Five of Pentacles (Worry / Material Difficulty)
Five of Pentacles by G A Rosenberg
Body ragged, slow
Hobbling by necessity
Inspired by sunlight
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<h4> Wounded and bereft
Free from outside solace
I limp along
I have come through the wars
Yet look at me
No? Am I that hard to see?
Why?
There may be little left of me
and even less for me
but I Have Endured
that cannot be taken
and within I carry the key
to the redemption of all.
So pass me by
and I will continue
for the time may come
when wounds are healed at last…
— G A Rosenberg
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. Fives stand for conflict, change and a breaking through to higher thought. When we have conflict with our bodies we have sickness and injury. Conflict with money at its extreme is poverty. At one time or another, most of us will experience to some extent what it means to be broke, injured or both. This card speaks to how we deal with this. Will the rough times of our life bring us down or will they make us stronger? There are people who live most of their lives with less money or less mobility because of illness than we have ever experienced and they thrive. There are others who’s lives fall apart as soon as they encounter any difficulty.
Carlos Castaneda’s teacher, Don Juan said, “The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse.” If we can truly learn to do this than any difficulty we encounter in our life will ultimately strengthen us.
Astrological Correspondence – Mercury in Taurus – The Mercury in Taurus energy is that of slow deliberate practical thought. It is very hands-on and makes up in thoroughness and groundedness what it lacks in speed. When people with this energy speak, it is well worth listening to because they speak from a life grounded in experience.
I Ching Correspondence – 23) Po – Splitting Apart
 
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The Image is the trigram meaning Mountain on top of that meaning Earth. This hexagram resembles a house that is held together by its roof. Once the roof collapses, so does the house. During times of collapse when it feels like circumstances have turned against us, it is useful to still ourselves rather than act out of a sense of panic or urgency. By being still, we can wait out the storm and rebuild from our strengths.
The hexagram Po also speaks of a period when collapse is necessary in order for something new to be build. In the Autumn plants have to die in order to be born anew in the spring.
When the Five of Pentacles shows up in a reading, it speaks of a time when either finances, health or both will come to a point of crisis. This can be seen as a period of endurance that will be survived tho it may prove difficult. This card may also represent a missed opportunity in one’s life. Sometimes when we are experiencing difficulty, we become so focussed on what befalls us that we miss out on the good things around us.
When reversed, the Five of Pentacles becomes a bit more dire and the problems more difficult to recover from. This has as much to do with our reaction to the problem as to the situation itself
Facing Shadow by G A Rosenberg 