Seven of Pentacles - Do you Know What Your Answer Is?

This has been a month of decision making for me and the cards I have been drawing daily, have definitely reflected this.

I see this decision making theme once again in the Seven of Pentacles, upon seeing today's card where Oueen Pasiphae is wanting to make an offer to Daedalus he can't refuse. Daedalus already has lots of golden coins, (Pentacles). However she's got another one in her hand to freely give him, none the less for a price he may not be prepared to pay.

When someone offers you something that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

 I have  generally found this to be one of those truisms in life.
This past week I was offered one of those kinds of deals and honestly, I was tempted initially until I gave it careful thought. I concluded in my heart that is wasn't a good decision for me realistically, because I'd be in a worse case scenario financially, then what I am in presently.

That said this is the kind of society we live in today. There are various modern day snake charmers offering big things, with a big price that is often hidden or we rather not think about because we are reacting emotionally.

When it comes to money, and consumerism, we live in an economy that is credit rich and cash poor.
Taking a page from my grandparents book of debt, thinking about how they lived, and remembering what my mother once said. "If you don't have the cash to get a bargain, it isn't a bargain."
In those days, there were no credit cards, which I think now are mostly misused and are the scourge of our economy, affecting people and our world on so many levels.

This card has the message not to react impulsively. Care and forethought are necessary in order to make the right decision.

Every situation and person is different and so perhaps the question to ask is, am I going to be further ahead if I put my energy into a new project or should I continue to develop what I have already worked hard at in achieving.
I know what my answer is. Do you know what your answer is?

  

Seven of Pentacles - Generousity

 It's a beautiful thing when someone generously gives the gift to another from their heart, without expectation of return. I'm fond of the saying it is not the gift of the giver that is important, but the giver of the gift. In other words, it is in the giving where the value lies, not in what is given materially.

Generousity is one of the seven gifts given, that are the teachings of Indigenous peoples, along with Honesty, Humility, Courage, Wisdom, Respect and Love.

The Seven of Pentacles portrays Daedalus being offered the seventh golden pentacle by Queen Pasiphae, who is King Minos wife, and for whom Daedalus has a position of royal favour, that he has worked hard to obtain.

Pasipae, out of desperation is making Daedalus an offer that is tempting, and difficult to refuse. However there is a risk in the decision to be made, and may result in a dangerous, possibly 'immoral' outcome, as it means that he will have to betray the King Minos and risk all that he has gained. On the other hand this offer could result in personal growth, and hoped for success. Daedalus has a difficult decision before him and needs some discernment in this situation.

When we're made an offer of generousity, perhaps the intention of the giver is not pure intended generousity, but there's a hidden agenda, in that the giver is looking unscrupulously to get something in return. This is not using the gift of generousity with honesty, courage, wisdom, respect or love.

 In the words of a Lakota Elder, "You should be able to give away your most cherished possession without your heart beating faster."

I believe when we're offered something, we have to take into consideration the intention and motive of the giver, as we must consider our own intentions when we give, and our hearts will not beat faster..

Circle of Courage - Martin Broken Leg

How To Take Control Of Our Difficult Decisions - Seven of Pentacles

There has been a theme about choices, and decisions over the past few days with the cards I have drawn.  In the Seven of Pentacles here we see Daedelus being made an offer by Queen Pasiphae, who has the white bull behind her. She is offering Daedalus a seventh pentacle in exchange for services rendered. He scratches his chin in pensive thought, wondering just what he should do. This is a difficult decision, and an offer that is hard to refuse. It requires patience, as things will happen, but not immediately.


Sometimes you can feel you've taken two steps ahead, and may be about to take three steps back. Just when you feel you're making good progress forward, things can change instantly, and suddenly you feel like you could just as easily be going backwards, especially if you make a particular decision. But this is the way life is for most of us, if not all. Things are given and things are taken away.  You wonder if your decision will be of positive or negative consequence.You might even panic, or suffer from indecision, which may get you into more confusion and into a quandary.

Today I heard about a fellow who is skilled in surviving emergency and crisis scenarios in the wilderness. He had a great acronym, to enable you to make a difficult decision. I think this acronym can be applied to life.

The Acronym is STOP.

1. Stop.
2. Think.
3. Observe.
4. Plan.

These kinds of simple acronyms can be very helpful when we need to focus, and figure out our next step. Panic is a killer, and you don't need to rush in like a bull in the china shop, that is represented by the white bull that stands as a warning, behind Pasiphae.

An so we need to stop, slow ourselves down, so we can think, observe,  take stock of our situation in order to figure out our next step, make a plan and carry that plan out.

We can't always make the safe choice, and if we do this may lead to stagnation. Difficult decisions, often involve risk, but the more we are prepared the better the outcome.