Have you ever, when alone, sensed a light within you waiting to be released? Have you ever found that effortless synergy while working in a team? Or perhaps you are facing an important choice right now — to be true to yourself or to please others?
These moments are intimately connected to three cards in the Tarot: The Star, The Sun, and The Moon. They correspond to the numbers 17, 19, and 18, revealing the life themes of confidence, collaboration, and authentic choice.
XVII The Star: The Radiance of Confidence and Inner Light
Core Principle: Confidence, Self-Esteem, Inner Radiance
The Star represents the universal principle of confidence, self-esteem, and inner radiance. It is a state of radiance and confidence that is neither inflated nor deflated. The quality of looking within and trusting what is there is symbolized by the figure looking toward the guiding star within the cup she holds.
The True Meaning of “Confidence”
The word “confidence” comes from the root base “to confide.” Confidence is the ability to confide in and trust oneself. When we trust our inner guidance and direction, we see things more clearly (represented by the multiple crystals) and become more spontaneous, like flowing water, with our feelings.
In major religions, The Star symbolizes the guiding light — like the Star of Bethlehem and the Star of David. In astrology, The Star is Aquarius, the water-bearer — symbol of the innovative and creative mind.
The two seven-pointed stars spinning their way toward earth on this card represent the radiance and confidence of our inherent light or life force, which has every intention of actualizing creative ideas on earth through our own natures.
The Philosophical Meaning of The Star
The philosopher Heidegger perhaps offered the best description of the function of this archetype when he said: “A person is not a thing or a process but an opening through which the Absolute can manifest.” The Star card reminds us that each of us is an opening for light, a gateway through which the Absolute can manifest.
The Star and Adjustment
The Star (number 17) is the externalized expression of internal balance and clarity (Adjustment/Justice, number 8). Self-esteem and internal radiance become apparent in the world when we are spontaneous, vital, and natural. Our self-esteem is a barometer of our internal balance or imbalance.
Two conditions sabotage our balance and self-esteem: over-extension or compensation patterns (Eight of Cups) and doubting ourselves (Eight of Swords). Two qualities rectify or reestablish our balance and self-esteem: taking swift action and communicating directly (Eight of Wands), and utilizing prudence and wisdom in our actions (Eight of Disks).
Timing and Cycles
When you find yourself drawn to the energy of The Star over the next seventeen weeks or seventeen months, you will find yourself increasing and maintaining your own self-esteem to such a point that you may even find yourself assisting others with their self-esteem issues. During this period, you may find that recognition comes your way for projects, services, or accomplishments that are noteworthy.
Aquarius people (born January 21 – February 21) become mirrors of your own ability to be pioneering, innovative, and creative. The month of Aquarius (late January to late February) is an excellent time to initiate new projects and concepts.
For Those Born with the Number 17
For those whose birthday adds up to 17 or 8, The Star is your life-time personality symbol. People will see you as naturally radiant and confident. You possess a natural charisma and magnetism that pulls people and opportunities toward you. The Star symbol is often associated with fame and recognition, and at different times in your life, you will be recognized for accomplishments that provide a contribution and service to others.
A Star year occurs when your birthday plus the current year adds up to 17. This is the best year to resolve issues or initiate new projects with Aquarius people. During this year, you could be recognized for services or accomplishments that have made a notable contribution. You experience your self-esteem intact and are more confident in who you are. You no longer feel the need to inflate or deflate yourself or others.
Affirmations for The Star
I am a walking star on a giant star.
I value who I am.
I see what can be of benefit to people in the future.
I am a radiant lighted being.
XVIII The Sun: Life Force, Teamwork, and Creativity
Core Principle: Teamwork, Partnership, Collaboration
The Sun represents the universal principle of teamwork, partnership, and collaboration. It depicts the life force energy within us waiting to be used and expressed. This is the “cosmic dance of two on the green mountain of creativity” — the inner dance of male/female energy within each of us that taps unlimited reservoirs of creativity.
