Taurus in the Minor Arcana: The Six of Pentacles

Today we move on to the Six of Pentacles, which - in the system I use - is linked to the Moon in Taurus, and to the middle ten days of this sign. 

Six of Pentacles (trimmed):
© Sharman-Caselli Tarot

Taurus is the fixed Earth sign, so Taurus will want to maintain personal resources in a practical, down-to-earth way. Those resources include anything that gives us a sense of security or stability – so this covers financial matters, material concerns, issues around health and well-being...whatever it takes to make us feel safe and comfortable.

And to help with that, we have the Moon in Taurus. Now, in astrology, the Moon is said to be exalted in Taurus – it feels very comfortable here, even though this isn’t the sign it rules.  The Moon rules Cancer, and is associated with intuition, instinct, feelings (Cancer being a Water sign), as well as protecting and nurturing.  The Moon is about what we need, as opposed to what we want – and it represents our automatic or instinctive responses to things on an emotional level.  In Taurus, that automatic response may not be as speedy as it would be in Aries, for instance, but it’s there – it’s grounded, connected to the earth and nature. It’s patient, willing to wait, to be still.  And of course, the physical sensations that accompany feelings – the ‘gut’ instinct, for example, or the need to be in physical contact (touch) – is very much a part of this.

Six of Pentacles (trimmed):
© Druid Craft Tarot

In the Six of Pentacles, we can see the Moon in Taurus in the generosity and sharing of our personal resources with others in need.  The sharing is unconditional, almost unthinking – the instinct to help and care and share comes naturally.  There’s plenty of symbolism in the images used for this card, regardless of deck, to illustrate the attributes of Taurus: the stone arch representing stability, the vine leaves – earth’s bounty, the distant castle – good fortune and wealth. 

The Moon’s contribution is perhaps more subtle, but I see it in the scales – weighing up what’s needed and sharing that, as well as weighing up what we have and can afford to give.  

Six of Pentacles (trimmed):
  © Shadowscapes Tarot

No scales in the Shadowscapes’ or the Druid Craft’s version, but there is a sense of harmony and potential for growth through the giving and receiving - in the Shadowscapes, as the coins or pentacles – the treasure – falls to the ground, where it can start to grow into something new (as depicted by the new shoot emerging from the ground).  It may not necessarily be money or material help that we can give and receive – it could also be emotional or spiritual assistance.  And of course, the Moon also reminds us that what we want isn’t necessarily what we need!

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

Shadowscapes Tarot created by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and Barbara Moore, published by Llewellyn

The Beginner's Guide to the  Tarot created by Juliet Sharman-Burke, illustrated by Giovanni Caselli, published by Connections

Give and take: Margarete Petersen’s Six of Coins

Traditionally, the Six of Coins, or Pentacles, is associated with giving and receiving. Astrologically, it’s linked to the Moon in Taurus. The Moon represents what we need, as opposed to what we want – our automatic or instinctive responses to things on an emotional level.  In Taurus, that automatic response may not be as speedy as it would be in Aries, for instance, but it’s there – it’s grounded, connected to the earth and nature. It’s patient, willing to wait, to be still.  And of course, the physical sensations that accompany feelings – the ‘gut’ instinct, for example, or the need to be in physical contact (touch) – is very much a part of this.

Six of Coins (trimmed):© Margarete Petersen Tarot

In the Six of Coins, we can see the Moon in Taurus in the generosity and sharing of our personal resources with others in need.  The sharing is unconditional, almost unthinking – the instinct to help and care and share comes naturally.  In Margarete Petersen’s version, we have two hands and two feet; we give with our hands, and receive (through the earth) through our feet. It’s a very earthy card – all about using the senses to experience and establish harmony in order to encourage new growth. 

Feet planted in earth,

Hands giving freely to all -

Loving exchanges.

Margarete Petersen Tarot, AGM-URANIA/Deep Books, 2004. 

Taurus in the Druidcraft Minor Arcana: The Six of Pentacles

Today we move on to the Six of Pentacles, which - in the system I use - is linked to the Moon in Taurus, and to the middle ten days of this sign (30^th April-9^th May).  

Just to recap: Taurus is the fixed Earth sign, so Taurus will want to maintain personal resources in a practical, down-to-earth way. Those resources include anything that gives us a sense of security or stability – so this covers financial matters, material concerns, issues around health and well-being...whatever it takes to make us feel safe and comfortable.

 

Druidcraft Tarot: Six of Pentacles

And to help with that, we have the Moon in Taurus. Now, in astrology, the Moon is said to be exalted in Taurus – it feels very comfortable here, even though this isn’t the sign it rules.  The Moon rules Cancer, and is associated with intuition, instinct, feelings (Cancer being a Water sign), as well as protecting and nurturing. The Moon is about what we need, as opposed to what we want – and it represents our automatic or instinctive responses to things on an emotional level.  In Taurus, that automatic response may not be as speedy as it would be in Aries, for instance, but it’s there – it’s grounded, connected to the earth and nature. It’s patient, willing to wait, to be still.  And of course, the physical sensations that accompany feelings – the ‘gut’ instinct, for example, or the need to be in physical contact (touch) – is very much a part of this.

We can see this stillness represented by the wintry scene in the Druidcraft’s Six of Pentacles. The earth is asleep, waiting for spring. Three pentacles hang on from branches on each side of the old man, symbolizing the balance between giving and receiving.  It’s not clear whether the old man is receiving alms, or if he’s giving his money away – but in fact it’s about both, and the harmony and potential for growth through doing so.  

The Moon in Taurus is reflected in the generosity and sharing of our personal resources with others in need.  The sharing is unconditional, almost unthinking – the instinct to help and care and share comes naturally.  It may not necessarily be money or material help that we can give and receive – it could also be emotional or spiritual assistance.  And of course, the Moon also reminds us that what we want isn’t necessarily what we need!

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