VI of Pentacles
Happy Tuesday, everyone. Before I jump in - just a reminder that tonight is a full moon. So don't forget to prepare what you need for whatever you do on a full moon (moon water, cleansing your Tarot decks, release and renew, chaining yourself to the radiator, etc...)
Today's card is the VI of Pentacles, and this card is one of the reasons why I love Tarot. When you look at a card from any given deck, you are at the whim of the illustrator. You are typically drawn to specific elements of the card that your mind makes sense of based on your question and the spread's position. Sometimes cards are very (very) abstract and there is no meaning available without consulting the guidebook. That, to me, takes me out of the experience and removes the intuitive part of the reading.
I chose all of the cards today on purpose. First - I LOVE the Terra Volatile, shown on the left (this isn't the first time I've shown their cards). This card can be related to in a few different ways - and I have only seen these representations in THIS deck, and I am here for it!
- The benefactor giving charity to the poor - very common in tarot.
- The beggar asking for change (is that change financial or literal)? Also common in Tarot, but not as often as someone showing charity.
- The "benefactor" taking the money from the poor, almost like taxation. I LOVE this depiction.
How you interpret the cards depends on your mindset and who you most identify with based on your situation. It's brilliantly crafted.
The VI of Pentacles playlist is available on Spotify.
Message of the Day: I could literally talk about this card all day. There's so much to unpack, but I will keep it concise.
The VI of Pentacles is traditionally the card of generosity. It represents charity, giving and receiving, and offering assistance. It can also represent being taken advantage of or taking advantage of someone or a specific situation. It's a card of friendship and being a source of comfort and support for those in need - not necessarily from a financial perspective (ya know, like the church teaches you, you're rich in spirit!).
I also think this card can represent karma, a.k.a play shitty games, get shitty prizes. You reap what you sow.
When I look at this card introspectively, I have to ask myself, "how generous am I with myself?" Am I forgiving of my own mistakes? Am I forgiving of other people? What do I expect from other people, particularly emotionally? Am I waiting around for "emotional" handouts?
There's a saying I was raised with, "charity begins at home." I always thought that meant that we lead by example to teach our kids to be generous and charitable, but now I think perhaps that's more about how we show self-love and self-forgiveness in the face of challenging situations. In a sense, that's still teaching the children, because they're observant little shits and see and hear everything.
I think it also means to have a welcoming home, ready to help and support friends who need you - whether that be coming over for a talk to unwind, being a shoulder to cry on, or being a literal crash pad for when your friends/family are having their Tower moment. There is little in this world that is as valuable as feeling the love and support of others.
As to the flip side of this card, being the person who takes advantage of people or situations... don't be an asshole. I really try not to judge people, but there are plenty of times in life when I see people taking advantage of "loopholes" - be it taxes or social services or fucking couponing - and it makes me so mad. THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS. Exploiting anyone or anything for your personal gain is abhorrent, and yes... yes, I DO judge you. Maybe your gain is immediate, but the scales become unbalanced and payment will be required somewhere else to shore up your account.
Finding your center and offering yourself up in service of others without the expectation of reciprocity... that's part of the path of self-betterment and enlightenment. Being a parent is a tremendous lesson in what it means to be truly selfless (even when all they do is take, take, take - we joke that our son feeds on our life force to fuel his physical growth). But there are just some people in this world you'd do just about anything for, ya know?
Decks shown above: