The upcoming week’s meditation is all about finance, the economy, intellectualism and thought. Earth and Air.
The Two of Pentacles, as the subject of our reading, illustrates that our economy and personal finances are being held together through a juggling act. Inflation is harming real incomes, yet job numbers remain very strong. There is much reporting about economic gloom and doom, yet the economy seems to continue performing reasonably well for most.
The Fool, crossing the subject of our reading the Two of Pentacles, shows that economically things can continue largely as they are. The fundamentals of the economy might be weak for now, but in time these problems will ease, the business cycle will turn, and in the long run things can remain fiscally improving, as they always have over the long course of time, assuming that enough correct choices are made. The Fool corresponds to Air and the realm of thought.
Our Two of Pentacles is crowned by the Seven of Pentacles, showing our collective aspirations for success and prosperity, in spite of any current worry. It reminds us of the need to be fiscally responsible, but also to remember to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Sitting below the Two of Pentacles is the Queen of Pentacles. Clearly indicating the tremendous wealth and prosperity generated in the past, and the tremendous potential for continued material gain in the future. These gains have come about through great ideals, common sense, intelligence, charitable generosity, security, and liberty, and can continue to be manifested in our reality.
The Tower stands immediately behind us, clearly symbolizing the political shakeup of last week. Some lost their positions, others gained new positions. Just as importantly, tremendous influence that some once had is no longer theirs to command, and new leaders have risen in their stead. This change brought forth through the energy of Fire. The Tower also indicates that this is not the time to take risks, careful and conservative decisions will instead serve us well.
The Queen of Swords is before us, illustrating the power of thought that will help us weather financial issues, and unleash the tremendous material power we possess in the future. She indicates that we should confidently trust our own perceptions, and rational conclusions, being quick to act upon them when appropriate.
That is not to say that all is without potential problems. We must, collectively and individually guard against unforeseen and unanticipated dangers. Especially at a time when not all economic indicators are strong, we must ensure what we hold adequate provision in order to make it through tough times, or temporary shocks. We see this illustrated by The Moon, which is situated similarly to the subject of our reading.
But just as importantly, The Star, in the place of all that surrounds us in the material world, reminds us to have hope. To look out into an unknown future with faith that our intellect, Air, will always help ensure that things work out well in the end. That our children will have good lives. That even when we are at our lowest, we must have hope for a bright future, because darkness never lasts forever.
The Page of Swords, standing in place of our hopes and fears, indicates our collective faith in our own abilities to create the prosperity we seek, and our faith in others as we all work to improve our world as we work to improve our own lives. She additionally symbolizes our ability to turn adversity into opportunity.
The Seven of Swords, what is to come, clearly matches the Seven of Pentacles mentioned earlier and symbolizes the fact that with creative thinking, and perhaps some quick moves as necessary, we can, and we will seize the prosperity we seek for ourselves and for those around us.
The upcoming week’s meditation stands without the elements of Fire and Water in the Minor Arcana, indicating that the meditation is indeed all about material matters (Earth) and reasoned thought about those material matters (Air.) This tells us that we need to make financial and economic decisions rationally and not emotionally, with great care instead of quick impulsive energy. This is further reflected by The Moon which corresponds to Water.
Three Major Arcana cards that are numbered together were a part of the spread. Key 16, The Tower; Key 17, The Star; and Key 18, The Moon. They were placed in the Celtic Cross in the order pictured above. Creating a new spread with these cards in that order we can see that both The Moon and The Star are facing The Tower. Looking back on the declining influences that existed in the past and seeing hope while remaining cautious and guarded against unforeseen dangers. This is a very hopeful ‘spread within a spread’ as long as we carefully consider our actions and protect ourselves against eventualities seen and unseen.
Tarot card images used in this post are from the Tarot deck illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of RW Arthur Edward Waite, published in 1909, and are thus in the Public Domain. Card images pictured are from scans of that original 1909 deck, and are not sourced from images U.S. Games Systems claims copyright over. To view this public domain Tarot deck or learn more about it visit the Wikipedia page discussing it here.