Dr. Jessica Katzman
  • Home
  • Specialties
    • Outdoor Therapy
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Fees and Insurance
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Recommended Reading

Tarot for Troubled Times: The Star

6/13/2020

3 Comments

 
Honestly, I did not expect to have this archetypal pattern show up so soon into our current situation, but still felt the emergence of...
 THE STAR
Picture
Here is where the particular order of the Major Arcana becomes supremely important: in isolation, it’s easy to give The Star a wholly positive spin, such as “hope” or “inner peace.”

However, when taken in context as the card that immediately follows  The Towe r, its unique meaning begins to take shape.
 
You may recall that The Tower brings--that’s right--violent upheaval as our established structures collapse and rigid belief structures are disrupted. The sudden onset and rapid rate of change can be scary, painful, and challenging (especially for those who have benefited for so long from those structures).
 
But here is the payoff of that painful phase, the true gift that Tower medicine brings: 
 
On the other side of this dramatic shattering lies the clarity and inspiration that points us in a new direction.
 
So the more nuanced reading of this card is about the calm after the storm, the healing that begins with a crisis, the distant light at the end of the tunnel, and most importantly, Hope In The Dark.
 
When our personal or collective towers fall, even as we sit amid the rubble and settling dust, we may now notice the newly revealed night sky above. 
 
This larger perspective can bring a fresh burst of motivation and inspiration, which may sustain us on the path ahead. 
 
The Star encourages us to pause here to make contact with our own depths, to replenish ourselves by finding the still point at the center of our storm, to tap into our inner reservoir of strength. 
 
We recall that long before apps and printed maps, we used the constellations to navigate through the world. We may now be inspired to forge a new path, seeing the way ahead by following a north star.
 
 
An important note: hope is necessary and yet not sufficient; this is a BEGINNING point, not a final destination. Such faith encourages us to persevere in our toughest moments, and without it, we’d never get started. 
 
However, we MUST harness this newly emerging optimistic note to ongoing positive action. 
 
Rebuilding a better world takes BOTH our ability to dream big, to believe that more is possible, as well as devotion to the hard work of developing practical solutions. 

(Cards pictured here are from the Modern Witch Tarot, a modern and diverse interpretation of the classic RWS deck, and the Black Power Tarot, the Tarot De Marseilles’ Major Arcana featuring Black American historical figures.)
3 Comments
Mia Evans link
8/19/2021 05:43:36 pm

Thanks for helping me understand that The Star would encourage us to pause and make contact with our own depths. I will keep that in mind if ever that shows up when I find a professional to get a tarot card reading. It's because I need help with my life now that I don't know which path I should take, so I hope I find a professional who has undergone the right tarot reading course.

Reply
Utica link
1/13/2023 10:09:37 pm

Thank you!! This is a valuable read for anyone seeking guidance and understanding in difficult times.

Reply
Jessie Holloway link
2/15/2023 01:01:31 pm

Thanks so much for your help on how to interpret and shift our perspective on cards. I've always wanted to do a tarot reading and as I come into a new stage of life I can't think of a better time to try one. I'll have to look into finding a place I can book a reading with, but I'll have to remember to keep my mind open to multiple interpretations of however the reading may go.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Jessica Katzman, Psy.D.

    I'm a psychologist with a private practice in San Francisco's Castro District. I'm interested in harm reduction, LGBTQQIAAP issues, psychedelic integration, social justice conversations, size acceptance, and any intersections of the above. I welcome your comments!

    Picture
    Photo credit: Tristan Crane Photography.

    Categories

    All
    Events
    Harm Reduction
    Job Postings
    Networking
    Practice News
    Resource Mondays
    Reviews
    Tarot

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    December 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Disclaimer: The information and resources contained on this website are for informational purposes only and are not intended to assess, diagnose, or treat any medical and/or mental health disease or condition. The use of this website does not imply nor establish any type of therapist-client relationship. Furthermore, the information obtained from this site should not be considered a substitute for a thorough medical and/or mental health evaluation by an appropriately credentialed and licensed professional. ​This website includes links to other websites for informational and reference purposes only. This website does not endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other websites.  Examine the content carefully.
  • Home
  • Specialties
    • Outdoor Therapy
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Fees and Insurance
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Recommended Reading