The Star — a mermaid dives in the ocean, finds a rusty tin star in a treasure chest. She polishes it up and puts it on. It’s a sheriff’s star. She takes a horse from the waves — in Greek myth, horses came from the sea — and rides off onto land. She doesn’t have a gun, only a lasso, with which she catches cows.

The Star card, from what I’ve read about it, refers to destiny and one’s true will. I think the image of the sheriff’s star raises the issue of duty. It isn’t just fun to do what really lights your candle and expresses your most authentic self. It can be a lot of hard work, you have to face discouragements and people who don’t like or don’t understand what you do — and if what you do is from the core of your being — whatever that core is at this point in your life — then disapproval can feel very personal. But if there’s something you think you can do that’s unusual, or that you think is unique to you, then you kind of have a duty to do it. Nature keeps rolling the dice, and sometimes she comes up with cool stuff. She rolled the dice with you, too, and if you don’t show your unique colours, then Nature (and culture) wasted a chance that might not come again.

Despite being a “sheriff”, the mermaid is acting more like a cowboy; not going after criminals, but hooking useful creatures — cows — which I would identify as opportunities. I would interpret this as a reminder that following one’s true will requires both effort and an eye for the openings of chance. You need to “lasso” the right opportunities and not go after other opportunities that may still benefit you but ultimately distract you and take you off on a less optimal path.