What they mean together
The Star comes right after The Tower in the tarot, and the story they tell together is simple. Something collapses, and then calm and hope arrive. The worst passes and you start to rebuild.
In love
After a big crisis, hope returns. It could be with the same person, on a new footing, or with someone else.
Career and money
After a sudden change, better opportunities show up. Time to lift your head.
An example
Imagine you ask what's ahead after a really hard year and The Tower and The Star come up. The cards tell the whole story. What collapsed had to fall, and now the calm arrives. With The Star you get your confidence back, start dreaming again, and surround yourself with what's good for you. You don't have to rebuild exactly the way it was, either. Put up something more honest. The worst is behind you, so start with something small that excites you.
By position in the spread
In the past
You got through a crisis and hope came afterward. Today you can look back on it with some peace.
In the present
You've just come through a shake-up and you're starting to breathe again. Rest before you make plans.
In the future
If a crisis comes, relief and new opportunities will follow it. Life goes on after the collapse.
If they come up reversed
If The Tower is reversed, the crisis was less abrupt, or it hasn't finished breaking open yet. If The Star is the reversed one, the calm arrives but you have trouble trusting it. With both reversed, recovery is real, though it needs you to take care of yourself and ask for support. With this pair, hope always gets the last word.
Breathe. What's coming is brighter than what fell.
Frequently asked questions
What does The Tower and The Star tarot combination mean? Is it a good sign?
Yes, despite The Tower. The Star says the worst is over and that hopeful times are ahead.
Can The Tower and The Star mean getting back with an ex?
They can, if you both rebuild on new ground. Or they can mean feeling hopeful with someone new after the breakup.
To read them separately, here is the meaning of The Tower and of The Star. And if they came up in a three card spread, look at the position each one landed in too.