#week6of72

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Three of Wands

Three of Wands

As we begin to take this card apart, we first look at the images even though our eyes want to be drawn to the colours. A man stands atop, clearly he is waiting. He is not sitting or laying down, this shows us he is eager but it can also mean that the waiting is almost over. Often in parades after waiting for it to begin, people stand to see the arrival; this is the feeling in this card. 

The three wands match the three ships coming in, this shows us that the man knew what ships would be coming and has been waiting for each to arrive.  The ships appear to be coming from the direction of the mountain, this will be important as we explore colours. 

The colours chosen for this card are very powerful in regards to the message. Using a luminous colour like Yellow draws our eyes to focus on this card very carefully. Yellow often stands for happiness, creativity, enlightenment, optimism and success; but it can also mean warning. 

The red cape draped across the shoulder of the man in the card reminds us of extremes, power, magic and religion. Like so many of us, having faith in the magic and our spirituality has given us power but has taught us patience. 

The green accent in the man's cape is very interesting as green often stands for rebirth or growth. Perhaps as the man has learned and experienced the characteristic of patiently waiting, it has allowed him to grow and become better. 

The use of blue here is intriguing. Blue can signify calm, and wrapped around his arm and head we can begin to understand that this man is calm and centered; but blue is also representative of authority. True authority doesn't need to always be aggressive, and here we see that this man has the authority and the calm to bring the ships home. The mountains are also blue, in this way we see the image of blue representing authority and the heavens. As the artist chose blue for the mountains, one could see that the higher power is sending the man these boats that will make his life better, he just needs to patiently wait for the ships to come in. 

Three of Wands - Reversed

Waiting for ships to come in, this card promises the payoff for that initial investment of energy. Your good choice brings rewards. Reversed, however, and you get, I think, a blocked interpretation. A delay in the pay off, or, if really opposite, the ships have sunk. The anticipated reward is not or cannot come your way. 

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Six of Pentacles

Six of Pentacles

In this card we see an image of a man giving out coins to two men kneeling. As we look deeper at the standing man we can assess that the man standing is wealthy based in the red coat. Red has often been a colour of passion and power, and so we have the idea forming here that this man is probably very powerful or very important in his community. As we look at this man further, his outfit seems well fitting, and very colourful; this continuing with the theme that this man has enough money to dress himself so well. In the man's left hand he holds a set of scales, yet he is not "weighing his options' on whether or not to help the men kneeled at his feet; these scales represent fairness and equality and are often good indicators of a man of great prestige, much like our lawyers today use them as symbols of their prestigious status. This scale then is further implying that this man holds a position in the community where he would be required to make big decisions, possibly even for the community. This man clearly has the means to give, and his doing so graciously. 

The men kneeling at the rich man's feet also tell a tale. We van tell by the patchwork style clothing, the tousled hair, and the fact that they are almost seeming to beg that these men are indeed financially in dire straights. 

This card seems like its meaning should be straight forward, a message of sharing wealth; yet there is a deeper meaning of equal exchanges. Often in life we are the giver, but often we are the receiver. Is one man better than the other? No, rather this card shows that at anytime we could be either man. Wealth is fluid, ebbing and flowing like the waters, and so this card reminds us of the delicate balance of the circle of the wheel of life. 

Another great meaning to take from this card is the idea of who gains the most from this "transaction?" Does the poor men gain more from the gift of funds they so desperately desire? Or does the wealthy man gain more in the satisfaction of helping another man? Perhaps the wealthy man, having once been poor is paying forward a blessing done to him. Both sides reap the rewards of this act of generosity and lack of judgement, and in helping each other the community grows in strength and in bonds. A message to a querent might well be to accept what you're offered now, it may be that in the future you'll have a chance to restore the balance by helping out another as you were helped.

Six of Pentacles - Reversed

When we reverse the meaning of the six of pentacles it is realized that there is no money to share. The querent may want to share in order to solve a problem, but finds themselves short of cash. Likewise, they may need some generosity in order to survive, but there is no one willing to give them a helping hand.

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Queen of Pentacles

As one first looks at this card, the amount of yellow in this card is almost drowning all of the other colours out. Those who have taken our class on colour may remember that the colour yellow has had documented psychological effects on the body that create a sense of cheerfulness and overall positivity, and thus the artist has deliberately set the tone for this card through the use of colour. As we continue to look through the image take note of the colours as it will play a very large part in the interpretation throughout. 

The woman on the card sits on a throne of white, again remembering colour white is about purity and innocence. The throne itself having images of animals and fruits, this starts to give us an impression of the type of queen she is. 

The crown upon the Queen's head, of course once again using the colour yellow, has a red caterpillar shaped horseshoe; the horseshoe being a symbol of luck and the red being a colour of action, generosity, warmth, loving, hardworking, and the kind of power that leaders need to be successful. Caterpillars represent big changes and signify transitions that will be good or bad depending on the seeker's development of growth. In addition to luck, the horseshoe represents protection from people who bring the archetype into bad luck and also symbolizes “Aladdin's Lamp," the magical lamp that brings the genie to grant wishes.

