Welcome to the 2nd blog in our November series, Eight of Pentacles – Mirroring The Apprentice. Last week, you met the apprentice, hammer in hand, entirely focused and committed to his craft. He is carving out ideas and concepts with patience and persistence while chiseling away what is no longer serving him. One of the magical gifts of the tarot is that it acts like a mirror. Knowing this, I invite you to stay curious as we go deeper.
Why is the Eight of Pentacles Showing Up Now?
If you look at the figure’s body language, you can see that he likes what he’s doing. He’s leaning in. He’s comfortable and relaxed with it. And he’s working at something that he does well. Additionally, the Eight of Pentacles stands for being driven and entirely focused. It also represents intelligence and ability. The message is loud and clear—find a way to be content in the world, enjoy your work and do it willingly and happily.
Beth’s Story
This message makes me think of my client, Beth, a professional organizer. She lights up at the thought of a messy closet or a disorganized home office. You should see the sparkle in her eye when she talks about her work. She is adept at engaging with clients when deciding on what to toss and what to keep and has an efficient system to keep an office clutter-free. Beth has a busy life, and she loves what she does. She does it as well as possible and takes great pride and pleasure in her achievements.
Do you truly appreciate the work that you do? What skills are you honing each day to enhance your work experience?
Look behind the craftsman and notice the pathway that connects his workshop to the village in the distance. The path shows that his work connects him with others, improving his community and himself. A win-win!
The Downside
The cards are like a coin. Flip this card, and the other side reveals that while it’s great to be independent, inward-focused, and self-sufficient, our figure, seen far away from the city, may have taken things a bit too far. Turning his back to the community that supports him, this posture can show isolation or reflect feelings of rejection. His stance can also indicate that you may be neglecting important self-work. Make sure you give yourself as much attention and care as you give to your family, job, or other responsibilities.
Tarot as a Mirror
A small but powerful exercise you can do this week is envisioning yourself as this apprentice. Picture the setting, the focus of your attention, and the surrounding community. Answer these questions:
- What is it that you are hammering away?
- Which topic or craft brings a sparkle to your eye?
- How can you lean into it?
Share in the comments, or feel free to reach out if you’d like to discuss working together to clarify your work.
Check out my short video if you’d like a quick refresher on this month’s card. I’ll see you next week when we talk about how the Eight of Pentacles is like Thanksgiving 🦃.
Ever upward,
