down over the landscape shows that the goal is close.
Keywords for The Star:
- Hope
- Inspiration
- Charisma
- Grace
- Trust
- Guardian Angel
First posted: https://jessicadavidson.co.uk/2014/08/10/tarot-heros-journey-the-star/
