Journey Through My Decks: 7 of Pentacles

Our journey continues with the Seven of Orbs (Pentacles) from The Shakespearian Tarot by Dolores Ashcroft Nowicki, with illustrations by Paul Hardy (Diamond Books).

“Seven fair branches springing from one root...”

_Richard the Second, Act 1. Scene II._

On the 7 of Orbs we see the Duchess of Gloucester speaking to John of Gaunt. The setting is dominated by a stained-glass window that depicts a Jesse Tree, showing lineal descent (traditionally, that of Jesus). In this case, the Jesse Tree depicts the seven sons of Edward III.

The Duke of Gloucester has been murdered, and Richard (son of the “_Black Prince_” [Edward of Woodstock] and grandson of Edward III) has been accused of plotting and supervising the murder. Gaunt declares that he will not move against the duke’s murderers, but will leave their punishment to God.

The duchess chastises him, replying: “Finds brotherhood in thee no sharper spur? Hath love in thy old blood no living fire? Edward's seven sons, whereof thyself art one, Were as seven vials of his sacred blood, Or seven fair branches springing from one root... Call it not patience, Gaunt; it is despair: In suffering thus thy brother to be slaughter'd...”

When Gaunt (Richard’s uncle) dies, Richard seizes his estates. In the end, Richard is defeated and surrenders to Gaunt’s son, Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford (afterwards King Henry IV). Overhearing Henry express a wish that he might be rid of Richard, Sir Pierce of Exton murders Richard at Pomfret Castle and delivers his body to Henry. Henry denies that he wanted Richard killed, but the deed is done. At long last, John of Gaunt’s patience has paid off.

It is this patience that Ashcroft-Nowicki focuses on in her interpretation of the 7 of Orbs. “Rewards will be some time in coming,” she writes. “Have patience...but don’t hold your breath.” Because the suit of Orbs is associated with “the world and mastery of the earth,” this card calls my attention to the realm of Earth: material matters, physical world, practical everyday life. If the card is reversed, Ashcroft-Nowicki cautions, “expect to have to pay out money on unexpected bills.”


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ABOUT THE DECK: Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki combined her love of Shakespeare with her love of Tarot to create The Shakespearian Tarot. Illustrated by Paul Hardy, the deck was developed by Ashcroft-Nowicki over a two-year period during which she combed her “battered leather-bound copy of the Bard. . . looking for just the right scene, just the right words to match the meaning of the cards.” She chose quotes to match the pictures and meanings as closely as possible. Her goal was to create a working tool rather than a collector’s item.

5W's and an H: THE HOLY MAN

It’s been awhile since I did this exercise, so here goes!

To refresh your memory: For the 5W's and an H exercise, we use one Tarot card to answer the questions Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? As an additional requirement, each answer can be only one phrase or sentence. The idea is to respond intuitively, without a lot of description or explanation.

Today's edition of 5W's and an H features the Faery Wicca Tarot by Kisma K. Stepanich, illustrated by Renee Christine Yates (Llewellyn).

5W's and an H: THE HOLY MAN (Trump 9)

Faery Wicca Tarot

Who? Someone with highly developed spirituality

What? A spiritual matter that requires introspection and exploration

When? When the Spirit moves us

Where? In a secluded, quiet place where contemplation can take place

Why? Because it is important to understand our deepest beliefs

How? By thinking deeply, seeing clearly, and tuning in to our Higher Self

Aquamarine for March

In honor of the month of March I pulled out my Tarot of Gemstones and Crystals, with instructions and interpretation by Helmut G. Hoffman (AGMüller Urania). As I mentioned in a post last month, I purchased this deck primarily to have a collection of images of gemstones and their meanings so that I could use that information in describing my handmade jewelry (Jewelry by Scotti).

This seems like a good time to take a look at the gemstone associated with March birthdays: aquamarine.

Aquamarine is a blue to green-blue variety of precious beryl. The beryl group of minerals is most famous for emerald, one of the “Precious Four” gems of the world. The name 'Aquamarine' was derived from an old Latin expression which meant 'seawater'. Aquamarine (and other types of beryl) are quite durable and hard.

Helmut G. Hoffmann writes: “Aquamarine gives us peace, sympathy, understanding, making it easier to gain new insights. This stone is intuitively worn during critical phases in life. Its mild blue supports a gentle nature and shows us the way to light and love.”

For this deck, Hoffman has chosen for aquamarine for the Hanged Man card. With the images of several Hanged Man cards from other decks in my mind, I can see how the idea of aquamarine helping us gain new insights applies. The “mild blue” color of aquamarine and the actual name of the stone (aqua + marine) also mesh nicely with the Golden Dawn association for The Hanged Man, which is the element Water. Some systems extend this association to the planet Neptune, modern ruler of the water sign Pisces.

At his best, The Hanged Man offers us a chance to look within ourselves, take a break to contemplate, and gain a new perspective on something. There may be a sacrifice involved, but that could be for the best in the end.

Here is a necklace I designed using aquamarine semi-precious faceted teardrops, rainbow moonstone ovals, and freshwater pearls.

To purchase this necklace, click HERE.

Mercury in Capricorn

After analyzing my _Sun, Moon, and Rising signs_ as represented by the Tarot, I decided to explore the rest of my birth chart using Tarot card associations. This blog entry looks at the planet Mercury and its placement in Capricorn in my birth chart.

