LexTalk

Have you ever had one of those stretches of life where you feel like you’ve given everyone and everything a little piece of yourself?

Work needs you.

Family needs you.

The house needs you.

Your to-do list definitely needs you.

Your goals are sitting there reminding you that they need you too.

And somewhere in the middle of all of it, you realize…

Wait. When was the last time I did something that filled ME back up?

Meanwhile, your coffee is cold, there’s probably laundry somewhere demanding attention, and adulthood has once again turned into the world’s longest group project.

If yesterday’s Two of Pentacles represented trying to juggle everything life throws at us, today’s card feels like what happens when we finally put the pentacles down for a minute, look up at the sky, and remember there is still something beautiful above us.

Welcome back to LexTalk Tarot: One Card at a Time, where I’m slowly learning all 78 tarot cards, studying the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith imagery, and sharing everything I’m learning along the way.

Today’s card is The Star.

And I have to say…

I really love this one.

Because The Star isn’t about pretending everything is perfect.

It’s about hope when everything isn’t perfect.

And there’s a BIG difference.

Meet The Star

The Star is card XVII — 17 — of the Major Arcana.

Unlike the Minor Arcana cards, which often connect with everyday experiences and situations, the Major Arcana tends to explore bigger life themes, lessons, transitions, and personal growth.

Traditional themes associated with The Star include:

Hope • Renewal • Inspiration • Healing • Optimism • Authenticity • Faith • Spiritual connection

The Star is also traditionally associated with Aquarius.

But there’s another piece of this card that makes its hopeful energy even more meaningful.

In the traditional Major Arcana sequence, The Star comes immediately after The Tower.

And if you’ve ever seen The Tower card…

Let’s just say it doesn’t exactly give:

“Everything is wonderful! Have a magical day!“

The Tower is associated with disruption, sudden change, upheaval, and structures breaking apart.

And then?

Card XVII appears.

The Star.

The sky clears.

The chaos settles.

There’s water flowing.

There are stars overhead.

Everything feels quieter.

That sequence helps me understand this card so much better.

The Star is hope after the storm.

Not necessarily because everything has magically fixed itself.

But because you can finally look around and think:

Okay. I’m still here. What happens next?

The Large Star

Let’s start with the most obvious symbol.

There is one enormous eight-pointed star shining above the woman.

It’s impossible to miss.

The large star is commonly associated with hope, inspiration, guidance, renewal, and spiritual connection.

And honestly, this might be one of the easiest tarot symbols we’ve learned so far.

When you’re lost in the dark…

what do you look for?

A light.

So here’s today’s first beginner memory trick:

Big Star = Hope.

That’s it.

We’re not making this harder than it needs to be.

When I see The Star, I want to remember that light can still exist even when everything around it is dark.

The Seven Smaller Stars

Surrounding the large star are seven smaller stars.

Different tarot traditions can attach additional symbolic interpretations to these stars, but for someone learning tarot, I think the most important thing to notice is the overall celestial atmosphere they create.

The woman isn’t standing beneath one tiny little light.

She’s surrounded by them.

And I love thinking about that symbolically.

Because sometimes when we’re struggling, we become so focused on the one thing going wrong that we stop noticing everything that is still good.

One disappointment can feel enormous.

One bad day can feel endless.

One setback can make us question everything.

But maybe there are still little lights around us that we’re overlooking.

A person who loves us.

A safe place to sleep.

A funny text.

A beautiful sunset.

A cup of coffee.

A pet curled up beside us.

A tiny moment of peace.

Not everything good has to be enormous to matter.

The Two Water Pitchers

The woman holds two pitchers and pours water from both.

One stream flows into the pool.

The other flows onto the land.

Water is deeply connected with emotion and intuition throughout tarot.

And here?

It’s flowing freely.

The imagery can connect with renewal, emotional nourishment, healing, generosity, and restoring what has been depleted.

And this part of the card really made me think.

How often do we pour ourselves into everything around us?

Our jobs.

Our families.

Our relationships.

Our responsibilities.

Our goals.

Our homes.

Our projects.

And then wonder why we’re exhausted.

You cannot endlessly pour from the pitcher without eventually needing to refill it.

