The Morning Star is a symbol of hope for the Pennsylvania Deutsch and Native Americans followers of Pagan traditions.
There is an old Moravian Christmas Carol, Morning Star. “Morning Star, Oh cheering sight! Ere thou "camest how dark earth’s night.” According to Dr. Richmond Meyers (Sketches of Early Bethlehem, 1981), the Moravians are the oldest Protestant denomination, predating Lutheranism. The Brotherhood of the Unitus Fratrum, or the Brethern, was founded in 1457 in Bohemia, then spread into Moravia, Poland and Germany. Jan Hus, the first Czech martyr died at the stake in 1415.
Moravians in the New World
The Moravians founded Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Their way of life was communal and they emphasized ethical and practical reform. They were missionaries and converted the local Native Americans to Christianity. They were peaceful people and Native American friendly. Morning Star was composed in America and shows both a Native American and Pennsylvania Deutsch influence.
The Leni Lenape, renamed the Delaware by the Europeans, was the tribe that lived in Bethlehem. They walked freely in the town as equals among the Moravians. If one walks in God’s Acre, the early Moravian cemetery, one sees flat tombstones representing equality and the graves of the Lenapes among those of the Moravians. There are no family plots. Graves were dug as needed. While equality was stressed, the men’s and women’s graves are separate and are divided by paths.
Morning Star, Symbol of Hope
The Morning Star is an eight pointed star and is a beneficial symbol.
The Pennsylvania Deutsch create hex signs, art within a circle with stylized symbols representing that which is desired and to protect. According to Jacob and Jane Zook, (Hexology, 1962), considered by most historians to be the experts about hex signs, the Morning Star is a symbol of a bright day, love and kindness for others. It is also represents hope. The star’s points are vertical and horizontal with the points corresponding with map inserts showing the directions.
Various Native American tribes also used this symbol. Their Morning Star points are two in each of the directions. Chief Archie Fire Lame Deer wrote about the Morning Star in the Book, The Lakota Sweat Lodge Cards (Destiny Books, 1994). Helen Sarkis illustrated this meditative deck based on the spiritual beliefs the Lakota Sioux. Ahpo wi chapi is Lakota for Morning Star. The star is a symbol of hope.
According to Lakota tradition, the points represent the eight planets that are the morning stars, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
Magda and J. A. Gonzales created the Native American Tarot Deck (U. S. Game Systems Inc., 1982). The deck is based on traditional tarot like the Waite-Rider Deck. The Native American deck depicts the history folklore and symbolism of many Native American tribes including the Shawnee, Sioux, Apache, Cheyenne, Chippewa, Navaho, Papago Sioux, Inuit and Iroquois. The Morning Star was selected to adorn the back of the cards. Magda Gonzales is of Shawnee heritage.
The Star card of the Major Arcana, as in the traditional tarot interpretation, symbolizes hope and that no destruction is final.
