XVII. The Star

Reversed: illusion, hopelessness, lack of inspiration and imagination, fruitless effort, painful love, unresolved entanglement.

At the edge of a moonlit cliff, two crystal vessels continuously pour sacred springs into the waterfall. On the left bottle glows the reflection of a six-pointed star — the spring of wisdom flows from within. On the right, the reflection of the Tree of Life — the spring of vitality pours forth endlessly. Beneath the falls, a naked girl sits upon a great shining star, washing her body with the holy water. As the cleansing continues, her spirit gradually heals, and her true desires rise to the surface. At last, she is ready to ride her inner star toward a brighter place.

After the turmoil of the Tower, calm has finally returned. The Star represents faith in oneself and in the limitless possibilities of life. Following emotional upheaval, a sense of peace and quiet emerges — not emptiness in a negative sense, but a tranquil state where nothing urgent needs to be worried about or solved.