Tara-Cards

Your compass navigating the tarot

Month: August 2023

THE 8 OF PENTACLES: MASTERY RESULTS IN REWARDS

August 28, 2023 / / 0 Comments
The 8 of Pentacles A tradesman sits on his work bench, clad in red and blue with a black apron. He is hard at work with hammer and chisel engraving golden disks. Six are hung carefully on the wall next to him, he works on the 7th, and one lies on the ground, as though overlooked, or discarded. The sky is cloudless, of indeterminate hue, and we see a city in the distance.
The 8 of Pentacles

Overview and Common Meanings of the 8 of Pentacles

8 of Pentacles symbolizes diligent effort and skillful work.  It depicts a person meticulously crafting pentacles, indicating a focus on honing one’s abilities and striving for mastery.  This card signifies dedication, growth through practice, and a commitment to refining one’s talents.  It suggests a period of focused learning, craftsmanship, and incremental progress toward long-term goals. Some alternate meanings in varying decks are The Apprentice, Dedication, Progress, Inner Order.

Everything we do is practice for something greater than where we currently are. Practice only makes for improvement.

Les Brown

Common Meanings

The 8 of Pentacles can indicate that money is on the way to you, earned through your own diligent and unwavering efforts. 

In finance or career related reading, the 8 of Pentacles assures you that you are conscientious and apply yourself diligently to make sure that a job is done right.  It may be indicative of a course of study may take some time to bring to completion; remember slow and steady wins the race in this instance.  In finance, it can indicate that you must settle for an entry level wage for the time being, but encourages you to stay the course, find satisfaction in a job well done, and trust that the rewards will follow. 

In a relationship or love reading, the 8 of Pentacles highlights determination to stay the course and invest in the commitment to the success of the relationship.  If you are seeking a relationship, 8 of Pentacles can indicate determination to be prepared and find the right partnership that will last. 

The Many Faces of the 8 of Pentacles

The shadow side – or reversal – of the 8 of Pentacles can be a sign of stagnation, and feeling like you are beating your head against a wall and not seeing results (well, other than a headache).  It may be a call to take a step back and assess whether this is a temporary blockage or whether there is a need to be flexible and move on. 

8 of Pentacles can also be indicative of being so focused on one detail that you miss the bigger picture, so it may be a good time to take a step back and try to see the whole forest, rather than just the tree in front of you.  Finally, it can also indicate that you are working away at yourself and focused on becoming the best version of yourself that you can be. 

Description

A tradesman sits on his work bench, clad in red and blue with a black apron.  He is hard at work with hammer and chisel engraving golden disks.  Six are hung carefully on the wall next to him, he works on the 7th, and one lies on the ground, as though overlooked, or discarded.  The sky is cloudless, of indeterminate hue, and we see a city in the distance. 

Themes of The 8 of Pentacles

  • Accomplishment
  • Apprenticeship
  • Attention to detail.  
  • Diligent efforts
  • Education
  • Financial gains
  • Focused learning
  • Mastery

The Number 8

Stability and renewal, inner strength and wisdom and healthy balanced ego.  Fulfillment, the combination of two fours which represent stability.  When combined with Pentacles, the key is hard work and steady focus with controlled forward momentum. 

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

  • Black apron- symbol of trade, practical protection, and color black symbolic protection.
  • Coin on the ground – perhaps discarded – pride in work, can sometimes be to a fault in over-perfectionism.
  • Hammer and chisel – tools of the trade needed to eventually gain mastery
  • Red and Blue clothing – drive and truth of purpose

Herbs for The 8 of Pentacles

  • Gotu Kola – memory, alertness, and mood; may enhance strength and physical functioning.
  • Licorice root – supports adrenals, which helps manage stress.
  • Lions Mane – improve cognitive performance and reduce brain fog.
  • Peppermint – helps memory, energy and focus
  • Rhodiola – memory, concentration, endurance, burnout

Questions that the 8 of Pentacles asks us

  • What skill do I need to learn in order to gain the Mastery I am seeking?
  • Have I lost sight of the real goal in being bogged down with day-to-day minutiae?

