XVII

“Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east.” — Matthew 2:2

Lore: A naked woman kneels at the edge of a pool, pouring water from two jugs — one onto the land (the conscious world), one into the pool (the unconscious). Above her, eight stars blaze — one large central star (the Star of Hope, the Star of Bethlehem, the Blazing Star of Freemasonry) and seven smaller stars (the seven classical planets, the seven churches of Revelation, the seven days of creation). A bird perches in a tree behind her (the ibis of Thoth, or the dove of the Holy Spirit). She is completely exposed, completely vulnerable, completely at peace. After the Tower’s destruction, the Star is the first sign that the universe is still fundamentally good. She is grace — unmerited, unearned, simply given. The Fool, shattered by the Tower, looks up and sees the Star, and knows that the journey continues.

Biblical Parallel: The Star of Bethlehem guiding the Magi to Christ (Matthew 2:1-12). The rainbow after the Flood — God’s promise that destruction will not be the last word (Genesis 9:12-17). “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:1-2). Elijah fed by ravens after fleeing Jezebel (1 Kings 19:5-8) — grace arriving in the wilderness.