Cult of Tarot Forum

I drew The Star in the "Something to Do" position of a reading and it occurs to me that I haven't spent much time thinking about The Star as an active card. I wonder what views all of you might have on this.

The first thing that crosses my mind is to follow a path or to seek guidance. These come from the idea of the star itself being a guide both navigationally and also, as potentially a representation of the new star over Bethlehem.

the Star may suggest doing that which is life-giving - either physically, like getting healthy, or metaphysically, such as following a religious discipline. She represents both milk and blood - succor and life-force - so this card in the action position could also indicate nursing a neglected area or person in your life, or cleaning out what clogs your arteries - jettisoning old ways of thinking or feeling or behaving. she can indicate the need to practice forgiveness; noting that forgiveness is not just a gift to the forgiven but a gift the forgiver gives himself. similarly, the star may suggest the need in the querent for redemption, atonement, or recognition. on a mundane level, the star could mean the querent seeks fame and glory - this seeking could be the action referred to or the action could be the desired act of approbation. on a very simple level, the star implies a baptism or the need for one - simply speaking: the bringing together of one's earthly existence with one's spiritual psyche.

To me, something to do with being. Prayer, affirmations, expressions of faith, maybe mindfulness or exploring and appreciating the world as it is.

It's like human ideals, and experiencing connection to the world around you and even the universe, so sort of seeing the good in life. Maybe taking a walk and being in awe of nature or even just your city, or doing something charitable, or talking with a stranger. Being in the moment and having faith and trust, even temporarily that life is going to be okay. Exercises that sort of....bolster that feeling or give you that feeling.

Optimistic thinking can be something too, but not shallow, more rooted in self trust. Like what chisco^ above me said, things that are life-affirming. Maybe creating or seeking out sanctuary or creating sacred space just to occupy it and feel revitalized. Restorative and healing magick. A nice bath. Sipping tea in the backyard and just looking at the sky and being.

To me the Star is sort of what the Hierophant either blocks or helps nourish within you, or what the Hermit as a mystic teacher helps to connect you to. The hermit introspects and maybe engages in practices to help remove obstacles to this feeling of oneness, and the Star sort of accepts and occupies the moment as it is and achieves it? The universal flow of energy isn't ever separate from you, it's here now, you just have to look and listen. Sorta thing. Hm.

Charlie Brown, when I read your post the other evening, immediately the Star reversed appeared in my mind. Just like that. So I went to look closely at what this card looks like reversed.



I had some thoughts flash through my mind then but didn’t post them immediately, thinking that something more enlightening would appear during the night and also because I sometimes doubt my intuition as we all do I suppose. Well, I read your post again the next morning just before the forum had its technical meltdown and the same thing happened. The Star reversed and the same thoughts. So here is what these thoughts are :

Maybe you’ve been out of touch in some way with nature and the ecosystem. So I thought, Charlie Brown should go birdwatching, or butterfly counting, or do star or moon gazing. Or some kind of nature conservation. Or going hiking or on a nature trip with a local group or acquaintances. Things like that. I didn’t see any gardening in the pictures that appear in my brain, so maybe not gardening. But there’s something to do with water and I don’t know exactly what it is, but the words “aquarelle lessons” or some kind of painting or drawing courses came to mind. But the aquarelle idea seems to stick and won’t go away. Maybe you’ll do aquarelle paintings of nature !

There are probably dozens of other suggestions for putting this into action, but as I don’t know your situation and your possibilities, there’s no point in listing them all. But I think you get the gist of how the card spoke to me.

Even if your question was more of an existential one, or seeking a solution to a problem.... sometimes the solutions comes in strange ways. One door opens another kind of thing. But they need to be opened first to see if there's anything nice behind.

Hope this helps. I was writing the post just when the forum switched itself off, so I wrote in a word document not to forget my first impressions.

Marigold wrote: ↑15 Oct 2019, 15:37 There are probably dozens of other suggestions for putting this into action, but as I don’t know your situation and your possibilities, there’s no point in listing them all. But I think you get the gist of how the card spoke to me.

Thanks, Marigold. To be clear, I wasn't looking for help with the particular reading, but asking about the card more generally. You've given food for thought, to be sure.

Charlie Brown wrote: ↑15 Oct 2019, 16:02
Thanks, Marigold. To be clear, I wasn't looking for help with the particular reading, but asking about the card more generally. You've given food for thought, to be sure.

Oh I see. Sorry! I realise I hadn't checked which sub forum this thread was in. My bad.

But still, my interpretation felt very personal. So I'll stand with it and I'll ask you one day next spring if you've done any butterfly counting !!!

Came back to add : Us Tarot readers love to see profound things in the Tarot, and rightly so, because the Tarot is profound. But sometimes it's also practical. It has to be also practical, otherwise it would be lobsided. It's a question of Justice and equilibrium.

Charlie Brown wrote: ↑13 Oct 2019, 20:57 I drew The Star in the "Something to Do" position of a reading and it occurs to me that I haven't spent much time thinking about The Star as an active card. I wonder what views all of you might have on this.

I wonder how often we read cards from a position of passivity, as in things happening TO us and we look for ways (messages) of how to dodge the slings and arrows as opposed to taking an active role?

Since any card could fall into an "active" portion of a spread, doesn't every card have to the potentiality to be active?

Even the 4 of swords?

Joan Marie wrote: ↑19 Oct 2019, 08:11

Charlie Brown wrote: ↑13 Oct 2019, 20:57 I drew The Star in the "Something to Do" position of a reading and it occurs to me that I haven't spent much time thinking about The Star as an active card. I wonder what views all of you might have on this.

Since any card could fall into an "active" portion of a spread, doesn't every card have to the potentiality to be active?

Even the 4 of swords?

I would think that the potentiality depends very much on the element that co-exists with the number. The number 4 is very monolithic, it's not an active number per se.

With the air element, it has the most chance of losing some of its immobility and in fact, probably will and may feel pretty strange about it too. Will need some time for adjustment. But there will be a lot of resistance from the 4 - it will need a lot of persuasion and good arguments.

With the earth element, forget it, they're as solid and as heavy as a rock when together and are true bed buddies.

With the water element there is a some chance of mobility, but if not, they can learn at least to get on with each other without too much conflict. They work pretty separately - together but apart - but the end result can be very interesting.

But with the fire element, they can really take off. There is tremendous energy when these two work together. In fact, one should remain a bit cautious and not rush in where angels dare not tread.

That's my understanding anyway.

Joan Marie wrote: ↑19 Oct 2019, 08:11 Even the 4 of swords?

Doesn't one take a break?

Charlie Brown wrote: ↑19 Oct 2019, 15:14 Doesn't one take a break?

In German we say, eine pause machen.
The literal translation is make a break.

Although "take" is active in a way, it implies something being offered. "Making" a break is a little more assertive. No?

hmmm... that strikes me as a very feminine interpretation. My initial instinct towards take is more an approximation of seize.