That is the 8 of Pentacles:  dedication, focus and hard work leading to mastery.  Wishing you a week in which you keep your eye on the prize!  Thank you for reading, and, as always, please reach out with comments, questions, or to schedule a reading (I can do discord!)  Please join me next week for the 9 of Pentacles!

THE 7 OF PENTACLES: THE REWARD OF PATIENCE

August 22, 2023 / / 0 Comments
The 7 of Pentacles: A man, clad in red and blue, takes a break from his hard work and leans on his hoe, as he contemplates vigorous vines which, while healthy, have not matured enough to bear fruit. Arranged on the vines are six coins, with the seventh being at his feet. In the distant background, we see purple mountains.
The 7 of Pentacles

Overview and Common Meanings of The 7 of Pentacles

The 7 of Pentacles generally symbolizes a period of assessment, contemplation, and patience. This card often represents a moment of reflection on one’s efforts and investments.  It suggests that while progress has been made, there’s a need to pause and consider the results achieved so far.  This card can indicate a time of waiting, as one evaluates whether the current path is yielding the desired outcomes.  It can also signify the importance of long-term planning and the idea that consistent, diligent work will eventually lead to fruitful results.  In some interpretations, the 7 of Pentacles can warn against becoming too absorbed in the process, urging individuals to balance their efforts with moments of rest and rejuvenation. Alternate names in some varying decks are options, results, depletion.

Success requires both urgency and patience. Be urgent about making the effort, and patient about seeing the results.

Ralph Marston

Common Meanings

7 of Pentacles shows up as a reminder that the goal you have been working towards is in sight, and that it is a good time to assess your progress.  It is not a time to rest, but rather to use this time of evaluation as an inventory of what you have accomplished this far, and what needs to happen going forward into making that goal into a reality, no matter how tedious this current phase feels.  You have planted and tended the seeds of inspiration, stay patient and trust the process and your diligence will pay off. 

In a career or financial reading, 7 of Pentacles can indicate that your investment in long term goals, such as education is about to see the rewards.  If you are seeking work, 7 of Pentacles urges you towards a role in which you feel ownership or responsibility – possibly even starting your own business – and reminds you that while the rewards may not come quickly, they will come and will be all the richer for the wait.  Finally, 7 of Pentacles reminds you to save for a rainy day.

In a reading that is related to love and relationships, the 7 of Pentacles is a reminder to stay the course.  If you are seeking love, this is a positive sign that the right person is going to appear, but it may take longer than you would prefer.  However, this person is going to meet your standards, and that is more important than immediate gratification anyway!

If you are in a stable relationship already, 7 of Pentacles suggests that this is a relationship wholly worthy of your time and energy, and that you both understand that a successful long-term relationship requires investment in time and energy, along with commitment.  If your relationship is struggling, 7 of Pentacles provides assurance that you both still see the value and are willing to invest time and energy to making it successful. 

The Many Faces of The 7 of Pentacles

The shadow side – or reversal – of the 7 of Pentacles can indicate procrastination, and serve as a gentle reminder that, no matter how tiresome the work feels right now, you need to re-focus and remind yourself that it will be worth it in the end. Sometimes the card can indicate that a re-evaluation of your current path is in order; perhaps a new job or maybe just a slight pivot to bring you back into alignment with your vision. 

Description

A man, clad in red and blue, takes a break from his hard work and leans on his hoe, as he contemplates vigorous vines which, while healthy, have not matured enough to bear fruit.  Arranged on the vines are six coins, with the seventh being at his feet. In the distant background, we see purple mountains.     

Themes of The 7 of Pentacles

  • Building
  • Investment in lasting results
  • Long term vision
  • Patience for future success
  • Perseverance
  • Possibility for achievement
  • Work

The Number 7

Seven is an important number.  It is the number of alliance, days of the week, days of creation of the universe.  Seven is a call for patience and is all about learning and understanding at a deeper, more intellectual level.  Seven presents’ options and the ability to combine heaven and earth for creating the ideal.

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

  • Blue in clothing –following one’s true purpose.
  • Coins (pentacles) – placed in the vines symbolize what must be left to invest and grow for the future.  Coin at feet symbolizing current disposable income. 
  • Hoe – item with which change will take place, symbol of hard work.
  • Man with feet on the ground – firmly rooted and working towards something.
  • Red in clothing – passion and energy for project
  • Vines with no fruit – hard work that has yet to bear fruit; necessity of tending and nurturing those plans and ideas in order to bring them to reality. 

Herbs for The 7 of Pentacles

  • Balmony -Steadfastness, patience, and perseverance. Associated with the tortoise or turtle.
  • Bloodroot – For those who are learning to ‘bide one’s time’. For learning to give oneself and others space to unfold. For those who must wait.
  • Lemon Balm – calming and promoting trust, psychic/spiritual development.
  • Turmeric – anti-inflammatory, promotes calmness and peace of mind.
  • Yellow dock – good herb for periods of change and transformation; assists in patience at the cusp to a new chapter in time.

Questions that the 7 of Pentacles asks us

  • What steps have you taken – or can you take – to ensure success?
  • Are you feeling scattered and disorganized in your goals and if so, how can you bring yourself back to center and your goals back into alignment with your vision?

That is the 7 of Pentacles:  focus and determination resulting in success.  Wishing you a week in which you see some of your goals – either big or small – beginning to bear fruit.  As always, please reach out to me with comments, questions, or to schedule a meeting (I can do zoom or discord voice!)  Have a great week and please join me next week for the 8 of Pentacles!

THE 6 OF PENTACLES: THE REMARKABLE BALANCE BETWEEN GIVING AND RECEIVING

August 8, 2023 / / 0 Comments
The 6 of Pentacles In the 6 of Pentacles card, you see an apparently affluent nobleman in a red cloak over a blue striped tunic with two figures kneeling at his feet as though in supplication. He holds scales in his left hand, and his right hand appears to be dropping coins into the hands of one of the beggars. Arranged around his head are 6 large golden pentacles – coins.
The 6 of Pentacles

Overview and common meanings of The 6 of pentacles

The 6 of Pentacles symbolizes themes of generosity, charity, and balance.  This card represents the act of giving and receiving on both material and spiritual levels.  It signifies a time of sharing one’s resources and abundance with those in need, fostering a sense of harmony and fairness in relationships and situations, and encourages us to consider the power dynamics at play in our interactions, reminding us of the importance of giving and receiving with an open heart and a sense of equality.  Alternative names in varying decks are synergy, gratitude, breakthrough. 

Life is an echo.  What you send out, comes back. What you sow, you reap.

Zig Ziglar

Common Meanings

Typically, 6 of Pentacles indicates money coming from a bequest, or the ability to provide a financial boon to someone else.  The energy around this card is a gentle reminder that there is no shame in accepting help when you need it, particularly when done from a genuine desire to help.

In a career or financial reading, 6 of Pentacles suggests that if you are looking for new employment a mentor or employer is willing to take a chance on you in a position that will challenge you and allow you to sharpen your skills.  Financially it is also a message to be aware of whether you rely too heavily on others for your financial wholeness and an opportunity to vision ways in which to create stronger financial independence. 

In a reading with the emphasis on love or relationships, and you are seeking a new relationship, 6 of Pentacles can be a sign that you are going to be introduced to someone by a friend, family member, or coworker and that when the offer arrives, accept it.  In an established relationship, it is a good time to pay attention to whether there is an imbalance in love or energy put into the relationship, and what steps you can take to restore equity. 

The Many Faces of the 6 of Pentacles

The shadow side – or reversal – of the 6 of Pentacles can suggest an inability to hold on to money – either through carelessness, bad investments, or frivolous overspending.  It can also serve as a caution to be wary and pay attention to a potential hidden agenda (strings attached!) of a financial offer or charity.  Sometimes it is a call for the need for self-care when giving charitably to maintain the balance of giving and receiving.  It can also be indicative of the need for careful evaluation of your history and patterns around the flow of money in your life, or simply to just caution you to tread carefully if you are considering taking on more debt. 

Description

In the 6 of Pentacles card, you see an apparently affluent nobleman in a red cloak over a blue striped tunic with two figures kneeling at his feet as though in supplication.  He holds scales in his left hand, and his right hand appears to be dropping coins into the hands of one of the beggars.  Arranged around his head are 6 large golden pentacles – coins. 

Themes of The 6 of Pentacles

  • Appreciation
  • Charity
  • Compassion
  • Connection with your sphere – family and friends
  • Family
  • Financial harmony
  • Generosity
  • Gifts
  • Improvement in financial circumstances
  • Inheritance
  • Property
  • Wise Investments

The Number 6

The embodiment of the heart and love.   Emotional relationships, compassion, empathy, harmony, and support.  When associated with Pentacles, six magnifies stability with sensitivity, the ability to be generous without patronizing, and the grace to accept help when it is warranted or needed. 

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

  • Beggars juxtaposed with the wealthy nobleman- necessity of both giving and receiving.
  • Blue striped tunic of nobleman – virtue of generosity
  • Coins in the air – the ongoing cycle of abundance –both giving and receiving.
  • Red cloak of nobleman- red is the color of energy and practicality.
  • Scales – the scales of mercy and justice, fairness and equality

Herbs for The 6 of Pentacles

  • Alfalfa – Luck, prosperity, and overall good fortune
  • Cedarwood – Luck, strength, healing.  Helps improve money and safety.
  • Comfrey – prosperity, physical and emotional healing, setting intention on manifesting long-term goals.
  • Daisy- abundance, joy, happiness, transformation
  • White Clover – restores vibration to an innate state of positivity and perfection

Questions that the 6 of Pentacles asks us

  • Am I being generous with my resources, time, and wisdom to those around me in need?
  • When a helping hand is offered, do I instinctively reject it out of pride or is it actually fear?

That is the 6 of Pentacles.  Wishing you a week in which you find that balance between giving and receiving that enriches your soul.  Thank you for reading, and, as always, please reach out with questions, comments, or to schedule a reading.  Please join me next week for the 7 Of Pentacles! 

THE 5 OF PENTACLES: TURNING LACK INTO GROWTH

August 1, 2023 / / 0 Comments
The 5 of Pentacles depicts two figures in the cold snow at night beneath a stained-glass church window depicting 5 golden coins, or pentacles. One of the figures is on crutches with a plague bell around their neck. The other has a blanket or shawl pulled up over their head. They appear to be walking past the light, so focused on the cold that they fail to notice that there is light and warmth that is available to them.
The Five of Pentacles

There is a lie that acts like a virus within the mind of humanity.  And that lie is, ‘There’s not enough good to go around. There’s lack and there’s limitation and there’s just not enough’.  There is enough for everyone.  If you believe it, if you can see it, if you act from it, it will show up for you. That’s the truth

Michael Beckwith

Overview and Common Meanings of the 5 of Pentacles

The 5 of Pentacles represents a challenging period of hardship and financial struggle. Depicted as two figures walking in the snow outside a church, it symbolizes feelings of isolation, exclusion, and vulnerability. In varying decks, 5 of Pentacles is also known as Cultivation, Persistence, New Possibilities.

Common Meanings

The card often implies a sense of loss, either material or emotional, and the need for seeking help during trying times. Oftentimes, the message is that we are focusing on fear of loss or lack and missing the abundance that we have in our life. The core message of the 5 of Pentacles lies in facing difficulties and the potential for eventual recovery.

