The Star Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, and More

Co-authored by Susan Levitt and Nihal Shetty

Last Updated: August 5, 2022

In a tarot reading, the Star is a card that offers you insight into your sense of inner peace and balance. Whether you draw the card upright or reversed, knowing how to interpret the Star can help you understand your mentality at the current stage of your life. Using a tarot deck is an art—there’s plenty of room for creative interpretation—but we’re here to show you all the major explanations of the Star card’s meaning. Here’s our complete guide on what the Star card means.

Section 1 of 9:

The Star Card Overview

The Star card is the card of hope, balance, faith, and inspiration. This card is symbolized by 7 or 8 stars, a woman with one foot on land and one in a pool of water, and 2 urns. This woman and the 2 urns represent balance—one of the major themes of this card. It is the 17th card of the major arcana, and is associated with spiritual and mental insight.^{[1]
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- The interpretation of a tarot card depends on whether it’s drawn upright, with the image and text oriented to face the reader, or reversed, where the image and text are upside down.

Section 2 of 9:

The Star Upright Meaning

The upright Star is a sign that you’ve achieved balance and spiritual health. You may have overcome serious hardships in the past, but have now begun a phase in your life where you’ve learned from these experiences.^{[2]
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- This card is very auspicious: it signals that you may receive unexpected help in the future, and that your possibilities are endless.

Section 3 of 9:

Love and Relationships (Upright) Meaning

In a love reading, a Star card means you’re ready to move deeper into love. This Star card indicates that you can let go of past relationships and hurt and open yourself up to a new partner. The upright Star card expresses optimism about your future romantic prospects.^{[3]
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- The Star tarot card is associated with the sign of Aquarius. Pulling this card might mean that you’ll be entering a relationship with an Aquarius soon.
- If you’re already in a relationship, a Star card encourages you to be more vulnerable in your relationship. If you’re thinking about making a commitment to your partner, the Star card says, “go for it.”

Section 4 of 9:

Money and Career (Upright) Meaning

The Star card expresses optimism about your finances. Things are looking good: whether it means a promotion at work, an unexpected windfall of cash, or your investments staying healthy. Enjoy the good fortune that the upright Star card brings you.^{[4]
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- Some people say that an upright Star card indicates that the time is good for taking on a risky investment. Remember to use your best rational judgment and consider talking to a financial advisor before making big decisions.

Section 5 of 9:

Health and Wellness (Upright) Meaning

If you’ve experienced health difficulties, the Star card indicates recovery. This is the card of overcoming past challenges, and that includes health struggles. Drawing the Star card in the upright position is a positive indication that the worst is behind you.^{[5]
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- Remember that health includes your mental health. If you’ve been feeling like your mental health has been struggling recently, the Star card can indicate happier times ahead.

Section 6 of 9:

The Star Reversed Meaning

The reversed Star indicates imbalance, disappointment, and a lack of hope. If this card emerges during a reading, it can mean that you may be experiencing low self-esteem and a lack of optimism about your future.^{[6]
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- Know that feeling like there is no hope is not the same as there not being any—you can always pull yourself up and find your way to a happier life.

Section 7 of 9:

Love and Relationships (Reversed) Meaning

The Star in reverse may mean that you aren’t feeling optimistic about love. If you’re single, this card could indicate that you aren’t sure that you’ll ever find a partner. If you’re with someone else, you may be losing faith in the relationship.^{[7]
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- In either case, know that you’re valuable as you are, and that if you work towards it, happiness is always within reach.
- The Star in reverse might also mean that you’re a little too optimistic about your current relationship. In that case, work on developing realistic expectations so that you don’t end up disappointed.

Section 8 of 9:

Money and Career (Reversed) Meaning

The reversed Star means you may be feeling hopeless about your finances. You might have missed out on the job opportunity of your dreams or taken a recent financial loss. But the Star card also encourages you to change your perspective and continue to build toward your financial and professional success.^{[8]
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- If you’re stressed over your finances, try to remain calm. Planning out a strong budget can get you back on track.

Section 9 of 9:

Health and Wellness (Reversed) Meaning

The reversed Star card asks you to be more optimistic about your health. If you’re experiencing health difficulties, this card signifies that it may be time to try and laugh away the pain, or if that’s not possible, at least treat it with a more positive attitude.^{[9]
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- Remember to take care of your mental health as well. This could mean practicing self-care, mindfulness, or talking to a therapist.