Journey Through My Decks: King of Pentacles (Disks)

We now reach the end of the “Journey Through My Decks” series here on Tarot Notes. The King of Pentacles represents the end of this particular road at this particular time. I hope you have enjoyed these posts and that you will revisit many of them as you continue on your Tarot journey.

Tarot of a Moon Garden

King of Pentacles

About the suit of Pentacles in Tarot of a Moon Garden (paintings by Karen Marie Sweikhardt, instructions by Laura E. Clarson, U. S. Games Systems, Inc.), Karen Marie Sweikhardt writes: "In the subterranean recesses below the northern quadrant of the sacred circle we find the gnome, the elemental power of the earth. These are the beings essential in the transference of spirit into matter, for it is their element which is tamped and hammered into the shapes our thought forms desire. . . The Pentacles of the Moon Garden represent these thought forms as they bubble up in spheres of magic."

For Sweikhardt, the suit of Pentacles is also linked with the archangel Uriel and the Earth signs of the zodiac: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.

On the King of Pentacles, a Pentacle-bubble appears at the tips of the King’s fingers. The lush vegetation in the bottom left corner is a reminder of his association with the element Earth. A harvest moon rises behind him. We see a single star -- the "star of knowledge" (Sweikhardt). Images with horns (perhaps bulls to represent Taurus) are carved on his throne. His orbed sceptre is quite plain, in keeping with his practical, down-to-earth style. Yet he is "King of the Mountain," ruling "a kingdom of many treasures, secret and great." (Sweikhardt)

In The Tarot Court Cards: Archetypal Patterns of Relationship in the Minor Arcana (Destiny Books), Kate Warwick-Smith views the Pentacle Court as "Power / Supporters in the Physical Arena."

In his role as a Supporter, the King of Pentacles acts as a Mentor. As a Detractor, he can be a Miser. As a Resource, he represents Generosity; as a Challenge, he represents Greed. Warwick-Smith points out that even the "Detractor" or "Challenge" forms of the Courts can be helpful to us, as they direct our attention to areas where we need to grow or change, and encourage us to discover new strength within ourselves.

Using the Myers-Briggs Personality Types, Mary K. Greer links the King of Pentacles to type ESTP [Extroverted, Sensing (Earth), Thinking (Air), Perceiving]. Elementally, this is in keeping with Book T*, which describes the King of Pentacles as Air of Earth (he also contains a spark of fire, as he rules from 20 degrees Aries to 20 degrees Taurus). [For a complete list of Myers-Briggs correspondences, click this link: www.students-of-tarot.com/pers/mbti-types.htm .]

Mentor or Miser, Generous or Greedy -- the King of Pentacles calls me to examine how I express his traits in my life. How do I identify and channel my power? How can I use the energy of Mars (ruler of Aries) and Venus (ruler of Taurus) constructively? What am I creating? What am I investing? What have I accrued so far?
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* Book T / The Tarot, Comprising Manuscripts N, O, P, Q, R, and an Unlettered Theoricus Adeptus Minor Instruction. A Description of the Cards of the Tarot with their Attributions; Including a Method of Divination by Their Use. A public domain manuscript.