Quick Astrology Lesson

Mercury

In astrology the planet Mercury represents the mind and communication. As such it also relates to reading, writing, talking, listening, thinking, watching – everything in which the brain is involved. The planet was named after Mercury, messenger of the gods in Roman mythology. Clever and quick (thanks to his winged feet), Mercury invented music, mathematics, and astronomy. However, he was also the god of thieves – a cunning trickster. The planet Mercury rules two zodiac signs: Gemini (an Air sign) and Virgo (an Earth sign). I like Brian Clark’s description of how this works: “Gemini represents the quicksilver ability to gather and adapt information and ideas, while Virgo digests and analyses information into a coherent formula.” (Celestial Tarot, U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

Capricorn

The zodiac sign Capricorn is ruled by the planet Saturn, which represents self-discipline, responsibility, lessons, duties, and limitations. With that planetary ruler, it’s not surprising to learn that Capricorn is a practical, responsible, self-controlled, high-achieving sign. Linked with the element Earth, Capricorn appreciates structure and organization. Pessimism and melancholy can make an appearance in this sign as well.

So when we put Mercury in Capricorn, we usually have an organized mind along with the tendency to be cautious, methodical, and a hard worker. Mercury-in-Capricorn decides what it wants and proceeds to achieve it with great determination and careful planning. A tendency toward a pessimistic viewpoint is not uncommon with this placement. In Capricorn, any “trickster” tendencies are likely to be muted by Saturn’s uncompromising frown. It’s unlikely that Mercury enjoys this type of “adult supervision.”

Turning to the Tarot

The Golden Dawn links The Magician card with Mercury and The Devil with Capricorn. I am using the Celestial Tarot by Kay Steventon and Brian Clark (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.), but also providing images from the Rider (Rider-Waite-Smith or RWS) Tarot conceived by A.E. Waite (U.S. Games, Inc.) to show a more traditional depiction of these two cards.

In his book The Tarot (Macoy Publishing Company), Paul Foster Case writes of the Devil: “Capricorn, the Goat, is a cardinal, earthy sign, governing the knees, to which we are brought in prayer by our sense of bondage and personal insufficiency. The natives of Capricorn are said to be quiet, studious, and somewhat inclined to materialism.” Of the Magician/Mercury connection, Case writes, “The Mercury vibration represents intellect.”

Looking at the CELESTIAL TAROT cards, I get the distinct impression that these two characters are not friends. On Key 15, the horned goat-god Pan looks at us, not at the other card. On Key 1, the young god Mercury appears to gaze at Pan with disapproval or suspicion. Pan perches on a mound painted in the colors of Earth – brown, green, tan. Mercury appears to be standing in the sky, with cloud-like swirls of white around his feet and ankles. Or, as Clark puts it, “A creative process is underfoot…”

In the RIDER TAROT, I see quite a bit more that interests me. First of all, the two main figures on these cards assume very similar, if not identical, poses. Both face forward, raising their right arm, with their left arm lowered toward the ground. However, even in their similarities there are radical differences of purpose.

The Devil’s right hand has all its fingers open. On the palm of this hand is an astrological symbol of the planet Saturn, ruler of Capricorn. His left hand holds a torch, which Case describes as “burning wastefully, and giving little light.” I have no idea if Waite intended it, but to me, the Devil’s right hand seems to be giving us a “STOP” or “HALT” gesture. Certainly that is in keeping with the idea of Capricorn/Saturn as restrictive, limiting influence. The expression on the Devil’s face is dour, even menacing.

In contrast, the Magician’s uplifted right hand suggests that he is drawing power from above. He points downward with his left hand, directing this power to a plane below. The energy here is free flowing, channeled by the Magician, whose facial expression is pleasant and benign. Another thing that Waite may or may not have intended is the link here with the two signs ruled by Mercury: Gemini (Air) and Virgo (Earth). The Magician’s right hand reaches into “Air” and his right points down toward “Earth.”

Astrologically, the placement of the planet Mercury in the sign Capricorn gives Capricorn (and therefore Saturn) strong influence over the behavior of Mercury in my birth chart. It’s not hard to get a mental image of a young, energetic, open-minded Mercury feeling oppressed by the stern management style of Capricorn/Saturn. After all, on the Rider card, the Devil has chained two people together by the neck to the half-cube on which he sits. Case writes that “a cube represents That which was, is, and shall be, a half-cube symbolizes half-knowledge of that reality. Half-knowledge perceives nothing but the visible, sensory side of existence.”

Imagine the frustration Mercury (planet of the mind) must feel, chafing under the talons of the Devil and his “half-knowledge.” I get the sense that if at all possible, the Devil will keep Mercury from knowing anything but the visible, sensory side of things. Fortunately, Mercury can choose not to limit his knowledge in that way. The two people chained on the Devil card could slip the chains off their necks and walk away. They choose not to, perhaps out of fear or perhaps out of laziness.

For me personally, the placement of Mercury in Capricorn suggests the possibility that I will tend to self-limit my mind, my words, my thoughts, and everything else that Mercury represents. This is not always a bad thing, but it could be. Fortunately, we are not controlled by our birth charts. Knowing that I have this planetary placement gives me the opportunity to challenge my perceptions and to be suspicious of any negative influence Capricorn/Saturn/The Devil may exert.