Month: February 2013

Four of Pentacles (Power)

Four of Pentacles (Reimagined) by G A Rosenberg

Holding too tightly
coins slip from an old man’s grasp
order tossed aside.

Power contained not held
not grasped
willing to let it pour forth
and rise up and out at any moment
All comes from this moment
once embedded in matter then
only liberation remains
power when wielded becomes force
Rise up oh serpent mother
through this material form
as green springs up through snow
reborn
Let the spirit flow forth
from fractured shell

–G A Rosenberg

The suit of Pentacles refers to the element of Earth and of practical matters such as work and partnerships of a business nature and of the home. They can also represent nature, the Earth itself.  Fours express a stability and manifestation of the energy involved. The Four of Pentacles represents a grounding of energy and taking comfort in control of our environment whether it means holding on to a schedule or our possessions. We clothe ourselves in our idea of order. While this can give us some necessary structure if we adhere to rigidly to either what we have or where we have to be, anything that throws it can make us feel insecure and there is always something that can come along and throw off our sense of order, so some flexibility can be a good thing.

Astrological Correspondence: Sun in Capricorn-The Sun in Capricorn energy is known for its ambition and control. It tends to take charge and like a goat feels that only by controlling the situation fully that it can make it to the top of the mountain. It is an energy that achieves but one that can be all too ready to engage and defeat anything that stands between it and its ambitions even if in the long run, that challenge can be a positive thing.

I Ching Correspondence: 2) K’un – The Receptive
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This hexagram comprised of upper and lower trigrams of Earth refers to nature as opposed to space. It works best when it nourishes all and recommends letting go of the reigns of control and yielding at times. Tho it is important to be self-sufficient no one is an island and others are needed in order for our ambitions to be realized and that sometimes it is beneficial to yield control to those who can best help us realize those ambitions. Sometimes letting things happen can be as necessary as making things happen.
 

When the Four of Pentacles occurs in a reading, it can tell us that we are holding on too tightly to external control structures and possessions rather than grounding ourselves securely within ourselves and our relationship to nature. In other cases, the card can also represent generosity and sharing what one has.

Reversed the card can refer to a breaking down of our lives structure and a need to connect more to our inner selves where the real power lies through meditation or contemplation of nature. It can also refer to a hesitation to help another.