The Expression of Life Force
The life force of The Sun reveals our ability to be natural generators, motivators, and stimulators within our personal and professional lives. We can bring the exuberance and consistency of The Sun into our one-to-one relationships (the dance of two) or into group and organizational settings (all the signs of the Zodiac around the outside of this card).
Teamwork and group work is a transformative experience which requires trust in spiritual and physical processes working simultaneously (the dancing, winged figures). Teamwork and partnership is often for the purpose of implementing a shared creative vision (the orange energy band around the mountain).
The Divine Child and Play
All creative processes are a form of play and exploration. It is the Divine Child within us that is always seeking to express itself in unlimited ways. Like the Eastern lotus blossom in the middle of the sun, our basic natures unfold and are revitalized within every creative process that involves the implementation of both our dynamic and magnetic expressions.
The Sun and The Magician
The Sun is the external creative expression of The Magician within. The Sun (number 19) is the creative power we have to express our communication gifts through our collaborative efforts. The Sun is the external expression of the creative mind (Ace of Swords), love with wisdom (Ace of Cups), authenticity and truth (Ace of Wands), and manifested success (Ace of Disks). Through our communication, we are able to express our creativity and life force.
Timing and Cycles
A Sun year occurs when your birthday plus the current year adds up to 19. This is the best year to enter partnership or teamwork efforts that are collaborative — but only if they are inspirational, creative, and innovative. It is important not to be involved in depleting and draining alliances during this year in either your personal or professional life.
Sun years are the best years to magnetize people, opportunities, and situations that enhance and support your basic vital nature. The next nineteen weeks or nineteen months is the best time to generate new projects, relationships, and collaborative efforts, or to remove yourself from teamwork efforts that are depleting and unfruitful.
For Those Born with the Number 19
For those whose birthday adds up to 19, The Sun is your life-time personality symbol. Your personality expression is like that of The Sun. You are a natural generator, motivator, and stimulator of people and situations. You are able to work with people equally as well on a one-to-one basis as in group situations. You are drawn to teamwork, partnership, and collaboration that is innovative and creative. You believe in the synergetic principle that two or more can create a greater whole.
At different periods in your life, it is important to remove yourself from partnerships or teamwork efforts that become depleting, draining, and uninspirational. You need to be met by people and situations that have equal sun energy, rather than constantly being the sun or life force for people who have lost their source of inspiration and look to you to provide it.
Affirmations for The Sun
I work well in teamwork situations.
I enjoy making contributions to group efforts.
I am a cooperative individual.
I am a natural motivator and stimulator of creative and original endeavors.
XIX The Moon: Choice and the Return to Authentic Self
Core Principle: Choice-Making, Authenticity
The Moon represents the universal principle of choice-making and authenticity. This symbol is often referred to as the “karma card” — karma meaning “work that needs to be done.” The ultimate work to be done each day is to choose whether we will support our authentic self or support our false persona or dutiful self.
The Three Functions of Choice
Every day we stand at the gates, making choices about leaving old known worlds or going through the gates to explore new worlds. The gates also represent the process of choosing between our authentic expression and our false or dutiful expression.
Choice has three functions. Through choice we can: first, create new realities; second, sustain and maintain current realities; or third, release and let go of realities that no longer serve us.
The Guardians of the Gate and Symbols of Transformation
The guardians of the gate are the Ra kings from ancient Egypt — the Sun gods who protect our life force and energy as we change and reclaim our authentic selves. The jackals (symbol of the Egyptian deity Anubis) remind us that we must let go of the old in order to go through the gates and experience anything new.
The Egyptian scarab represents Khepri — the Egyptian God of Transformations. The scarab symbolizes “he who becomes.” Before him, the scarab rolls the ball of the sun, pushing it into the Other World in the evening and over the horizon in the morning — just as the scarab beetle pushes before itself a ball of dung. For the Egyptians, the scarab-god represented the rising sun and symbolized the renewal of life and the idea of eternal existence.
