Card study: Knight of Pentacles

IMG_20190215_091810_301Kim Krans reframes the court cards as a family, which is an interesting take.  If you struggle with the court cards, take a look at elements like body language, facial expressions, an actions. Noticed how the Son of Pentacles has a serious expression on his face. His head is down, a bit like nose-to-the-grindstone. He’s clearly focused on a detail in front of him. Which is excellent for when you’re trying to accomplish a goal. But don’t forget to look up and see the bigger picture. Often this card is telling you that you need to take a wider view. If you’re having trouble focusing, then this card is a message to limit distraction.

The important element for me here is that blazing sun above him. That’s the success, that’s the goal. Keep that bright goal in mind as you move forward. And if you’re feeling bored or uninspired, try to find that ray of sunshine on your journey. Know you might have to look hard to find it.

He is a good one to see when money or leadership/career are in question. FOCUS, FOCUS, and be frugal, he says. Do not count chickens before they hatch. Do not take anything for granted. Hone in on details, keep the big picture in mind, and be prepared for a long haul.

Advertisement

Card study: Three of Pentacles

card study.jpgThis card is all about building a solid foundation upon which to grow in the physical areas of your life. There are few key points to know this. First of all, take note that this is being done communally. This is not a solo effort, but one that involves those we can trust and depend upon to do their part. Also notice that’s the foundation is still a bit precarious. The workers are struggling in their efforts which lets us know this is not an easy task. One of the workers appears to be off balance. So if that’s how our early efforts at Foundation Building feel, that is dead on!

The number three represents early foundation building, too. Four is considered a stable foundation. Three is a foundation with possibility for growing further UP. Three also represents the ideas of self-expression, expansion and creative work. These are elements crucial to the success of any venture we undertake.

If you are in the early stages of building a foundation, consider a reading with me. We can work through ideas, envision your journey, and plan a blueprint.

Card study: The Hierophant

img_20190104_095602_758Getting back to doing card studies. Got a whole slot of studies for the next few weeks on Deck. Pun intended. This week we are going to look at the Hierophant. You can see all of the shapes that support the idea of structure. Structured learning is an important part of this card. But notice a few other details that give us further insights.

The bird in the upper left reminds us to always try to see the big picture and have perspective on what we are learning. Birds also symbolize our connection to our souls. So we should try to include our souls as well as our heads in our learning. Birds also symbolize our desire to connect to a higher power, however we define that.

The second thing to notice is the presence of both male and female energy here. Traditional learning can be very male-dominated. This rendition of the card reminds us that even within the bounds of structured learning, we should try to value all types of knowledge and ways of learning.

Card study: evergreen trees

Screen Shot 2018-08-22 at 3.31.33 PMThe Wild Unknown one of my favorite decks because it is ripe with Pacific Northwest imagery. I love the use of an evergreen tree to symbolize the emperor. Evergreens symbolize virtue and longevity. They are tenacious in establishing their roots and will grow tall, towering over other trees in the forest. They also represents the New Year, interestingly. The emperor often symbolizes the opportunity to build something new and strong.

Card study: yin yangs

Screen Shot 2018-05-30 at 4.08.53 PM.pngAll three of these cards carry some heavy intuitive energy with them. So it’s no surprise that they all feature a yin yang symbol. The symbol is full of meaning including the idea of the balance between Light and Shadow.

The yin side represents darkness and absorption. It is female energy. It is considered the passive side, but passive does not mean waiting around. It means waiting for the right time before we do something. It means we consider before we charge in.

The yang side encompasses male energy. It represents penetrating energy that is active and goes forward (sometimes without thinking!) The “male” energy and “female” energy are two sides of the same coin. One cannot exist without the other. The symbol asks us to consider what seemingly contradictory Energies are actually complementary? And we are asked to see in what ways the world around us is interconnected.

It also asks us, what do we know intuitively in ourselves that we need to bring out from the Shadow and into the Light in order to make better decisions? Are we favoring one side of the symbol, or do we seek the balance implied in this complex symbol?