Yes, I know.

That sounds like something printed on a coffee mug.

But there’s a reason people keep saying it.

Because it’s TRUE.

One Foot in the Water, One Foot on Land

Look closely at the woman.

One foot connects with the water while the other rests on land.

Water traditionally connects with emotion, intuition, and the subconscious.

Land represents something more tangible:

Reality. Stability. The physical world.

Together, they create a beautiful image of balance.

Feel what you feel.

Listen to your intuition.

Dream.

Hope.

Imagine possibilities.

But stay connected to reality too.

And I actually LOVE this lesson.

Because hope without any action can become wishful thinking.

But action without hope?

That can become exhausting.

The Star seems to give us both.

Dream…

but stay grounded.

Hope…

but keep moving.

The Tree & Bird

There’s also a tree in the background with a bird perched among its branches.

The bird is commonly identified as an ibis, which has symbolic associations with wisdom in some interpretations.

For me as a beginner, though, the easier thing to remember is simply:

Life is returning to the landscape.

There’s water.

There’s vegetation.

There’s a bird.

There’s light.

After the disruptive symbolism of The Tower, The Star feels alive.

Quietly alive.

Not fireworks.

Not some enormous dramatic celebration.

Just…

life continuing.

And sometimes that’s enough.

The Woman’s Vulnerability

The woman on The Star is unclothed.

Within tarot symbolism, this is commonly interpreted as representing vulnerability, openness, authenticity, and having nothing to hide.

There isn’t armor.

There isn’t a costume.

There isn’t a mask.

And maybe part of healing is allowing ourselves to admit:

I’m tired.

I’m disappointed.

I’m scared.

I don’t know what’s next.

We don’t always need to slap a smile on everything and announce that we’re FINE.

Sometimes hope begins with honesty.

The Star Upright Meaning

When The Star appears upright, traditional interpretations can include:

Hope • Renewal • Inspiration • Healing • Optimism • Faith • Authenticity • Rebuilding confidence

The Star can appear symbolically during a time when you’re beginning to see possibilities again.

Maybe something difficult happened.

Maybe you’re exhausted.

Maybe something didn’t work out the way you hoped.

Maybe you’ve simply been going through a period where you don’t quite feel like yourself.

The Star doesn’t necessarily say:

Don’t worry! Everything is going to be PERFECT!

Because tarot can’t promise that.

Instead, I think its message is much more meaningful:

You don’t know exactly what happens next—and beautiful things are still possible.

That’s hope.

Not certainty.

Not pretending.

Not ignoring reality.

Just allowing yourself to believe that today’s circumstances aren’t necessarily the final chapter.

The Star Reversed Meaning

Time for our regular LexTalk Tarot reminder:

Reversed doesn’t automatically mean BAD.

The Star reversed can be associated with:

Discouragement • Self-doubt • Emotional exhaustion • Feeling disconnected • Lack of inspiration • Difficulty maintaining hope

Maybe you’ve been working toward something and aren’t seeing results.

Maybe something knocked your confidence.

Maybe you’re comparing yourself with everyone around you.

Maybe you’re simply tired.

The reversed Star doesn’t necessarily mean hope is gone.

It may suggest that you’re having trouble seeing it right now.

And I think that’s an important distinction.

Sometimes the light hasn’t disappeared.

Sometimes we’re just too overwhelmed to notice it.

So instead of asking:

What’s wrong with me?

Maybe ask:

What would help me feel a little more like myself again?

That’s a much kinder question.

The Star in Love & Relationships

In love and relationship readings, The Star can connect with hope, honesty, vulnerability, healing, emotional openness, and trust.

For established relationships, this card can encourage genuine communication.

Not:

“I’m fine.”

When you are VERY CLEARLY NOT FINE.

Real communication.

What do you need?

What does your partner need?

Do you feel safe expressing yourself?

Can you be vulnerable without feeling judged?

Upright, The Star can represent:

Hope • Emotional openness • Trust • Compassion • Healing • Renewed connection

Reversed, it might encourage reflection around:

Insecurity • Emotional distance • Discouragement • Difficulty trusting • Fear of vulnerability

And for someone who’s single?