The Queen sits holding a pentacle, a sign of coins or increases in wealth, that is coloured yellow. One might think to over look this yellow coin as most of the card is yellow but, the yellow is solidifying the message of positivity in financial affairs. Another good way this would be interpreted is that the Queen has money because of her ability to invest wise, and save wisely. As a financially wise woman, she will as a result be more adept to care for her family/kingdom/etc. because she spends wisely. 

The green Head scarf cascading down the Queen's back is also a small but interesting part of this card. Green has always been symbolic of wealth, but also of the earth. This is the artists way of telling us this person is grounded, and most likely motherly - like mother earth. 

The nearby mountains in the background represent goals are in process. The color of the mountains represents the archetypes' thoughts about their goals, blue is often indicative of luck and a good indicator of one who is good with coming up with money making ideas. This can also be seen in the Queen's face as she looks to the pentacle, perhaps she is planning or coming up with a money making idea; or weighing the options to see if it is a wise investment of time and money. 

The tulips represent the spring season, and spring being implied is a season of growth and fertility in all things. They also signify that something is going to open up and unfold and they indicate the time of a new beginning. 

The rabbit, in the lower right corner, represents growth, sexuality, fertility and family, suggesting that the archetype has a family. The rabbit can be difficult to see, but this is the artists way of telling us this is solidifying the message of the card and not a focal point. 

The Queen of Pentacles is practical, grounded and wise. She knows what she wants. She follows through with her plans in a way that can leave the rest of us marveling at her steadfastness and straightforwardness. This is not a woman who wears her heart on her sleeve, rather, she knows that if she wants something she needs to roll her sleeves up and put in the work to get it.

Now you know what you are up against, what will you do if she is in your life? Here's a few hints on what not to do. Do not get in her way if she is in the middle of something as she is systematic and goal orientated when she is working. Do not think you can pull the wool over her eyes or play with her emotions, as she is too grounded and practical to be messed around with emotionally. Do not expect her to always clean up after you, whether this be physically or emotionally. If she is laying down the foundations for you to be able to grow within yourself, she will expect to see some improvement, and most likely mastery, in what she is teaching you. She will not always be amenable to helping you out.

Does she sound like someone you would wish to have in your life? She is wonderful to have around when everything falls apart because she will stand firm and see things through to the end. She is great with finances and all things practical and is often a hard worker as she knows that hard work pays off. She is a loyal and practical friend, and a patient and giving partner. In other words she will not let you down and will expect the same support from you

If you can take a leaf from this Queen's book, you'll know that good things come to those who put the time and effort into achieving their goals. You'll appreciate the importance of stopping to smell the flowers and cultivating abundance, prosperity and beauty in your surroundings. You may be laying the groundwork for your future through focusing on your education or professional credentials. You could also be building a solid foundation for your personal relationships or fortifying your existing connections with friends and family members. Whatever it is you want to be thinking right now how you can create the bountiful and plentiful life you so deserve. Take some time right now to think about “business;" as in how you deal with security and what steps you've made toward planning for your future. It may require you to make some short-term sacrifices. But what you gain in return — through hard work, discipline and perseverance — will make it all worthwhile in the end.

Astrologically, the Queen of Pentacles is related to the zodiac sign of Taurus (needs to feel secure and does not like taking risks), the fixed element of earth (stable, receptive, sensuous, stubborn, resists change initiated by others, “garden of earthly delights").

The Queen of Pentacles astrological relatives are the planet Venus (Venus is the morning and evening star that guides you to higher ideals. However, Venus is beauty or the beast, the beauty of a relationship that grows, or the beast of a relationship contract that could not achieve resolution and balance).

The energies of Venus make the Queen charming, able to takes risks for love, social, but also stubborn. Mercury (the speed with how you gather information and think), and Saturn (the structured teacher, lord of karma and lessons to be learned through trial and error).

Timing is usually immediate or within 1-3 days, or related to the spring season.

The Queen's Meditation:

Step into a quiet, sacred space. Sit or lay comfortably, relax your body, soften your skin. Breathe slowly and deeply. Silently to yourself say the words "SO Hum". On your inhale say "SO" and on your exhale say "Hum". In Sanskrit, SO Hum means "I Am"! I AM one with all and with myself. Find the balance within and remember that everything you need, EVERYTHING, you already have inside of you!

Queen of Pentacles - Reversed

When the Queen of Pentacles is reversed it may be that you have become absorbed in your work and neglect your family. You may become unsure of what area of life (career, work, financial portfolio) to invest in. You may become isolated, stay at home, and neglect your friends. You may smother rather than nurture your loved ones.