It’s always relaxing to look at the stars at night, but do you know what these beautiful lights in the sky mean? In general, stars are often linked to good messages and metaphors, and they often stand for things like purity, luck, and goals. A shooting star in a dream means that you will reach your goals and move forward in life. Stars can also be a sign of new starts, even ones that haven’t happened yet. Stars and the symbols that go with them have different meanings in different cultures.
The North Star.
The North Star, which is also called the Polaris Star, is said to be a bright way to find your way north. Even though it’s pretty bright, the North Star is not the brightest star in the sky. Instead, it’s the 48th brightest. This constant light source is almost right at the geographic North Pole of the Earth. Sailors and other travellers in the Northern Hemisphere have used it for hundreds of years.
During the Antebellum era and before, when white supremacists kept black Americans as slaves, the North Star was a sign of hope, inspiration, and freedom. When slaves tried to get away from their oppressors, the star helped them find their way and helped them find the Underground Railroad as they moved north.
Because it means so much to so many people in real life, it’s not surprising that it also has symbolic meaning. People see the North Star as a symbol of personal growth and life direction. They see it as their own mission statement, their life’s purpose, and a light in the darkness. Like the real North Star, our inner North Star, which is made up of our instincts, passions, and goals, helps us figure out what to do with our lives.
Rick Hanson, Ph.D., who is a psychologist and best-selling author, said, “When you find your North Star, you know where you’re going. Just that makes me feel good. Plus, your North Star is (likely) good and important, so aiming for it will bring you and others more and more happiness and good things. You can dream bigger dreams and take more chances in life because you have a way to find your way back if you get lost.
What Stars Mean Spiritually
There are a lot of spiritual meanings to be found in the stars. Most of the time, they have something to do with inspiration, aspiration, imagination, goals, and dreams. Many people think that if you dream of a star, it’s a sign of your hopes, dreams, and spirit. It also stands for faith, hope, and clarity, which shows that a new beginning could be on the horizon.
In some cultures, the stars are a sign that God is watching over and protecting them. Old Chinese texts said that the Chinese character for “star” (xing) meant the real stars in the night sky. But the word “star” was also used to talk about a number of Chinese gods. Fu, which means luck, fortune, blessings, and happiness, refers to the “God of Happiness” or the “Lucky Star” (fuxing). People in China thought that these gods were real and watched over them like the stars do at night.
Hindus also think that stars are the souls of gods or other ancient seers and celestial beings. People think that these beings are spiritual guides who help people on Earth. Hindus also see stars as symbols of femininity, motherhood, and the beauty of angels. Stars also represent the vastness and variety of the universe.
Some cultures also believe that stars are signs of the afterlife. In the past, the ancient Egyptians used stars to decorate their temples and tombs. People thought that stars lived in the Duat, also called the realm of the dead or the underworld. They also thought that stars went there every night.
Different Star Signs
When it comes to art, there are many different ways to show stars. Some common symbols for stars are:
The four-pointed star: In Christianity, a four-pointed star that looks like a cross can stand for the “star of Bethlehem,” which represents the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Pentagram is a symbol with six points. Through the five elements of spirit, fire, air, water, and earth, the five-pointed star has been linked to a feeling of unity. Some people also think it has something to do with people, since it has two arms, two legs, and a head, or the five senses.
The six-pointed star, also called the “Star of David,” is an important symbol in Judaism. It is also called a “hexagram.” It refers to the Bible’s King David and his legendary shield, which represents divine protection.
The eight-pointed star: In Chinese culture, this star is thought to represent the whole universe and life from birth to death. In Hinduism, it also stands for the eight kinds of wealth: victory, patience, health, knowledge, food, prosperity, freedom of movement, and riches.
The nine-pointed star: The Ba’hai religion uses this star to show unity and perfection. In the Bible, it also stands for the Fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are the fruits of the spirit.
The shooting star: People have always made wishes on shooting stars. From a spiritual point of view, it means that you are getting close to your life’s purpose or destiny. However, it can also mean something bad. In Christianity and Judaism, shooting stars are seen as falling angels. In other cultures, they are signs of bad things to come.
In the end, stars usually stand for good things in life, whether they have to do with God or are more personal, like personal growth, hope, or dreams. Even though you’ve always been able to appreciate the beauty of the stars, hopefully they’ll mean a little bit more to you now.