Tara-Cards

Your compass navigating the tarot

Month: July 2023

THE 4 OF PENTACLES: WEALTH IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST MONEY

July 25, 2023 /
At the center of the card is a king wearing a crown while seated on a stone throne on a hill overlooking a city in the background. Balanced on top of his crown is a coin and he holds one in the center of his body, with arms wrapping around it possessively, while his feet rest upon two more coins. He is clad in red with a black cloak.
The 4 of Pentacles

Overview and Common Meanings of The 4 of Pentacles

The 4 of Pentacles tarot card suggests themes of possessiveness, security, and control. Depicting a figure clutching four pentacles(coins) tightly, it symbolizes a strong attachment to material possessions and a reluctance to let go. This card urges individuals to find a balance between financial stability and the fear of loss. While it can indicate financial prudence and success, it also warns against becoming overly restrictive or closed off emotionally, as true abundance lies in sharing and embracing life’s flow.  Some alternate names in varying decks are Control, Security, the silence.

A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart.

jonathan swift

Common Meanings

When the 4 of Pentacles shows up, it is a reminder to pay attention to balance in your life.  Are you so focused on holding on to the wealth you have that you have accumulated, or are working to accumulate, that you have become its prisoner with no one with whom to share life’s many forms of abundance? 

In a work or financial related reading, the Four of Pentacles indicates a desire for security and stability in your work environment, rather than an ever changing dynamic, and is a strong indicator of contentment in that situation.  In finances, it is an indication of safe long-term investments and the gradual accumulation of wealth. 

In a relationship-oriented reading, the 4 of Pentacles can be a sign of a partnership in which there is an imbalance of power- one partner, coming from a place of lack and fear, exhibiting controlling behavior, which erodes the foundation of the relationship.  It is important to remember that control is not love, and love always allows space for individual growth and motivation. 

The underlying message and lesson of the 4 of Pentacles is to honor and respect money while still placing a priority on the sweet savor of friends, family, love, and joy. 

The Many Faces of The 4 of Pentacles

The shadow side – or reversal – of the Four of Pentacles can be a sign that you are being wasteful with the money that you do have, living beyond your means, and that it is slipping through your fingers. Sometimes the shadow side of the Four of Pentacles will shine a light on greed being a motivating factor in life.   The shadow side of the Four of Pentacles, like all reversals or shadows, is not always negative.  It can demonstrate one in the process of re-evaluating the importance of money, wealth, and status in their life and pondering what is truly important.  It can also highlight the metaphorical circling of the wagons we do when we are in self-protection mode and seeking for stability and security in our life.  It is easy to fixate on financial security to feel more in control of our life when we are really seeking deeper emotional and mental security.

Description

At the center of the card is a king wearing a crown while seated on a stone throne on a hill overlooking a city in the background.  Balanced on top of his crown is a coin and he holds one in the center of his body, with arms wrapping around it possessively, while his feet rest upon two more coins.  He is clad in red with a black cloak. 

Themes of The 4 of Pentacles

  • Control
  • Hard work as its own reward
  • Keeping money that you earn
  • Miserly, tight-fisted
  • Protection of assets
  • Scarcity
  • Security
  • Solid Foundation 
  • Stability
  • Self-Improvement
  • Traditional beliefs

The Number 4

Four is the number of stability, practicality and pragmatism; efficiency and strength; conservative development.  It denotes creativity, but the kind that builds a solid foundation.  Since Pentacles represent the physical, material qualities of life and can offer counseling on monetary, work, well-being, and protection issues, it is helpful to reflect on and look for themes of solidity, grounding, and manifestation while remaining practical and conservative.  This is not about getting rich quick, but rather nose-to-the grindstone, steady work.

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

  • Stone throne – stable foundation
  • Elevation above city – rising socially and economically, but also separate and apart from interaction.
  • Red clothing – practical focus to create stability.
  • Black cloak – protection of assets/self to hold on to what he has achieved and accumulated.
  • Coin on crown – money is his mindset, at the center of his focus.
  • Coins on ground – his money grounds him
  • Coin held at his center – that money and finances are at his heart and center of his life. 

Herbs for The 4 of Pentacles

  • Almond – Knowledge, money, productivity, and success.
  • Basil – success, prosperity and peace, career, and business luck.
  • Blackberry – healing, money, protection
  • Bladderwrack – Protection, , attracts income and trade to your enterprise.
  • Nutmeg – good fortune, health, wealth, security, trustworthiness. 

Questions that The 4 of Pentacles asks us

  • Is my relationship with money motivated by greed, fear, or love?
  • How can I be the wisest steward of my financial health?

