The Star is the seventeenth card of the Major Arcana, and it is one of the gentlest. It follows the upheaval of The Tower and shows a quiet, open-hearted recovery: a person in a calm place, pouring out water under a night sky full of light. Its core idea is hope, the steady and unforced kind that returns after a hard time.
Tarot is a tool for reflection, not a proven way to predict events, so The Star is a reminder to look for what restores you, not a promise that things will turn out well. Even so, it is widely loved for the sense of relief that it brings.
The card at a glance
| Upright | Hope, renewal, calm, faith in the future |
| Reversed | Discouragement, disconnection, lost faith |
| Element | Air |
| Astrology | Aquarius |
| Numerology | 17, which reduces to 8 (1 + 7): quiet strength and rebuilding |
| Yes or no | Leans yes |
What the card shows
In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (Pamela Colman Smith, 1909), a naked woman kneels by a pool at night, with one foot in the water and the other on the land. In each hand she holds a jug. She pours water from one into the pool and from the other onto the ground, where it divides into five streams, which are often read as the five senses.
Above her shines a large eight-pointed star, surrounded by seven smaller white stars. The eight points are sometimes linked to the eight-pointed star of Venus, and the seven to the traditional planets or chakras, though the artist left no fixed explanation. Behind her, a bird, usually identified as an ibis, sits in a tree on a low hill, and the sky is soft blue. The woman’s nakedness suggests openness and having nothing to hide. The water nourishes both the emotional life (the pool) and the physical one (the land).
Upright meaning
Upright, The Star stands for hope and renewal. It often appears after a period of difficulty, offering a sense that the worst is over and that recovery is possible. It is a card of healing, calm and gentle faith, rather than a blaze of triumph. Nothing has to be forced.
It also suggests inspiration: a renewed sense of purpose, creativity or trust in yourself. The woman pours out her water freely, and the card invites you to give and receive without anxiety. Its link to Aquarius, the sign of ideals and the future, fits the forward-looking feel. It is a good card to draw if you feel tired.
Reversed meaning
Reversed, The Star often points to hope that feels out of reach. You may be discouraged, doubting yourself, or feeling disconnected from whatever usually gives you a sense of meaning. It can be a card for a flat mood after a long stretch of effort.
A gentle reading is that the light is still there and you are not yet seeing it. Small, calming routines can help, such as time outdoors, rest, a creative hobby or a chat with someone who believes in you. If low mood persists, it is worth speaking to a doctor or a counsellor. The reversed Star is not a sign that hope has gone, only that it needs tending.
In love and relationships
Upright, it suggests a relationship with a sense of trust, honesty and quiet renewal. It can describe healing after a difficult time, meeting someone who feels like a breath of fresh air, or becoming more open to love after closing up. For single readers, it can encourage patience and self-compassion.
Reversed, it may indicate doubt about love, guardedness after hurt, or a sense of distance from a partner. It is an invitation to be kind to yourself and to share how you are feeling, at your own pace.
In work and money
Upright, it points to inspiration, a sense of direction and support for long-term goals, especially creative or idealistic ones. It can indicate recognition coming in time, or simply renewed energy for your work.
Reversed, it may suggest loss of motivation, doubts about your path or difficulty seeing a way forward. This is reflection, not financial advice. For money decisions, consult a qualified professional.
As feelings, and as advice
As feelings, The Star describes calm optimism, relief and trust. Reversed, it can describe weariness or a dip in confidence.
As advice, it says to rest, restore yourself and trust that recovery takes time. Do things that make you feel open and unhurried. It leads to The Moon, where the mood turns to uncertainty and imagination. The sign linked to the card is Aquarius, and its reduced number 8 is explored in life path number 8. For a closely related hopeful mood in the numbers, see the page on angel number 444.
A question to reflect on
What restores you when you are worn out, and when did you last make time for it? What small hope could you look after this week?
Frequently asked questions
↳ What does The Star mean in tarot?
The Star represents hope, renewal and calm faith in the future. It is linked to Aquarius, the element Air and the number 17, which reduces to 8. It often follows a difficult time.
↳ Is The Star a good card?
It is generally seen as one of the most hopeful cards in the deck. Tarot is a tool for reflection and not a prediction, so it is better taken as encouragement than as a guarantee.
↳ What does The Star reversed mean?
It often suggests discouragement or feeling disconnected from hope. It is a prompt to rest and be gentle with yourself, and it does not mean that hope is lost.
↳ What does The Star mean in a yes or no reading?
It leans towards yes, especially where hope and patience are involved. Tarot is a reflective tool and not a proven way to predict outcomes, so use the answer as a prompt to think.
↳ What do the stars on The Star card mean?
The large eight-pointed star and seven smaller stars are often read as guidance and the traditional planets. The artist left no fixed explanation, so these are interpretations.