The Pictorial Key to the Tarot
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot
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XVII. <strong>The</strong> Star<br />
sacred-texts Waite Index Previous Next<br />
XVII<br />
<strong>The</strong> Star<br />
A great, radiant star of eight rays, surrounded by seven lesser stars--also of eight rays. <strong>The</strong> female figure<br />
in <strong>the</strong> foreground is entirely naked. Her left knee is on <strong>the</strong> land and her right foot upon <strong>the</strong> water. She<br />
pours Water of Life from two great ewers, irrigating sea and land. Behind her is rising ground and on <strong>the</strong><br />
right a shrub or tree, whereon a bird alights. <strong>The</strong> figure expresses eternal youth and beauty. <strong>The</strong> star is<br />
l'é<strong>to</strong>ile flamboyante, which appears in Masonic symbolism, but has been confused <strong>the</strong>rein. That which<br />
<strong>the</strong> figure communicates <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> living scene is <strong>the</strong> substance of <strong>the</strong> heavens and <strong>the</strong> elements. It has been<br />
said truly that <strong>the</strong> mot<strong>to</strong>es of this card are "Waters of Life freely" and "Gifts of <strong>the</strong> Spirit."<br />
<strong>The</strong> summary of several tawdry explanations says that it is a card of hope. On o<strong>the</strong>r planes it has been<br />
certified as immortality and interior light. For <strong>the</strong> majority of prepared minds, <strong>the</strong> figure will appear as<br />
<strong>the</strong> type of Truth unveiled, glorious in undying beauty, pouring on <strong>the</strong> waters of <strong>the</strong> soul some part and<br />
measure of her priceless possession. But she is in reality <strong>the</strong> Great Mo<strong>the</strong>r in <strong>the</strong> Kabalistic Sephira<br />
Binah, which is supernal Understanding, who communicates <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sephiroth that are below in <strong>the</strong><br />
measure that <strong>the</strong>y can receive her influx.<br />
file:///C|/My%20Documents/Spiri<strong>to</strong>ality/Books/<strong>The</strong>%20...y%20<strong>to</strong>%20<strong>the</strong>%20<strong>Tarot</strong>%20-%20A.E.%20Waite/pktar17.htm [15/07/2001 23:10:35]