That is the 4 of Pentacles.  Wishing you a week in which you remember that, while it is wise to be prudent with your finances, also make space for the finer things in life that bring riches of a different sort.  Thank you for reading, and as always please reach out with comments, questions, or to schedule a reading.  Please join me next week for the 5 of Pentacles!

THE THREE OF PENTACLES: AMAZING SYNERGY FOUND IN COLLABORATION

July 19, 2023 / / 0 Comments
The Three of Pentacles card shows a stonemason at work in a church, seemingly following a plan held by a figure in an orange cloak who, along with a tonsured monk, stands looking on.  We can see the light streaming in from a half-open door.  There are three pentacles carved into the stone nearby, and they are black, rather than the usual gold (another name for pentacles is coins, and this suit often deals with material wealth).
The Three of Pentacles (coins)

Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.

henry ford

Overview and Common Meanings of the Three of Pentacles

The Three of Pentacles represents the need for teamwork and collaboration to create something big, to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of those around you.  Since Pentacles represent the physical, material qualities of life and can offer counseling on monetary, work, well-being, and protection issues, it is helpful to reflect on and look for themes of solidity, grounding, and manifestation. Whether you are working with a team of colleagues, friends, or family members, the card reminds us that we are stronger and more effective when we work together.

Some common names in varying decks are Three of Hazards, The Architect, The Craftsman, collaboration, productivity, growth.  

Common Meanings

When the Three of Pentacles appears in a tarot reading, it may suggest the need to work with others to achieve a goal or complete a project. This could be in a professional or personal context and may involve a variety of skills and talents. The card often suggests the importance of clear communication, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose among team members. It may also indicate the need to recognize and appreciate the contributions of others, and to celebrate shared successes.

In some interpretations, the Three of Pentacles may also suggest a need to develop one’s own skills and talents to better contribute to a team effort. This could involve seeking out new training or education or taking the time to hone existing skills and expertise. The card may also indicate the importance of working with a mentor or teacher to learn from those who are more experienced or knowledgeable.

In a relationship reading, if looking for love, the Three of Pentacles suggests that a professional connection is likely to be where a potential partner may be met.  In an established relationship, we are reminded that we work best and most effectively when we do so as a team. 

Overall, the Three of Pentacles is a card that suggests the importance of teamwork, collaboration, and mutual respect in achieving success.

The Many Faces of The Three of Pentacles

The reversal, or shadow side, of the Three of pentacles can indicate lack of cooperation or recognition, feeling jaded, that the task is tedious, perhaps unrealistic expectations about what was involved, or unwillingness to do the work.  This shadow side can indicate that the person asking the question (querent) will need to decide whether to continue to push through those boring parts or if maybe it is time to completely shift directions.

Description

The Three of Pentacles card shows a stonemason at work in a church, seemingly following a plan held by a figure in an orange cloak who, along with a tonsured monk, stands looking on.  We can see the light streaming in from a half-open door.  There are three pentacles carved into the stone nearby, and they are black, rather than the usual gold (another name for pentacles is coins, and this suit often deals with material wealth).

Themes of The Three of Pentacles

  • Collaboration
  • Enterprise
  • Expansion leading to success
  • Implementation
  • Learning         
  • Success
  • Teamwork

The Number Three

Triad of mother, father, child or nature, society, church, or birth, life, death.  It is the number of creative expression and is tied to the cycles and seasons in life, understanding, and growth

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

  • Dark Pentacles – also known as coins, (usually gold) – the rewards not necessarily of monetary value, but rather satisfaction in a job well done. 
  • Half open door – public recognition of good work.
  • Monk – lifelong vocation and steadfastness
  • Stonemason standing on workbench – He has achieved mastery of his craft
  • Pentacles embedded in church – Part of the design and longevity of the structure of the church; the work being created will be lasting

Herbs for The Three of Pentacles

  • Astragalus – merging ideas with physical reality to bring about change
  • Hazel – knowledge, wisdom, connection
  • Laurel – triumph, success, razor sharp focus
  • Mint family – both protects and repels so strengthens boundaries while enhancing empathic understanding
  • Rosemary – Promotes mental clarity, focus, and success, learning new skills, work cooperation

Questions that the Three of Pentacles asks us

  • Am I being a good team member and collaborating with others for the success of the team?
  • Are there any skills I need to learn to make myself a more valuable member of this team?

So that is the Three of Pentacles, all about teamwork and pushing through to learn what is needed to proceed and thrive. As always please reach out with questions, comments, or to schedule a reading.  Thank you for reading and please join me next week for the Four of Pentacles!

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