Short meanings: No matter how dark things seems to be, hope will help you through this pain, sorrow or loss. It may not be clear where you are going, when or how, but you aren’t supposed to know the outcome at this moment. Instead, have faith and wait to see how things develop.
In-depth meaning: The Star tarot card brings us a message of hope – a bright light which shines in dark times. When things are tough, a person’s attitude to a situation will determine how easy or difficult it is for them to get through, as well as what they are, or are not, happy to endure in the pursuit of what they want. Those that keep hope in their heart will be motivated to keep going but those without hope may feel they have nothing to fight for, or indeed live for, and are more likely to give up. Hope for the future can be our driver, our motivation.
It is important that the Subject should continue on day to day, despite it being a dark and rather miserable time. The Star reminds us that there will be a better, brighter time in the future; that the Subject will be able to enjoy life once again; that things will move on. Although it seems like nothing is changing for the Subject and they are struggling with their day to day existence, each little task is important, to just keep going is important. In a reading, the Reader should look at surrounding cards, however, to ascertain if the Subject has false hope, or misplaced belief, in a situation or person, that might actually be causing the stagnation.
Notes on the image: A young woman sits on dark, rugged rocks collecting and pouring water from a flask into the fast flowing river, and this is all she is doing. It may seem like a pointless and useless task, just as the Subject may feel their efforts are having no real impact on their life at the moment. Whilst the image shows a relatively calm scene, the woman has no clear path back or ahead which can show that the subject is lacking in direction and may be stuck in a rut.
The Star is a beacon of hope and shines brightly, reflected in the river, representing that which seems pointless today will yield something better in the future, that we must continue with our daily mundane tasks and seemingly trivial existence until the time when direction and clarity find us once again.