The Star doesn’t automatically mean:

YOUR SOULMATE IS COMING TUESDAY!

Instead, it can encourage healing, rebuilding confidence, and becoming clearer about the kind of connection you actually want.

Relationship Reflection

Do I feel safe being completely myself in the relationships closest to me?

The Star in Career

Ohhhhhh…

I think anyone working toward a dream needs this card occasionally.

Because building something can be exciting in the beginning.

You have ideas.

You’re motivated.

You’re dreaming about possibilities.

Then you actually start doing the work.

And suddenly you’re thinking:

Helloooooo? Is anybody seeing this?!

Maybe you’re building a blog.

Starting a business.

Growing social media.

Creating art.

Changing careers.

Learning a skill.

Writing something.

Working toward a promotion.

And progress feels painfully slow.

The Star can reconnect us with inspiration, creativity, optimism, and purpose.

It doesn’t promise success.

But it can ask:

Do I still believe in what I’m building?

Upright, The Star can represent:

Inspiration • Creativity • Renewed motivation • Optimism • Purpose • Confidence

Reversed, it may connect with:

Creative burnout • Discouragement • Comparison • Loss of confidence • Unrealistic expectations

And maybe the reversed Star asks another important question:

Have I become so obsessed with the result that I stopped enjoying the process?

Oof.

Yeah.

That one got me too.

The Star & Money

When The Star appears in a financial context, I would approach it with hopeful realism.

It isn’t:

Congratulations! You’re about to become rich!

Wouldn’t THAT be convenient?

Instead, The Star can encourage renewed optimism about financial goals.

Maybe you’re paying something down.

Saving.

Rebuilding.

Trying to create additional income.

Learning better financial habits.

The card can remind us that improvement often happens slowly.

One payment.

One choice.

One small step.

One month at a time.

Hope is valuable.

But when it comes to money, hope works much better with a plan.

Financial Reflection

What is one small financial action I can take today that future me will appreciate?

Hope Is NOT the Same as Pretending Everything Is Fine

This might be my favorite lesson from The Star.

Because sometimes people confuse hope with positivity.

They’re not exactly the same thing.

Toxic positivity says:

Everything happens for a reason! Just smile! Look on the bright side!

Meanwhile, you’re thinking:

Can I please just be annoyed for FIVE MINUTES?

Real hope doesn’t require you to pretend.

You can say:

This hurts.

I’m disappointed.

I’m exhausted.

I don’t know what’s going to happen.

And still say:

But I believe something better could exist beyond this moment.

THAT feels like The Star to me.

Hope isn’t denying darkness.

It’s recognizing that darkness isn’t necessarily permanent.

Maybe Healing Doesn’t Always Look Dramatic

I also love how quiet this card feels.

The woman isn’t celebrating.

She isn’t standing on top of a mountain screaming:

I’M HEALED!!!

She’s kneeling beside the water.

Pouring.

Restoring.

Existing.

And maybe healing often looks exactly like that.

Quiet.

Slow.

Unremarkable from the outside.

Getting out of bed.

Going for a walk.

Writing in a journal.

Laughing again.

Making plans.

Feeling excited about something.

Realizing you went an entire afternoon without thinking about something that once consumed you.

Sometimes healing doesn’t announce itself.

One day you simply realize:

I’m doing better than I was.

And that’s beautiful.

Today’s LexTalk Tarot Reflection

Grab your tarot journal because The Star gives us some beautiful questions.

Start with:

What is one area of my life where I need to give myself permission to feel hopeful again?

Then ask:

What has been draining my energy lately?

And:

What genuinely helps refill it?

Finally:

What is one small thing I can do this week that makes me feel more like myself?

Not more productive.

Not more impressive.

Not more useful to someone else.

More like YOU.

There’s a difference.

The Tarot Deck I’m Learning With

Throughout LexTalk Tarot: One Card at a Time, I’m using a physical Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck because I’m realizing that seeing the traditional artwork makes these cards SO much easier for me to remember.

Instead of memorizing:

The Star = hope.

