Encouraging Candles in the Darkness…

 

“Never discourage anyone…who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.”
― Plato

 

To my mind we are all progressing upon our path. Some of us may stay willfully ignorant for weeks, months or possibly even decades but then something happens that shakes their world view and perhaps in the smallest way they open up. Perhaps they are willing to understand a point of view they never have before. Perhaps they (and by they I almost always mean we for I have yet to meet anyone fully free from ignorance. I know that I have my share and possibly more) have found an iota of compassion for someone whom before they withheld any understanding. Funny thing tho how much difference such a change can make. It is something akin to lighting a candle in a dark room as opposed to one with all kinds of sunlight streaming in. The candle may be as bright in most cases but in the darker room it stands out a lot more…
If we are all progressing even at the rate of a candle every thirty years, then how can we discourage anyone in their growth. The realization that we all progress has been one of those candles for me.
Blessings, G

 

Click on images to see full-sized:

 

Lava GuardianLava Guardian by G A Rosenberg

 

MarbleGameMarble Game by G A Rosenberg

 

Tarot Post – Prince of Pentacles

 

Prince / Knight of Pentacles (Air of Earth)

 

Prince of PentaclesPrince of Pentacles by G A Rosenberg

 

The land’s protector
shows us all life is sacred.
We can live in peace.

 

Step by step
I carry on.
I know my path
and I will see it through
This routine is
but one step
and I can see the top.
I’ll follow as
so many have
this road to my future
Let others dream
but they count on me
to be steady
as they cannot.
They fall by the wayside
where I cannot be stopped
When i reach my destination
I will be the one they ask
for I stayed true.

 

The suit of Pentacles refers to the element of Earth and of practical matters such as money and partnerships both of a business nature and of the home. They can also represent nature, the Earth itself as well as our bodies. Princes deal with the transmission and the endurance of the energy, the result of the union of the King’s Force and the Queen’s generative and nurturing of the energy. When it comes to practical matters, the Prince of Pentacles is the “go to” member of the court cards. He can follow a game plan and will get it done. He does not like thinking abstractly and probably will become quite irritated if you try to engage him in intellectual conversation yet if you contracted him to paint your house or fix your car or any one of a number of day to day matters, he will follow through on it and get the job done. It may feel at times as if he is too cautious and methodical but that is because in his mind, if he is going to do something, he is going to do it right. He can be quite stubborn but in general tends to be fairly easy-going. Tho when he does lose his temper, it is best to get out of the way. He loves nature and is at his best when he can be out in open spaces.

 

Astrological Correspondence: 21° Aries – 20° Taurus Elemental: Air of Earth-
This energy combines the Aries drive and push with Taurus caution and practicality which moves people forward but at a very slow steady pace. Those with this energy tend to love to learn new things and put what they have learned to use. They tend to be friendly and outgoing and love to be helpful in practical matters. They have very strong wills and won’t back down easily. They know how to have fun and they have a strong taste for life’s pleasures. They are highly success motivated and a strong desire to enjoy the things that money can buy.

 

I Ching Correspondence – 53) Chien – Gradual Progress / Development –

_______
_______
___ ___
_______
___ ___
___ ___

 

The trigram for Wood is over that of the Mountain. When a tree grows, it influences all the life surrounding it. It does not sprout up and send out roots overnight but does it over time gradually. When we wish to accomplish something, it is best to proceed gradually as opposed to a lot of short starts and stops. Perseverance and patience are also needed as when things progress slowly but steadily, its all too easy to let them fall by the wayside if progress is not immediately recognized. </h4?
 

When the Prince of Pentacles comes up in a reading, it may be telling us that is time to be practical and not to rush into anything as tempting as it may be. The card may also represent someone in our lives who can help us accomplish something of great practical use. He knows how to work hard and get things done but always remembers to have fun and enjoy life afterwards. The Prince of Pentacles may also be telling us that it is time to ground ourselves by getting out in nature. Another meaning can be that it is time to find more appreciation and enjoyment in our lives and the paths we have chosen.

 

The Prince of Pentacles reversed in a reading may indicate that things have grown stale for us and that we crave something that will break us out of our routine. A project that we have been working on may have come to a standstill and we need some impetus to get it moving again. There may also be a need for thinking outside the box a bit and having more flexibility. The reversed Prince of Pentacles may also refer to someone in our lives who cannot move beyond their fixed view of things. The card may also mean someone may have become over-indulgent, more focused on partying than getting the job done.