Nine of Cups - Finding the Fruits of Your Labour

I don't usually have any question when I spread out my deck to pull a daily card. But this more I asked a specific question, and it was really a wish, or a desire or a prayer and very happily I then drew the Nine of Cups, commonly known as The Wish Card!

I've be actively involved for sometime now in figuring out my purpose and mission in relation to my business. In other words the Why, What, How and Who of my creative enterprise. This last week I've really dug in and clarified each part and am making some significant head way at connecting the dots that reinforce, affirm and enable my purpose and mission.

As I have said in my past posts, I'm not a person who believes in luck. I think we can bring about or own luck in that we make things happen with passion, inspiration, commitment and work. Sounds simple enough, but it's not.

 It's a nice fantasy to think about having a magic wand,  a special potion of maybe a fairy god mother to grant us our wishes. But that's not reality and in the long run, it would ask nothing of us in terms of personal growth.

Finding the fruits of my labour involves a lot of repetition and effort. I go over and over the steps, practicing, which is how we learn a skill. There is also a commitment involved to learning, even the things I'd rather avoid learning for one reason or another. However I've found the kind of learning I avoid the most is where I will find the most important lessons that I need to learn. Instead of looking at these as a hurdle, I need to see it as a challenge, that will get me out of my comfort zone, resulting in my personal growth.

Seven of Pentacles - Feminine Creativity Vs Masculine Creativity

I've been re-reading my book The Heroine's Journey, thinking and learning whole lot more about my creative purpose and about business.

Daedalus, who is no doubt full of masculine creativity and seen here being propositioned by Queen Pasiphae in the Seven of Pentacles.

When we are offered an opportunity, be it in love or business there are always hard decisions to make that will enable us to either earn and keep our autonomy, or result in us compromising our beliefs, disregarding our dreams and maybe even our soul. We have to decide if we will take the safe path, or the one that takes risk and inspires.

Taking the safe path, so as to not put our financial security at risk or to not threaten some other kind of status-qou can initially appear to be advantageous, but in the long run we will live life feeling unsatisfied,  unfulfilled, unhappy and lost. Whatever we decide to do, monetary gain, ego gratification or power should not be the sole motivation.

Finding our creative purpose will not be revealed on the safe path, but will be found in the creative feminine that allows things to happen naturally.

It is said that "where masculine creativity tends to move forward, feminine creativity tends to turn round on itself, not circularly so much as spirally."

My creative purpose in life, like the heroine's journey is not something that's forced, and I must trust the mystery of this manifestation.

Ask Your Dentist, Mechanic Or Plumber If They Give Free Service

There is often discussion around giving free Tarot readings, and it once again has come to my attention.


It sounds generous to offer a free reading, and it is. As an artist it is like giving a painting away. I have done both in the past, given free readings, and free paintings. Don't misunderstand, no one forced me to do this, but it can become a trap and a slippery slope, if you allow yourself to be used by those who take advantage.

One that artists, tarot readers, or women can easily and quickly slide down. Perhaps we are wanting to people please, we want them to like us, we want to be kind, or perhaps we just don’t value our own worth either.

Tarot readers are creative compassionate individuals, they love people, many are artists, and many design their own decks. The woman who designed the most popular Tarot deck, the Rider-Waite-Coleman Smith,  was artist Pamela-Colman-Smith, who sadly died penniless, in spite of her talent and education. She was paid next to nothing for the deck she created. I think more than anything, she wanted to be recognized for the creative work she produced. We all have the basic human need for recognition for the work we do, and we also need it in the form of monetary remuneration, and need to understand the business of business, like any other profession.

There is a common attitude prevailing within our culture that undervalues women, their work, or anything that others perceive, to be your “hobby." Oh people want what you have to offer, they just don’t want to pay for it, because of this attitude.

There is nothing wrong with having a hobby, I have several, but it is very different than having and wanting a life and a business that you love, as the vocation you want to thrive through professional development.

I now rarely ‘give’ away my work. If this becomes the norm, giving your services away, you are not only devaluing your worth and value, you are also contributing to this very attitude, and do a disservice to other artists, tarot readers and women. I do believe you teach people how to treat you.


Now go ask your local dentist, mechanic or plumber if he gives 'free service'. If you do, let me know how you make out with that. And perhaps you will then come to the decision whether or not you  " Should You Give Free Tarot Readings? "

Here is one of my very favourite artists Gwen Rosewater, who created this fantastic Nine of Wands.

Nine of Wands - Gwen Rosewater - Artist