The Nine of Pentacles; It's a Good Life

As my personal card for 2014, I drew the Nine of Pentacles.  Although this card's theme speaks to my personal journey in 2014, like all things tarot it's influences are interwoven with the  yearly cards, I've  Wheel of Fortune and the Four of Pentacles that I've previously discussed.

The first things I notice are the home and car on the card. They're very similar to the home and car of the Four of Pentacles. They symbolize security to me. Safety. They also represent the rewards of hard work. For some, homes and cars are status. Overall, this is a scene of refinement and contentment, as though we've caught the lady at a moment of self reflection. There are many symbols of "the good life" in this card; fresh fruits, wine in a delicate goblet, the golden ring and bracelet, a diamond necklace and head band. Her hands are well manicured and she's holding a key in her right hand. Is this the key to success? The key to her home? The key to her future? Or possibly, the key to a door that she's locked to her past?

Notice the look in her eyes. She's not looking out into the lovely garden. It's almost as though she's not able to see the beauty of her surroundings and relax into the life she's created.  Or perhaps these things are are still just beyond her grasp and we've caught her in a moment of  realizing that they are within her reach if only she stays with the course of action and hard work that has brought her to this point.

This isn't the most traditional understanding of this card, but I see it as a distinct possibility; notice how she is sitting at a window with the beautiful view behind her. She's achieved a great many of her goals, we can tell that by her sense of self confidence and her presence.  Yet, there is also a sense of mystery and incompleteness here. While she's not directly looking over her shoulder, there is definitely something just outside our view that has attracted her attention. Her gaze is alert and almost wary, as though she's spied some potential danger in the distance and must not allow herself to become too complacent.

Combine this card with the Wheel of Fortune and the Four of Pentacles and wow...this could be a spectacular year. It could be filled with rewarding and challenging work. It's a year of huge transition that demands a great deal of self direction, attention and willingness to step up and out with confidence. But, as the Wheel turns, elements change and it's important to stay ahead of the wheel in order to achieve the success depicted in the Nine of Pentacles.

Tarot for the New Year 2014

On New Years Day I always draw a few tarot cards for an overview of the year's themes. More often than not by the end of the year I can see themes that directly correlate to the New Year's cards.

This year despite still being in a bit of a post surgical fog, I drew my cards and took a quick photo to record them. I knew these were powerful cards for me deserving of my full consideration. The first card, Nine of Pentacles, is my personal card for 2014. The Wheel of Fortune and the Four of Pentacles are the themes for 2014.  I can't remember ever having all three of these cards in combo before. Considering how 2013 ended, in a nutshell, this should be my best year in a long time! 

Let's start with the Wheel of Fortune. Its standing as a Major Arcana card is significant. There are powerful energetic forces at play and this is a card that reminds us to remember that life is constantly in flux. The wheel keeps turning..thankfully! It reminds us of the cycles in life and even though life may be challenging, it will pass and the next cycle could be full of rewarding, positive energy. I often think of this card as the "karma card".   Things happen. We're not always in control of all aspects in our life.  But that doesn't mean that we must allow external influences to create our lifetime experience. 

When the Wheel of Fortune appears, it is important to recognize the external influences but also that we can still create the outcome you desire. How? By taking advantage of the most basic function of a wheel... movement. The energy of the Wheel can be used to help us move past the obstacles in our way. This can be an important time in your life where major changes are either already in play or you may be on the cusp of a major choice point. The Wheel tell us that staying centered and balanced will allow us to direct the movement of the successful energy associated with the Wheel.  Key words you might to use for the Wheel of Fortune are: success, new ventures, growth, movement, flexibility, luck.

 The second card for 2014 I drew as a clarifying card for the Wheel of Fortune. Immediately recognizing the potential in the Wheel, I wanted to know how to make the most of the opportunities it represents. My card is the Four of Pentacles. Traditionally, this card is in direct opposition to the Wheel of Fortune. Where the Wheel is a trust your gut and move on card, the Four of Pentacles is usually thought of as somewhat miserly, depicting someone who has achieved status and security and is desperate to keep control. This guy isn't about to give up a thing.  It's a card for someone who doesn't enjoy change and feels threatened by it.  Ha!  Exactly the opposite of the energy storm the Wheel is bringing!

I can't say that I don't see the cosmic irony here given how I've been feeling about my own life changes. 

But I also see something more in the Four of Pentacles. My style of tarot reading is a blend of traditional meanings combined with a very large helping of my own intuitive understand of the card. My card interpretations may also vary for the same card from deck to deck and depending on the person I'm reading for.   My card is from the Cosmic Tarot. Now compare it to the Rider Waite card above. So, here's how I read the Four of Pentacles as a clarifying card to the Wheel of Fortune.

The Four of Pentacles is about being secure in your experience and work. The way to achieve the success promised by the Wheel of Fortune is to rely on the skill set that has brought you success. We see a man who appears to be educated, he uses his mental abilities to get ahead. He seems to be counseling the woman, who interestingly bears a resemblance to the woman on the Nine of Pentacles (my personal card for the year). He surrounded by the material goods that we associate with a good life; house, car, nice clothing, tasteful furnishings, books. His essence is controlled, in charge and stable. I sense communication as an important element of this card. It's represented by the telephone and the direct way he's looking at the woman. Even though she is demurely looking away, he is direct with her. He may also be a little too stuck in his ways. Her perspective on life might encourage new ideas for him, so it would be worth his time to allow her to speak her mind and listen without judgement.

Together, I see these cards for 2014 as very auspicious. This can be a year of great accomplishment and personal satisfaction. It won't be easy, there's the issues of maintaining my center, letting go of the fear of the unknown and trusting in the universe to provide. There is a foundation for growth and expansion. Opportunity comes from knowing myself and my abilities.  Should be an interesting year! 

My personal card, the Nine of Pentacles is a complement to these yearly theme cards. I'll talk about it in a separate post.  Now, I'm curious... are there milestones in life that cause you to turn to tarot?

How Did It Get To Be February Already?

The beginning of 2014 was challenging for me. December had been filled with major life events and I was still reeling from the impact. I unexpectedly lost my job through no doing of my own. I was in my sixth year with this company and I felt secure. Wrong. I’d also made the decision back in November to have weight loss surgery. The weight loss roller coaster is one I’ve been on since I was 9 years old.

I was absolutely sure of this decision but I also knew that it meant significant lifestyle changes. Surgery was scheduled for Dec. 18 right in the midst of all the holiday baking and celebrating…the majority of it centered around food.  I’ve never chosen the easy way to do anything. So why start now, right?

So December was filled with anxiety from positive and negative sources. Stressful. But I made it through the rigorous pre-op phase fairly easily and so when surgery day arrived, I knew I would and could become a success story.   I’d previously decided to sideline the lack of employment until I was fully recovered and that was a good decision. I just didn’t realize exactly how stressed out I was, how long it would take my head to clear and how easily I would fall into the funk of zombie like days.

But I don’t want to continue like an extra in The Walking Dead. A writer who isn’t writing is a pretty pathetic creature and not someone I’m happy with being.  So it’s time to think. It's time to write.