Three of Pentacles - Professionalism

 

I am partial to the number three for a number of spiritually related reasons. Threes also make me think of the three Graces or Muses, and indicates an initial completion, the first bit of a project is done, rather like the basic shell of a structure that has been erected, and now energy is put toward the next needed elements to hopefully follow.

It is a rewarding feeling of satisfaction to have the beginning of project started, but there needs to be a full awareness of the hard work ahead. If I have an inability to know my limits, and do not understand  my character, knowing what I can or cannot handle, this is proportional to my success and lasting rewards.

The Three of Pentacles is a very appropriate card drawn for me today upon commencing my most recent art project, a series of 22 paintings, the Major Arcana cards based on the Mythic Tarot. Once I complete the Major Arcana, I want to complete the remaining 56 cards of the Minor Arcana.
The early beginnings for me is probably the most daunting undertaking, because of the combined fear, ambiguity and excitement that comes with the initial approach to an art project. However, I am sure this will come up again with each painting in varying degrees until the project is done in my efforts to make 'good art'. I do make a concerted effort to crowd out of my mind any negative self-talk or self-doubt in my ability to create, and replace this with positive affirming thoughts.
 I must remain steadfast, positive, realistic and adhere to my professional development.

The Moirai - Wheel of Fortune

The Moirai or Fates are fascinating symbolic images found in the Wheel of Fortune, and were the incarnations of destiny and life. They remind me of the Three Graces or Muses,  and I suspect the Moirai carried over into the three theological Christian virtues, Faith, Hope, and Charity. Clotho was the Spinner, Lachesis the measurer and Artrpos the cutter whose name means 'she who cannot be avoided.'

Greek Mythology is about as confusing as family genealogy but even more so. For instance Uranus which symbolized the sky, was the primal Greek god. He was the son and mate of Gaea who symbolizes the earth and mother of all. Uranus had no father. According to Hesiod's  creation myth, Uranus was born of Gaea alone. Gaea was his sole parent. Weird eh? Makes no sense, but is all symbolic creation myth. But I do so love that Gaea was the mother of all.

The Moirai are the three deity sisters born of Zeus, the god of the sky and ruler over the gods of Olympia. It has also been said they had no father, but were the daughters of Ananke, the primeval goddess who was self-formed, as a Mother Goddess.
According to another myth, their mother was Themis the goddess of the divine order, and was " the messenger of the very first rules of conduct, established by the elder gods, and in the role of divine voice, she first instructed the primal laws of justice and morality to mankind."
 Themis was also the daughter of Uranus and Gaea. I think it would be safe to say that the Moirai had a rather divine mission.

Moirai-Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos