9 of Pentacles

I've been thinking about my garden lately. Our house has lots of potential in the garden area, but most of that potential is waiting to be discovered. I feel lost when facing a blank canvas, be it an actual canvas, a piece of paper, or an expanse of soil. The 9 of pentacles reminds me that a wonderful vibrant restful garden is the result of hard work, planning and time. And before I can get to the end, I have to start the process.

But look at the rewards!

Pairs Exercise 8 of Pentacles and Death

The dance of Death and the 8 of Pentacles is one of creation and destruction.

This month I begin participating on the Comparative Tarot e-list's Pairs exercises. In the Pairs exercise you are assigned a card to compare with the card of the month. The card of the month is the 8 of Pentacles, Death is my assigned pair card. What an interesting combination. I laid out this pair from a number of different decks and was struck by the way they relate to each other depending on the way the characters on the cards face.

In the Ator tarot (as in the RWS) Death and the craftsperson on the 8 of Pentacles face the same direction. When the Death card comes before the 8 of Pentacles it suggests that Death/change can come upon us unexpectedly. When the 8 of Pentacles comes before Death it suggests that even in the face of Death and endings, creation carries on.

In the Sheridan Douglas Tarot (sorry I don't have scans of these cards) Death and the 8 of Pentacles face different directions. When they face each other you see the tension between the two. The craftsman looks Death in the face and defiantly carries on. When they are back to back it seems that Death has passed by and the craftsman has been spared. Perhaps he has been too busy at his task to take note of Death's passing.

The Aquarian Tarot shows close ups of the faces of Death and the Craftsman. I am struck by the differences in their expressions. Death is dispassionate, looking straight ahead, while the craftsman on the 8 of pentacles is passionately engaged in the process of creation. So engaged that he does not realize who is creeping up behind him.

4 of Wands

Transitions, celebrations, passages. This is the 4 of wands. The image speaks of this and more. In the International icon we see two flower bearing celebrants in the background, coming from a walled castle to a flowered canopy held aloft by 4 wands. This is the gateway, how will you change as you pass through? What are you celebrating? What is your rite of passage?

This appears to be a joyous image, but passages and transitions can take all forms. You could be celebrating a wedding, as the Spiral Tarot image suggests. Or you could be acknowledging a death.

I often see this card as a seasonal turning point, the World Spirit version shows this best, with their reference to a May Day celebration.

7 of Swords

The 7 of swords is one sneaky card. Like a thief in the night our actor has swiped someone else's weapons. Where is he taking them? What will he do with them? Why doesn't he take everything? Is he looking back at those two swords with regret that he can't carry them too, or has he just spotted them and is about to turn around and grab them?

The suit of Swords represents the mind. I see these swords as thoughts. Are these other people's ideas? Are they your own ideas which you are gathering up to evaluate and compare? Notice those tents in the background. What do they hide? Perhaps these represent other places to find inspiration.

5 of wands, Spiral Tarot

The 5 of wands in the Spiral Tarot seems more aggressive than the International Icon version. This is 4 against one. Note how the legs of the 4 seem to be one unit, bringing to my mind a multi headed foe. Each head/foe with it's own unique fighting style which must be understood before it can be overcome.

This card reminds me that each obstacle one faces is unique and should be approached fresh. Accomplishing one task may not solve the problem, but with persistence and flexibility success will be achieved.

5 of wands, International Icon

I've been telling the universe (and anyone who'll listen) that I want to do more tarot readings. I was gearing up my nerve to ask about getting into a psychic fair when an opportunity fell into my lap. Within hours I went from wanting to read to having a standing gig. While I was thinking about the opportunity I pulled a card, asking about issues I may have with taking the step.

5 of wands, ah yes, competition. I'm not comfortable with competition. It feels like fighting to me, and where there's a fight there a loser. But looking at this card I don't see a fight, I see differently talented individuals engaged in a friendly game to test their skills.

This card reminds me of the game my son and his friends play. They find sticks and "battle" each other. No one tries to beat the other, I only hear sounds of excitement and delight, and no one's been hurt yet.

Sitting in a room full of other readers, hoping to get a client is not a competition, no matter what my gut may be screaming at me. It's a chance to hone my skill as a reader, to learn how to attract the right client to me, how to present myself to the public.

Ace of Cups, Spiral Tarot

The Ace of Cups in the Spiral Tarot focuses on what comes out of the container. Like Pandora with her box this woman has used the key to open a jar which explodes with energy. Note that some of the orbs emerging are light and others are dark. The emotional world is not all sweetness and light. Did she know what was going to come out? Did she realize it would release it's elemental energetics with such force? Is she surprised by what she has unleashed, or is she triumphant?

I've been taking a different route to work the past few days, on my walk I pass a collection of planters in this shape. They are bursting forth with healthy colorful plants. They remind me of the incredible creative potential within the Ace of Cups. There is nourishment in the suit of Cups, nourishment for the spirit, emotions, and heart.

This card reminds me that we each hold the key to the source of this bounty. But like Pandora, we can never be sure what we will get when we open that container.