Queen of Pentacles - Hygge Queen

You know the kind of day when you can't seem to get out of your own way, and you ask yourself why? I might blame it on the weather, the time of year being between the end of Fall and the impending beginnings of Winter.

Outside my window I see no more leaves left on the trees and no snow to cover up the bleakness and gray that matches the sky and I don't want to go out there into the wind and cold to get my needed exercise. I can feel the needle on my Hygge meter quickly inching into the red zone!

Well I'm having one of those days. Ironically I heard an item on the radio about Amanda Lang's new book The Beauty of Discomfort which explores how it's important for human beings to get comfortable with being uncomfortable that enables personal growth.

Having drawn the Queen of Pentacles today is initially comforting for me as she is the symbolic influence that all Queens represent, but she's especially the image of the quintessential down to earth, sensual mother, who enjoys abundance in many areas of her life and is quick to share all she has with others. She's stable and receptive, the Mythic queen of Lydia, Omphale.

The Queen of Pentacles is the image of female strength, a ruler in her own right. She wants the best, is hard-working and self-sufficient. I call her the Queen of Hygge!

So today I'm trying to get more comfortable with my discomfort, maybe even find  some meaningful Hygge in my discomfort and simply be grateful.

Page of Pentacles - Finding Emotional Security

This young Page of Pentacles is gently holding one very large golden pentacle in his hands, depicting a hopeful future and represents all good things of the earth.

We all are in search for emotional security and we need to have hope in our lives, with the realization we can make our own destiny in finding happiness in life. In doing so, it doesn't mean we naively go through life with blinders over our eyes, without taking into serious consideration the struggles and difficulties in life. We all know times in our lives when we experience the dark night of the soul, until the light comes.

The message this young page brings is the encouragement to care and nurture ourselves in a gentle manner and to have a patient approach. It's often referred to as learning to re-parent ourselves.

People, places and the accumulation things outside ourselves does not bring us emotional security or happiness. If we can have our basic needs met, then we have much to be grateful for, and having an attitude of gratitude is what brings a deep, true, and lasting emotional security and happiness. If we need help, we need to ask. This is all part of caring for ourselves.

Ace of Pentacles - Getting Down On The Pig Farm

When I was a teenager, between the age of 17 and18 I had a memory making, life changing experience, working as a volunteer on a pig farm. How the heck could that be life changing? Well I'll tell you. I learned about myself, what I loved and what I didn't. I found out how much I loved almost everything about the farming lifestyle.

The opportunity to connect with the earth and my environment, helped me to realize how much I loved to get down and dirty in the dirt. I also came to know and understand the importance of discipline that comes from hard physical work outside and how we all need to be good stewards of the earth.

Pigs are smart, sweet and funny. They should be outside with their snouts rootin' out weeds not stuck on cement floors, imprisoned in steeled cells, inside day upon day, never seeing or feeling the warmth of the sun or the earth upon their skin. Never pet a pig on the head when he's in a cell, because when he lovingly looks up at you, your hand will be wedged in between his head, and that steel bar. You might not be able to retrieve your hand again, at least not in one piece, I know this happened to me, but thankfully I was able to get my hand out.

Horses are also very smart, and somewhat unpredictable if you are not an experienced rider, just as are geese ornery, and will chase you if they sense you're intimidated, fearful, or they simply want to chase you. I learned too, if you work on a pig farm don't go to Bible Study. Trust me, you'll smell like a pig no matter how much you scrub up before hand.

Speaking of smelly, I also learned that a shit spreader is the best way to get manure onto a garden. As the operator of this machine, once sung out to me, one very fine dancin' Welshman, "That'll make'er grow!" And it did too!

The Ace of Pentacles reminds me of my strong connection with all the living and growing things of the earth,  in all of creation. It's a good feeling that makes me feel whole and I know now, the raw force of nature does nothing in vain.

King of Pentacles - Loyalty and Devotion

The good Earth is the King of Pentacles domain, and he is wants to be the master of all he surveys. He is deeply connected to the land. He puts his hand to the plow, his eyes steadfastly on the goal ahead, and he doesn't look back.

In the Mythic Tarot he embodies King Midas, representing human ambition, success, and being in a position of having material wealth.

In spite of his love for worldly ambition, and all it's trappings, he is a good man who is very,  loyal and devoted to his friends, family, and partner.

He loves to be surrounded by his animal critters, and the friends that will help him accomplish his tasks. We see in the background he has helpers ready to assist him, and his goat is close by his side.

This King needs to balance out his life, as he can easily get caught up in working too much, loosing sight of his what is truly important. We are not human doings, but human beings. The King of Pentacles needs to remember this.

A friend to all living things, it is suggested that he works the land, involved in agriculture, embodying the true lover of all things in the natural world.

I found this great picture on Pinterest I've posted below. Someone thought the image reminded them of the King of Pentacles. I have to agree.