7 Pentacles in March

Four of Pentacles
Bianco Nero Tarot

When I first saw the Four of Pentacles for February in my New Year Reading, I took it as a reminder to take control over my resources; manage my spending, improve my time management-time is also a resource, after all-and take better stock of my pantry and household supplies to make better shopping lists.

When the Seven of Pentacles followed the Four, I saw it as growth since seven is greater than four, both cards were upright and in the same suit. In other words, I'd have the resources I'd need and would have managed them well coming into March provided I learned to manage things better.

Seven of Pentacles
Rider Waite Smith Tarot

When we look at the Seven of Pentacles, in most decks we see a figure looking at a plant with some garden implement in their hand and a look of reflection on their face. As the story of Pentacles is, to me, a rags-to-riches story, I view the Seven as a time of reflection. Is it time to harvest what I have? Do I let the crop grow further and risk losing my gains by waiting too long? Is it ripe enough? Have I done enough work? Do I take it all out and start over? What more can I do and should I do it?

We can also apply these ideas to money. If I have an investment account, do I stay the course when the market gets bearish? Do I cut my losses and invest elsewhere? Or the reverse is also a consideration: At what point in a bullish market do I take my gains and risk not making more?

What about a job or career? Am I happy in my current situation? Can I throw more of myself into it and hope things will get better? Or do I leave and look for a possible better situation?

Or as a retiree, do I have enough of a pension to cover my expenses? What should I cut? Or should I look for a way to supplement my pension?

With the current global pandemic of COVID-19, little did I realize how much control I’d need over my spending and other resource management in March. I look at my pantry, and yes, it is full. My refrigerator is stocked with my essentials, though I will need to venture out for some produce and other items. Do I have enough of the other necessities; cleaning supplies, toiletries, etc? Better yet, do the stores? And if not, how do I manage with what I already have?

Seven of Pentacles
Bianco Nero Tarot

The Magician
Bianco Nero Tarot

This month will require a constant review of the resources I have and see what more I can use, maybe in different ways, which already seems to be the case as April’s card is the Magician Reversed.

Oh, joy.

Bianco Nero Tarot, Marco Proietto Author, (c) 2018, US Games, Inc.

October

The original card from
the Rider Waite Smith deck

Since we have moved into November, it’s time to check in with my October card from my New Year's Reading and we find ourselves with the Four of Pentacles, Reversed.

As I mentioned earlier in April with the Ten of Pentacles, this is the suit associated with prosperity, abundance and material goods. As we need to work to attain prosperity, it can also relate to labor, jobs, investments, etc. As we examine the figure in the traditional card, we can see he is hanging on to his Pentacles by grasping one to his chest and standing on two of them. As four is near the beginning of the suit, this is suggesting the figure is early in his understanding of the suit. He’s made some money, or acquired some possessions and is fearful of losing them. Therefore, he’s clinging to them, or trying to control what he has. So, in an upright position, this is a card about controlling and maintaining what we have in terms of our material situation.

The Four of Pentacles,
New Palladini

In my reading, I used the New Palladini deck and this card came up reversed. Reversals can indicate a delay, an obstacle, a blockage or simply the opposite meaning. Are there things I’m hanging on to that no longer serve me? While Pentacles is mostly about material goods and possessions, this card, reversed, could also suggest a letting go of control in general. In some instances, a reversal may also suggest the upright energy of the card but to its most extreme. In this case, it might suggest the figure is taking the fear of losing his possessions to the extreme of hoarding, stinginess or outright possessiveness. 

I can always find things I’m no longer using and donate them to a charity or simply toss out. In fact, I try to make it a habit to find a minimum of fifty things throughout each year to toss. This can include outdated medications, CDs I no longer listen to, DVDs that have lost my interest, clothes that no longer fit or are too worn, etc. Or it could even be something I haven’t set eyes on in the last 6 months.

Pentacles is the suit also connected to the Earth element. Have I been outdoors in Nature much? Not really. Do I feel grounded or connected to the Earth? Again, not really.

There were some things that came up in this past month that caused me to take a look at myself.

I posted about them in a fairly recent blog, Humbled, where I learned that if you let go of an expected, or highly anticipated outcome, you will never be disappointed.

I take it that was the message of the card. Letting go of expectations, relinquishing control, or not blocking the changes meant for my higher good.

But, I still feel the need to get out into Nature more and ground myself. 

The Chariot

When I think of a chariot, I think of movement. Forward movement in particular, because it would be hard, if not impossible, to move a chariot in reverse. Horses don't like to back up, especially when attached to a vehicle. I also envision the chariot races from ancient civilizations which in turn suggests speed. Plus with the races, there is a winner and a loser.

As I look at the Chariot card from the standard Rider Waite tarot deck, I see two sphinxes, instead of horses, pulling this chariot. The fact that one is black and the other is white suggests the idea of opposites. In Greek mythology, the sphinx was often depicted as female, while the Egyptians depicted it as male. Again, opposites.

The young man in the image is dressed in armor, a warrior maybe? Yet, he wears a crown. A warrior-prince? The crescent moon epaulets suggest emotions as the moon is said to affect ours. He has also crossed a moat, and water is often seen as a symbol of emotion in dream interpretation, while astrologically, the water signs are said to feel more intensely than the other signs. So, the chariot is moving through some emotional issues.

Above him is a canopy decorated with stars symbolizing the heavens. Divine guidance or protection, perhaps?

One can only imagine the strength needed to control a chariot with two powerful creatures pulling it, be they horses or sphinxes. Without that control, these two creatures could end up going in opposite directions, creating chaos, disruption, and possible destruction in their wake.

Stagnancy isn't pretty...

I am living a chariot moment right now.

My life is moving forward.

Well, it always has been moving forward because time has a habit of just marching onward. We can either move with it and grow, or remain stagnant while it marches on.

And I have been growing.

My chariot has begun to pick up speed, so I need to gather some strength. Perhaps a little control, too.

Someone very near and dear to me has re-entered my life, catching me totally by surprise and quite off-guard. Yet, it has been quite a pleasant reconnection. For both of us.

We have a very deep connection that we recognize but don't fully understand, yet we seem to understand each other in ways no one else can comprehend. Get it?

We are like the sphinxes in the card, quite opposite each other. He's a Leo, a fire sign full of passion, motivation, drive, and physical energy and I am Aquarius, an air sign-full of logic, rationalization, reason, all mental energy. Interestingly, if the body of the sphinx is typically a lion, does that make me the head of the sphinx bringing us together in one powerful creature? Leo falls in mid-summer, Aquarius in mid-winter which places them directly opposite each other in the zodiac, which is located in the heavens. Remember the canopy?

We have an age difference which brings an added dimension to this adventure. The crown reminds me to control my own ego. So, just because I'm older doesn't mean I will always know best. And while I can own up to more life experience, he will still have his own experiences to learn from. And I must let him learn. And not rescue, but support him.

The charioteer is determined. He is focused and serene. He senses victory but must not let himself get carried away; metaphorically by his emotions, nor literally by a chariot out of control.

Balance is the key.

Perhaps this is our lesson to keep our chariot moving in a forward direction towards victory.

This time.