Earth,
represented by the suit of Pentacles, is perhaps the most troublesome element
for many Tarot readers and this is principally because it’s difficult to look past
the presence of coins in the imagery. We associate the coins with finance and
the quest for material abundance. The challenge is to look beyond this surface
symbolism in order to reach the truly magnificent depths of this element and
learn what it really has to offer. That’s not to say that it doesn’t relate to cold hard cash; of
course it does! But there’s so much more to grasp and appreciate about this
elusive suit.
Sometimes
it can be hard to make the material world stuff ‘stick’ and Pentacles don’t
always seem to be inherently spiritual in nature. Here's the thing. Nothing
spiritual can truly happen without a true acceptance of the Earth energy and
what it represents. For example, someone may be trying to lead an intensely
spiritual life but forgetting to think of their body itself as a temple.
Someone may want to experience higher states of consciousness or travel across
the astral realm but their connection to their physical life is in tatters.. They may hate
consensus reality, despise being around other people or find that they feel no
real connection to the planet. They may be unable to manage their time or deal
with 'real life' situations. This is something to be remedied because spiritual
seekers can actually do the most good on
this planet. They are the people who are needed to get involved with
environmentalism and with making this planet a better place to be, so they need
to connect with their love for the material plane. They may also be called upon
to help others with problems and so they will need to have a grasp of all four
elemental energies in order to be truly balanced enough to take on the role of
healer.
The
spiritual lessons we learn can be put into action on the physical plane. Many
spiritual teachings expound the value of being in service in this lifetime; to
be a spiritual person is not enough – our choices, ambitions and creations must
reflect our spiritual nature. This is where Earth comes in. The suit of
Pentacles often pertains to the ways in which we create the tangible evidence
of our spiritual perspectives. Pentacles remind us that it's not enough to just think in a spiritual way or say that we are spiritual; we must also live our spirituality. We must demonstrate
it through how we spend our money, how we construct our lives, the decisions we
make about work, health etcetera. In this way, Pentacles are deeply spiritual.
They can be thought of as a kind of evidence-based spiritual living. They can
also be thought of as the way in which we measure the manifested results of the spiritual choices and mindsets
we adopt.
The other
thing to consider is the potential for huge transpersonal experience as a
direct result of living on this planet and being part of it. To walk barefoot
through the grass, lie down on the soil, observe the changing of the seasons or
hug the trees can provide magical moments of complete ego death and a sense of
interconnectedness with The All. Sometimes the suit of Pentacles reminds a
querent of the importance of recognising the wild nature within themselves and
appreciating their intrinsic connection to nature itself.
You may
come across querents who feel unstable in their earthly direction or feel that
they don't have a sense of firm foundations to stand on. The steadfast Earth
energy will be an important presence for these querents. Pentacles also reflect
earthly empowerment, independence and the ability to stand on one's own two
feet. So they are likely to come along for querents who need direction on this
and perhaps want to stop being co-dependent and get out into the world on their
own terms. Pentacles sometimes adhere to matters of a practical and
straightforward nature. For those who are feeling unable to get clear on their
plans or formulate a good strategy for something, Earth energy is imperative.
It is often about 'getting real' and launching into action, taking the concepts
of Fire, Air and Water but bringing them into tangible reality.
Fire is an
element which is closely linked with Earth. Fire reaches upwards and its power
is immense, but it must be rooted to the physical in order to exist. Think
about the significance of this.. It must be rooted in the physical in order to exist. What could this potentially mean for
your own connection to the suit of Pentacles? How does the Earth energy
interplay with the Fire energy? It may also help you to think about how Earth
is in need of Water for growth, fertility and abundance. Without Water, the
Earth dries up and can't sustain itself. Metaphorically, how might this be
translated? Earth cultivates trees which generate the oxygen you
breathe. Therefore the connection between Earth and Air is perhaps one of the
most spiritually significant of all, particularly when you consider Earth’s
role in the life force, the breath, which moves through you at this very
moment. When you begin to see the interplay of the elements and their essential
relationship to each other, things become clear. Earth does not act in
isolation.
One of the
most important things to consider is the forging of the coin (pentacle) itself.
It takes a lot of soul/fire, thought/air and emotion/water to forge the coin.
The coin is the finished product of a labour of love. When we think about
Pentacles as being the suit pertaining to material success, that doesn't mean
that it should be less than
the other suits. Many querents are looking to bring their dreams into the
physical realm in some sense. They are looking to unite a tribe, start a
movement, build a kingdom.. It's not just a business that they want to start - it's a
reflection of their deepest passion. They are not simply trying to be
financially secure - they're trying to be financially secure on their terms in a way that they can be proud of. It will take all the Water, Fire
and Air inside of them to forge the coin that they have their sights set on.
Therefore a querent with an Earth-based query is being encouraged to bring all
of themselves to the table in order to create whatever is in their dreams.
Again, this is the meeting of the elements.
Earth is
the foundation on which anything is built. If we want to start something and
make it magnificent, we need solid ground. Again, this can be absorbed as a
powerful metaphor. Without firm ground, a clear idea, the practical stuff
figured out - we can't make the magic happen. Think of the foundation provided
by Earth as not only something
material but something emotional. If we don't know our own inner terrain and if
we cannot bravely explore our own territory, we cannot claim to be the rulers
of our own lands (psyches). Pentacles are the cards of exploration and
discovery and this means inner as
well as outer. The journey in which we traverse the land and claim it as our
own is an emotional and spiritual one as well as a material one. Give some
thought to this. Can you see Earth as a metaphor for the inner terrain of the
human psyche? How can we come to know our own terrain? How can we map out our
sense of self?
It may also
help you to connect overtly with the feminine nature of Earth. Earth as the
mother from which we were birthed and to which we must inevitably return.. This
concept brings a parental energy to it. In tandem with that, consider the
yearly cycle - the first spring flowers, the abundance of the harvest and then
the descent back to darkness and bare trees again. What does Earth have to
teach us about acceptance and allowance, release and receive, give and take,
manifest and unmanifest.. The earth is not always fruitful. Sometimes it
appears to be sleeping. There are many lessons of patience, grace and surrender
to give to your querents in conjunction with this fact.
I hope these thoughts have strengthened your Tarot journey as your continued passion for the tool strengthens mine.
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