Capricorn in the DruidCraft Minor Arcana: The Four of Pentacles

Moving on from the Three of Pentacles, and that sense of initial completion – the result of patient, disciplines planning – we come to the Four.  We’ve progressed from the expansiveness and benevolence of Jupiter, in the Two, through the determination and drive of Mars in the Three, into the power of the Sun – all in Capricorn.  The Four of Pentacles is linked to the final ten days of this sign, from the 10^th-20^th of January.

The Sun in Capricorn conjures up a sense of creative energy being “coloured” by discipline and tradition – a single-mindedness, perhaps, working towards a well-defined target. Whatever that target or goal is, it’s going to be about being able to express ourselves and our creativity, but in a responsible way. On the downside, pessimism and cynicism can stand in the way of progress.  We might also find ourselves overly concerned with ‘how things look’, or wanting to hold on to what we have.  Either way, the Sun in Capricorn can represent a strong commitment to the material things in life – be they possessions and/or resources. 

Four of Pentacles (trimmed): DruidCraft Tarot

We see this in the Four of Pentacles, which often symbolizes a fear of letting go, especially in terms of material things.  We may need to be reminded that although nothing is lost if we hold on to what we have, we may not gain anything either – we run the risk of stifling the flow of energy, instead of letting things run their natural course. The expansion that Jupiter promised in the Two could be hindered through our fear of ‘what might happen’ – the ‘what ifs’. 

But here we have the strength of the Sun in a strong, steady, determined Earth sign. It’s grounded. That chest, holding treasured material possessions (we assume), in the image is solid. It rests squarely on all four corners.  Squares are stable, powerful structures; it’s hard to move them - so there’s a sense of protection here, but also of rigidity. The solidity of the structure reflects our own Capricornian integrity, but also reminds us of the danger of inflexibility and the inability to compromise. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Druidcraft Tarot created by Philip Carr-Gomm and Stephanie Carr-Gomm, illustrated by Will Worthington, published by Connections 2004