Pentacles - The Material World and the Earth Element
The Pentacles represent man in his relation to the material world. It is linked to the element of Earth. While the disc-shaped pentacle can be considered a reference to coins, it is better to think of them as a measurement of resource. Just as it is good not to mistake monetary wealth for true richness. You cannot eat coins, you can only use them to obtain food in a permitting economy.
Like my explanation of the Major Arcana, I'll be describing each Minor Arcana Suit as its own story with meanings following the narrative paragraphs:
Ace of Pentacles
The Third age was an age of Earth. The people of this age lived in the Golden Fields and were dependent on the gifts of the Earth for their survival. Each man and woman lived with an understanding of how to borrow from the land without depleting it or depriving others.
The Ace of Pentacles is the gift of the Pentacles to a reading. It suggests a sudden increase in resources or a material gain for the querrent. The pentacle is also a tool of the Magican, as he knows how to appropriately work the the material he has. This is the number one of the Pentacle suit
Page of Pentacles
There was a youth who was given the gift of a young shoat when he was old enough to begin learning responsibility. He was told to share a respect with the animal because they were brothers the same as every animal was a child of the Earth. To mark the receipt of this gift, he cut off half of his hair, giving it to the birds to build their nests. In this he felt a cycling of gratefulness.
The Page represents the ambition at the beginning of an enterprise. He can be focused on the left brain and myopically attend to his study above all else.
Two of Pentacles
The Golden Fields of the Pentacles were home to many storytellers. They would juggle, wear masks, perform dances as well as tell the stories of the people. While they would not grow food or hunt, what they needed was provided as payment for their trade. There was enough food from the fields and the hunts to share and balance was found in the sharing of their stories.
The Two of pentacles is about balancing what you have. It can be a juggling act of time and money and is often a balance that cannot be held forever. It can be the playing of a role in a short term job waiting for one's ship to come in.
Knight of Pentacles
The young man had grown into a Warrior of his people, protecting the land and the people as one. The young shoat had become a mighty Boar and could carry him much farther than his own feet could take him. Following the words of a storyteller, the Knight traveled to visit a once-great fruit tree. The tree had fed many people until one day, it produced no more fruit. The Knight, seeing the tree had been overpicked and underfed, set himself to the long task of healing the tree.
The Knight of Pentacles is a calm, stable Knight. He has a good sense of obligation and duty, and is one of the more responsible Knights. The attitude of the Knight of Pentacles is likely to lead to advancements and promotions.
Three of Pentacles
The People of the Golden Fields built great monuments to the animals they shared the Earth with. Out of gratefulness for the food, rides, help, and clothing provided by the animals - artists carved their likenesses from stone. These pillars seemed to hold up the sky and the people agreed it was the sacrifices of nature that held the world of man together. The artists knew that each mundane strike of their chisel was important in creating the sacred pillars.
The Three of Pentacles is about cooperation and finding the sacredness in one work. It is the working together of more than one person or factor that creates great work. Likewise it is the intention set by a reverence to one's work that builds quality products.
Queen of Pentacles
As the great fruit tree regained its productivity, the Knight was told a great woman and been moved by his dedication to this cause and that she was coming to visit him at the tree. When the woman arrived, the Warrior was shocked to see it was the Ruler of his people. The Queen had brought with her riches of food and supplies, telling the Knight she would join him in his task to heal the tree.
This Queen is a realistic and results-driven woman. She will give good and practical advice and is a down to earth being, comfortable in her own skin and getting her hands dirty.
Four of Pentacles
The children of the Golden Fields of the Pentacles grew up in times of great prosperity. Because things had become prosperous and easier with each generation, they understood less about sharing and became more focused on what they could gain. They felt as though there owned everything they had and not as though it was borrowed. They became less mobile as they tried to carry so many possession with them wherever they went.
The Four of Pentacles can represent someone who is too focused on their money. They can be miserly, stubborn, or unaware or what is approaching them because they are too busy counting their possessions. It can also represent a stagnation due to monetary issues.
King of Pentacles
Working together, the Knight and his Queen were not only able to heal the great fruit tree, but to grow a giant orchard. When the work was done, the Knight returned with the Queen to their people. The Queen, wooed by the magnanimous nature of the Knight, made him her King. The Great Fruit orchard became their palace and the practice of caring for the land was their highest law. The Boar had spent his entire life with the now Chief, and at the end, gave his strong hide to the King as his Royal armor.
The King of Pentacles is someone who worked hard to get where they are. They most likely built from the ground up, and they do not like to waste things. He can represent good business advice, as well as worldly powers of a benevolent kind.
Five of Pentacles
For generations, the law of exchange between people and Earth was upheld. The rich kingdom of the Earth was a seemingly neverending basket of food. One year, before harvest, an empire of locusts descended upon the Golden Fields. Their numbers clogged the air and blocked the light. Bellies became empty and with nothing to eat in the coming winter, the people left their fields. Instead of becoming angry with the earth, the people had faith that spring would come again for them.
The Five of pentacles is a test of faith. It can be an illness, poverty, or any kind of harsh situation. The lesson is in remembering the down is only part of the cycle that also includes up, and knowing good times will come again.
Six of Pentacles
After the harsh conditions of the hungry winter, the Sun did indeed find the trees, and the trees, indeed, made their fruit. While the riches swole on each branch, scarce was a man or woman strong enough to climb up to them. A warrior strengthened himself on any fallen fruit he could find, convinced a boat to lend him a ride. He rode the beast headfirst into the tree trunks, and fresh fruit rained down onto the hungry and sick. The warrior, paying mind to the horrible time of the locusts left fruit on the trees so that everyone may eat again later, and not become the locusts themselves.
The Six of Pentacles is an act of charity and balance. The querrent may have become smart enough with their resources to find themselves with more than they need. At that point, it is up to them to decide how much they should share and how much they should continue to save.
Seven of Pentacles
The people learned the timing of the seasons, and even how to tell when the locusts would swarm. They learned how to grow the fruit and how to recognize the best time to pick them. With each generation, they deepened their patience, never over-picking and letting all things reach maturity.
The Seven of Pentacles is a card of patience. The lesson is in learning the right time to take one's fruit to market, or the recognizing the value of something at completion. It can also suggest waiting to see how something turns out as opposed to banking on a predicted result.
Eight of Pentacles
The descendants of the kingdom's artisans also increased knowledge and technique with each generation. Beyond the merely decorative, they developed architecture. They began to create structures that connected land, sheltered from elements, and stored food. Their work became bigger than themselves and gifts to their people.
The Eight of Pentacles is when we become a master of our trade. It can represent a prolific period in our creativity where we begin to turn out lots of work. We begin to use our skills to make a living.
Nine of Pentacles
Like her ancestor, the descendant of the queen of pentacles worked very hard to enjoy the fruits of her labors. She was often surprised by how much her kingdom maintained its sync with nature. Her hard work was balanced by time spent in her garden, reflecting and relaxing with her favorite birds.
The Nine of Pentacles is another success card. It marks the time when we have truly arrived in our calling. The bird bearing it's own Pentacles on many versions of this card represents an additional wealth, often a surprise.
Ten of Pentacles
Through sharing knowledge, hard work, and gratitude for what they had, The Kingdom of the Golden Fields had grown in step with the work of their ancestors. Each village was regarded as rich. Storytellers, Artists, Farmers, Builders, and Hunters knew each had their role in contributing to the treasure of their being. Though hard times would come, they would live together with the earth, in continuing prosperity.
The Ten of Pentacles is complete security and harmony in family, home and therefore, by extension, community. It is the true wealth of mutual respect and inheritance of knowledge.