In a work or financial reading the 5 of Pentacles says that this may not be the optimal time for seeking employment or starting a new business venture but rather a time to tighten your belt and keep things status quo.  If you have been struggling financially, the card sends a strong nudge that there is help available, but you have to ask for it. 

In a relationship or love related reading, when seeking love, the 5 of pentacles may indicate that there are no good prospects currently, so it is a good time to shift focus away from that search and trust that this will eventually pass.  In established relationships, the 5 of pentacles can imply stressors most likely focused on money – lack thereof, irresponsible spending, etc., which has left you feeling isolated and alone.  It is time for honest conversations to establish a plan and to reconnect with your partner so that you feel less alone.

The 5 of Pentacles is an important card to address on the spiritual level, as it magnifies areas in our life where we are experiencing lack, whether it be physical lack or just an emotional deficiency.  Perhaps you have focused on monetary wealth and neglected spiritual and emotional wealth.  This is a reminder to find balance.  Perhaps it is a good time to adopt a new spiritual practice. 

The Many Faces of The Five of Pentacles

The shadow side – or reversal – of the 5 of Pentacles brings with it an opportunity to re-examine whether you are holding on to situations, material things, or relationships out of fear of loss or heartache.  It can also be a sign that this season of hardship is ending or is already behind you.  The shadow side can also show up to shine light on an imbalance of power in a relationship, whether it be a professional one or a personal one…issues like withholding affection or money can be at the heart of the shadow side of the 5 of Pentacles. 

Description

The 5 of Pentacles depicts two figures in the cold snow at night beneath a stained-glass church window depicting 5 golden coins, or pentacles.  One of the figures is on crutches with a plague bell around their neck.  The other has a blanket or shawl pulled up over their head.  They appear to be walking past the light, so focused on the cold that they fail to notice that there is light and warmth that is available to them. 

Themes of the 5 of Pentacles

  • Fear of poverty
  • Financial hardships   
  • Hope
  • Illness
  • Insecurity
  • Isolation
  • Lack mentality.
  • Light in the darkness
  • Love
  • Loyalty
  • Strong partnerships
  • Unity in times of tribulation

The Number 5  

The number 5 is a holy number in many religions: – in Christianity, the 5 holy wounds of Christ; Hinduism – The five elements; Islam – the Five Pillars of Islam.  In numerology 5 is curiosity of the spiritual nature, but also imbalance and upset. Five is the number of humanity and a reminder that we all experience disillusionment at some point in our lives.

Elements of the Card and Associated Symbolism

  • Beggar and person on crutches – by pooling resources, the two destitute figures create unity during adversity and emphasize the message that we are always stronger together.
  • Cold dark outside – feeling alone, or separated, out in the cold.
  • Light from church & pentacle-stained glass – union of the spiritual and material, hope; light in the darkness, wealth not grounded in money, but in soul satisfaction. 
  • Plague bell – originally signaled illness and ostracism.  Can be viewed as a reminder to celebrate the things that make us unique.
  • Snow – symbolizes cold and adversity, but also, with the church, a nod to yin/yang or light/dark, male/female energy, reminiscent of the two figures and their complementary nature.

Herbs for the 5 of Pentacles  

  • Allspice – Money, luck, healing, acquiring wealth. Provides added resolve and momentum.
  • Bergamot – Money, prosperity, protection from evil and illness, improving memory, promoting restful sleep
  • Cinquefoil – Balance; The five points of the leaf represent love, money, health, power, and wisdom
  • Orange Peel – love, insight, fortune, money, house & business negotiations
  • Oregano – wealth and money luck

Questions that the 5 of Pentacles asks us

  • Am I focusing on what is absent in my life and missing all the things that are present?
  • How can I learn to ask for help when I need it?

That is the 5 of Pentacles, an opportunity to revisit our relationship with feelings of lack in all aspects of our life.  Thank you for reading, and as always, please reach out with questions, comments, or to book a reading.  Please join me next week for the Six of Pentacles!!

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