I can remember:

Large star = hope + guidance

Smaller stars = light + possibility

Water = renewal + emotion

Pool = intuition

Land = practical reality

Nudity = vulnerability + authenticity

Suddenly, The Star isn’t just a vocabulary word.

It’s a story.

If you’d like to learn using the same style of deck I’m studying, you can [check out the tarot deck I’m using here — paid link].

You absolutely don’t need my exact deck to follow this series, but I love having the traditional imagery in front of me while I’m learning.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Learning Tarot Through Journaling

I’m also continuing to write down the little symbolism clues that help each card stick in my brain.

Because I’m discovering that trying to memorize an enormous paragraph?

Absolutely not.

But THIS?

The Star

Big star = hope

Water = renewal

Land = grounded reality

Woman = vulnerability

Overall feeling = hope after hardship

THAT I can remember.

If you’re learning tarot alongside me, you can use any notebook you already own. But if you’d like a journal specifically for your tarot studies, you can [check out the tarot journal I found here — paid link].

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Twelve Cards Into LexTalk Tarot!

WAIT.

We’re officially TWELVE CARDS IN!

I know there are 78 cards total…

so perhaps we should hold off on ordering our tarot diplomas.

But think about where we started.

Seventy-eight cards.

Upright meanings.

Reversed meanings.

Symbols everywhere.

Major Arcana.

Minor Arcana.

Four suits.

Court cards.

And a million tiny details.

It felt overwhelming.

But we’re not trying to learn 78 cards.

We’re learning one.

Then another.

Then another.

And suddenly…

we know twelve.

The High Priestess

Trust yourself.

Ace of Pentacles

Plant the seed.

Page of Cups

Stay curious.

The Fool

Begin.

Eight of Pentacles

Practice.

The Magician

Use what you have.

Strength

Choose how you use your power.

Four of Swords

Rest when you need to.

Queen of Wands

Own who you are.

Six of Cups

Remember where you’ve been.

Two of Pentacles

Decide what deserves your energy.

The Star

Believe light still exists.

Okay…

Tell me that’s not starting to sound like its own little life philosophy.

Learning The Star One Symbol at a Time

As always, I don’t want anyone finishing this post thinking:

Great. Now I need to memorize ALL OF THAT.

Nope.

That’s exactly what we’re trying to avoid.

We’re learning tarot differently.

One card at a time.

So, if you remember only ONE thing about today’s card, remember this:

The Star = hope after hardship.

Picture the enormous star shining overhead.

Remember the flowing water.

Remember the quiet landscape.

Remember that The Star follows The Tower.

Something difficult happened.

The dust settled.

And somehow…

the stars were still there.

I think that’s why I love this card so much.

Because life doesn’t always go according to plan.

Sometimes people disappoint us.

Sometimes WE disappoint ourselves.

Sometimes things don’t work.

Sometimes plans fall apart.

Sometimes we’re tired of being strong.

And sometimes we’re simply overwhelmed by everyday life.

The Star doesn’t ask us to pretend none of that exists.

It simply asks us not to assume that a difficult chapter is the final chapter.

Maybe tomorrow looks different.

Maybe the thing you’re building grows.

Maybe you find another path.

Maybe you reconnect with something you love.

Maybe you surprise yourself.

Maybe something beautiful happens that you can’t even imagine yet.

We don’t know.

And that’s kind of the point.

Hope lives in the space between what we know today and what might still be possible tomorrow.

So today’s little assignment?

Do one tiny thing that fills your own cup.

Make the coffee.

Light the candle.

Sit outside.

Take the walk.

Write something.

Watch the sunset.

Listen to your favorite song.

Play with your pet.

Read the book.

Pull another card.

Or do absolutely NOTHING for fifteen minutes.

And don’t turn it into content.

Don’t make it productive.

Don’t check something off a list.

Just enjoy it.

I know.

Wild concept.

Maybe The Star isn’t asking us to find some enormous magical sign from the universe.

Maybe it’s simply reminding us to look up once in a while.

Because even after the hardest storms…

the stars are still there.

One card. One lesson. One little bit of magic at a time.

— Lex

Tarot interpretations are subjective and are shared here for personal reflection, education, and entertainment. Tarot should not replace professional medical, legal, mental health, or financial advice.