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

To harvest or not to harvest? Margarete Petersen’s Seven of Coins

Seven of Coins (trimmed):
© Margarete Petersen Tarot

Margarete Petersen’s Seven of Coins has an autumnal feel, to me – probably the colours, but also the skeleton/bones and the plant on its last legs… A time of change, liminal space-time. Things dying back to make way for new growth.  I wasn’t sure what to make of the rock drawings in the image, but in the LWB Margarete Petersen talks of them (and the bones of the skeleton) in reference to things happening in different times, different ages – and on to how growth is possible because things decay over time.

I usually associate this card with choosing whether to harvest what’s grown so far or to let it continue growing to fruition (i.e. the Ten). The LWB supports this: Margarete Petersen writes “Don’t interfere; commit to the process of growth” (another reference to non-interference, as in the Seven of Cups).  This is not unlike what Juliet Sharman-Burke has written, in her 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.

Does astrology help? The Seven of Coins, in the astrological correspondence system I follow, is linked to Saturn in Taurus (and to the final ten days of this sign).   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.  Certainly a good time to commit to the process of growth.

Growth, decay, life and death.

Everything is connected

through time; let it be.

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

Mabon 2016 Tarot Blog Hop: Foodies Guide to the Tarot

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Welcome to Alison’s Alembic!   You may have arrived here as a stop on the Tarot Blog Hop from either Completely Joyous or Kismet's Companion.  Or you may have found this through TABI’s Facebook page, or though one of the many wonderful tarot bloggers in the ether... It doesn’t matter – what does matter is that you’re here! 

In the northern hemisphere, we're approaching the Autumn Equinox, also known as Alban Elfed, as well as the time for paying tribute to Mabon. It's the time of year when we’re poised between light and dark, with the hours of daylight and darkness being equal in length. It’s also the culmination of the harvest that was begun at Lughnasadh.  At this time we celebrate the beginning of harvesting grapes, making wine, bringing in the sheaves for the canning, preserving, and other ways of gathering the fruits of months, sometimes years, of effort and care.  

With all this in mind, our co-wranglers for this particular Blog Hop, Jay and Arwen, have given us the title Foodies Guide to the Tarot to work with.  As our ancestors – ancient and more recent – would have been harvesting and beginning to store food for the winter, my thoughts turned immediately to the idea of preservation....chutneys, pickles, jams...all those jars of goodies/goodness that would fill the cupboards, ready for winter.  

Although my usual method of cooking doesn’t involve measuring things carefully, I’ve learned that when it comes to baking and preserving, precision really is important. Everything has to be in balance, otherwise nothing sets properly or tastes right.

Now, I’ve never, ever been able to re-create my dad’s mustard pickle (also known as Piccalilli, although I have no idea why!).  As Dad’s no longer around to consult, I thought perhaps I could ask the tarot  for some guidance.

What do I need to do to find the right balance and produce the ‘perfect’ pickle?

There are four basic steps to the recipe, so I’ve drawn a card for each from the Sharman-Caselli tarot deck.

Card 1: The raw ingredients. 2 lb of mixed vegetables – beans, cucumber, shallots, cauliflower...cut them into small pieces and sprinkle with salt.

Four of Cups (trimmed): ©Sharman-Caselli Tarot

So, what do I need to remember when I choose these?

The Four of Cups. Don’t just pick what’s in front of me. Have a closer look, and see if there are any hidden ‘gems’ lurking at the bottom of the pile/vine/stem/whatever. 

Look for the very best, and don’t settle!

Card 2: Preparation (part 1). Boil 1 pint vinegar and 15 chillies for 2 minutes. Then let this stand for an hour before straining.

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

What to be aware of at this stage?

Ace of Pentacles.  Just remember I can accomplish my goal – taking raw ingredients, fresh from the earth, which will carry me through the winter.  Fortune favours the bold!

Card 3: Preparation (part 2). Mix ½ lb sugar, 2 oz mustard, ½ oz turmeric, and 2 level teaspoons cornflour. Blend with a little of the cooled vinegar.

Bring the rest of the vinegar back to the boil and pour over the blended ‘sugar and spice’. Boil it all for 3 minutes.

Four of Swords (trimmed): ©Sharman-Caselli Tarot

Advice here?

Four of Swords.  Take time to let this work. Curb my natural impatience. Let it boil for the required length of time!

And also perhaps, spend some time thinking about how Dad used to do - maybe he'll send me some hints somehow...

And finally, Step 4: Remove from heat and fold in the strained vegetables. Pack into prepared jars and cover.

The Fool (trimmed): ©Sharman-Caselli Tarot

The Fool Reversed. Don’t allow myself to be distracted – focus on what I’m doing so I don’t make any careless mistakes.  

And if anyone would like to try this out, please let me know how it turns out!

Thank you for stopping off here on your journey through this Mabon Tarot Blog Hop!  Please do come back and read some of my other posts – and if you’re a Facebook user, you can find me at Alison’s Alembic.  

 

The next stops on the Tarot Blog Hop are - depending on whether you’re moving backwards or forwards through the list – Joy Vernon's Completely Joyous or Vivianne Kacal's Kismet's Companion. The Master List can be found here.

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Sharman-Caselli Tarot created by Juliet Sharman-Burke, illustrated by Giovanni Caselli, published by Connections