The Moon and Romance
The Moon is the symbol most associated with romance. The Moon reminds us that during romantic involvements we can see our potential dreams and visions, yet in romantic involvements we are challenged to truly be ourselves rather than to pretend to be other than who we are. The romantic state can be one of inspiration, or illusion and deception. The Moon reminds us that through our choices we can either reveal or conceal who we are and are not.
Timing and Cycles
A Moon year occurs when your birthday plus the current year adds up to 18. The Moon as a growth symbol requires that you begin the process of opening and reclaiming the authentic aspects of who you are. During this year, you will face your own intolerance of old illusions, delusions, and self-deceptions.
The Moon year becomes a year where you make choices that support your inherent nature rather than choices that support your false persona or dutiful self. It is a year where you are no longer willing to abandon yourself in order to receive someone else’s love or acceptance, or in order to keep peace, balance, and harmony in your life. You are willing only to be yourself, regardless of what issues that might cause for others.
Pisces people (born February 21 – March 21) serve as mirrors of your emotional depths and commitment to evolution and transformation. The month of Pisces (late February to late March) is the best time to resolve romantic issues or make choices that support your full creativity and expression.
For Those Born with the Number 18
For those whose birthday adds up to 18 or 9, The Moon is your life-time personality symbol. You have a great deal of magnetism as a personality, and like The Moon, your personality often has the capacity to bring light into darkness. You are a romantic, yet willing to make choices that inspire rather than deceive you.
Even though many people will think that they know you and feel close to you because of your magnetism, only a few are allowed really close to you. Your emotional nature is like what the I-Ching refers to as the “great still lake.” Since you feel very deeply, you establish trust and loyalty before allowing others to explore the depths of your nature.
Affirmations for The Moon
I enjoy making important decisions.
I value honesty and integrity in relationships.
I like what is mysterious within me and within others.
Through choice I can change my experience.
I am willing to express who I am fully and openly like The Moon.
How to Determine Which Stage You Are In
These three cards correspond to different time cycles and number energies:
The Star corresponds to a cycle of seventeen weeks or seventeen months, with the number 17. When you find yourself building confidence and attracting recognition and opportunities, you are in the energy of The Star.
The Sun corresponds to a cycle of nineteen weeks or nineteen months, with the number 19. When you find yourself drawn to teamwork and becoming a source of inspiration for others, you are in the energy of The Sun.
The Moon corresponds to a cycle of eighteen weeks or eighteen months, with the number 18. When you face important choices and need to decide between authenticity and pleasing others, you are in the energy of The Moon.
You can calculate your “year number”: add your birth month, birth day, and the current year, then reduce the sum until you get a single digit or one of the numbers 17, 18, or 19. If the result is 17, 18, or 19, you are in the corresponding energy cycle.
You can also notice whether you are repeatedly drawn to certain kinds of people, events, or inspirations over the next seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen weeks — this is a synchronistic reflection of your inner energy cycle in the outer world.
Final Reflections
The Star, The Sun, and The Moon — these three cards correspond to numbers 17, 18, and 19 — revealing three key aspects of life’s radiance:
The Star (17) teaches us confidence and inner radiance — blooming through self-trust, neither inflated nor deflated, becoming an opening for light.
The Moon (18) teaches us choice and authenticity — choosing daily to support our authentic self, releasing old patterns that no longer serve us.
The Sun (19) teaches us teamwork and creativity — inspiring others through collaboration, becoming a natural generator and motivator.
These three keys open our capacity to dialogue with our inner radiance, with collaboration, and with authentic choice.
As one of the affirmations says:
I am willing to express who I am fully and openly like The Moon.
References
Arrien, A. (1997). The Tarot handbook: Practical applications of ancient visual symbols. Tarcher.
