The Seven of Pentacles, in the astrological correspondence
system I follow, is linked to Saturn in Taurus - and to the final ten days of
this sign.
Let’s start by looking at what qualities Saturn brings to
Taurus. Saturn is about establishing and preserving, as well as about having
integrity. In Taurus, that integrity
could grow out of a sense of loyalty or reliability, or perhaps through
building (Taurus) or establishing (Saturn) a safe and secure base – one that
provides a sense of stability. Saturn
can also be about traditional values, as can Taurus (through its association
with the Second House), as well as preserving the status quo, perhaps in order
to maintain some sort of approval or recognition within a social context. There can be a tendency towards conservatism
in this combination, as well as that Taurean stubbornness (I like to call it
tenacity!), linked to a Saturnian fear of not being in control. Saturn wants to achieve but Taurus can slow
things down, and at its worst could impede progress by not only stubbornness
but also laziness. At its best, progress
is slow but sure; it’s steady, and often self-reliant.
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| Sharman-Caselli Tarot |
But how does this fit with the Seven of Pentacles? This card
is often linked to the need to make a decision, depicted by the man on the edge
of two fields – one with a well-established crop, one lying fallow, or less
developed. It’s about the choice between
the familiar, the established, the ‘tried and tested’ – all very Saturnian –
and the promise of something new. Taurus
is represented by the idea of the crops; an achievement on one hand, something
that’s required hard work, and on the other, the fertility (symbolized by the
rabbit) of the yet-to-be-used soil. As
Juliet Sharman-Burke says in the accompanying book to the Sharman-Caselli
tarot, there’s no judgement here, merely an indication that this is a good time
to weigh things up – that we have choices. We can stick with what we know, or
branch out.
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| Shadowscapes Tarot |
The Shadowscapes’ version of this card gives that sense too.
I like the phrase given in the LWB: “a calm moment of consideration of
alternative and different approaches”.
It’s all about choice – the Devil (Saturn rules Capricorn, the sign
associated with The Devil card) you know or the Devil you don’t?! The emphasis
is on the fact that the fruit on the trees are things that the figure has
planted and nurtured – that this is all of her own making. She can appreciate what’s she’s achieved
through hard work (Saturn in Taurus), and choose what to do with it.
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| Thoth Tarot |
Whereas many other decks show a more Taurean image, in terms
of the earthy colours and the rural or agricultural scene, the illustrator of
the Thoth deck, Lady Harris, has chosen much darker colours, drawing on the
feelings of restriction perhaps that have been associated with Saturn. The word that Crowley chose for the card is
‘failure’, which can sound very harsh and depressing. I feel, however (as with many of the cards
in this deck) that it’s coming from the other direction but still bringing us
to the same point. Here we have fear of failing – if we stick to
what we know, we’re safe. Very Saturn in
Taurus! But notice the peacock-feather
effect of the background – this reminds us that fear, doubt, anxiety, and worry are all in the mind (birds and feathers
being symbols of Air, and hence to mental processes). We may run the risk of limiting ourselves to
old, tried-and-tested ways of doing things (Saturn again), fearing to take a
chance and exposing ourselves to something new.
But what if we do some very Saturn-in-Taurus hard work and find a way to
accept and let go of those negative thoughts? By doing so, we free ourselves
from any restrictions and can choose which direction to go.
Shadowscapes Tarot created by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and Barbara Moore, published by
Llewellyn
Sharman-Caselli Tarot created by Juliet
Sharman-Burke, illustrated by Giovanni Caselli, published by Connections
Thoth Tarot created by Aleister
Crowley, illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris, published by US Games Systems, Inc.
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