by Brian Clark
Traditionally, this card implies that the individual may have become fixed in their position, defensive and reactionary. Celestial Tarot reveals the phase of the dragon battle and the need to summon the strength to fight off old demons. However, the energy is mustered from what has been repressed and denied, and the card indicates that the task is to confront the shadow of what has not been lived out. On an oracular level, the card implies a crucial phase of personal development where the individual needs to summon his or her inner resources, not continue to respond and react from a defensive position. The card is suggesting that you will take up the challenge to battle the dragon one more time.
The Ten of Wands:
The Elemental Spirit of Fire
In Celestial Tarot, the Ten of Wands depicts a salamander, the mythological fire-spirit embodying the elemental spirit of fire. In antiquity, it was believed the salamander could live unharmed in the fire glowing red in the flames of heat. Alchemists linked the salamander with sulfur, the prima materia of Sol, the fiery celestial globe and the astrological sun. Sulfur symbolizes the desire for positive action and provides the vital heat necessary for transformation. It also represents one of the critical stages in the evolution of matter and psyche. Like fire, sulfur symbolizes purification, reason, intuition, and the masculine principle necessary for evolution and progress. Due to the salamander’s ability to inhabit the fiery sphere, it became symbolic of internal fire, and personified righteous individuals, who trusted in the divine and tended the sanctity of the soul without becoming engulfed by the passions of the world. The spirit of the Ten of Wands is an amalgam of the three astrological fire signs. It burns with the courage of Aries, the creativity of Leo, and the vision of Sagittarius.
The Ten of Wands suggests we have been transformed by our experience, surviving the flames of desire to relinquish old attachments and look forward into the future. Through being baptized in fire, we have renewed the spiritual call and are ready to confront our heroic task. Adventuresome fire sees life as a play or a game where risk-taking and gambling create new opportunities. Fire’s strong conviction is that it is destined to win, and it often succeeds, due to its positive outlook. Its fiery nature is restless, continuously searching for stimulation, and therefore is drawn to what is novel and exciting. Its temperament is to search for the answers, ideas or concepts that will fulfill its yearning. Fire’s desire for certainty and the truth compels the search for answers. Ethics, reason, and morality are important to its religious quest. However, false gurus or prophets can extinguish the fires that burn for enlightenment, as naiveté is often mistaken for purity of vision. The salamander aglow in the fire has the wisdom to discern truth from illusion. When this card appears, it is important for the individual to discriminate truth and reality from false promises.
Psychologically, the element of fire appears self- confident and adventurous, taking risks and defying the odds. However, its inferior side constellates a fear of being stuck, an inability to move, and difficulty accepting a situation limited by structures and rules. Hence, Fire is apt to rush in, without having thought through a situation, propelled by a belief that everything will work out. Fire is inspired, intuitive, prophetic, focused on the distance and the future. However, fire’s assumptions are not always correct. Bored with details and constantly striving for a wider picture and a larger horizon, fire overlooks evidence for what appears to be ideal. Therefore the exuberance of fire’s faith and vision is often fraught with impracticality. The Ten of Wands is a reminder of the shadow of fire, to remain focused on the future, but not become burnt by the flames of ignorance or impatience. The card signals a heroic approach to solving problems. The individual is reminded of their baptism by fire and the necessity to deal with the obstacles in the path, no matter how difficult they appear.
The Ten of Wands also encourages the querent to reflect on the level of fire in their constitution. When fire is lacking in an individual’s life, physical vitality may be low, as the spirit for life is lacking. The spirit for adventure and ability to take risks may be compromised, and there could be a lack of trust in life, or lack of faith that things will work out for the best. Low self-esteem, a fear of the challenges of life, and a lack of mobility may be evident. If fire is weak, then the inability to digest or burn up energy may point towards a weak digestive system that is unable to process what is taken in. Too much fire could represent an over-zealous individual, a lack of commitment, or an inability to settle into a routine, constantly searching and questioning. With too much fire, the individual may be at risk of burning out or collapsing due to exhaustion.
The salamander lifts his head to see the ten wands above him. Surrounded by the flames of spirit the salamander radiates the heat that helps transform and release the current burdens and responsibilities. Old patterns are being burnt away and future horizons are visible when the individual is ready. However, like the salamander, the individual must be willing to bear the heat of the situation and reverently lift his or her head to envision the future.
PENTACLES: Embodying Life
Minor
Minor
Pentacles/Earth
Constellation
Decan
Decan of Decan
Ace
Sagitta
1st Capricorn
Saturn
2
Aquila
2nd Capricorn
Venus
3
Delphinus
3rd Capricorn
Mercury
4
Orion
1st Taurus
Venus
5
Eridanus
2nd Taurus
Mercury
6
Auriga
3rd Taurus
Saturn
7
Coma
1st Virgo
Mercury
8
Centaurus
2nd Virgo
Saturn
9
Bootes
3rd Virgo
Venus
10
Earth
Gaia emerged out of Chaos along with four other primal deities, as told by Hesiod in his creation epic Theogony. Gaia is Earth, the Great Mother, and through her all creation came into being. She is fertile and strong, patient and enduring, the womb through which life is born and reborn. As Mother Earth, she not only gives life but also sustains and destroys it. Hence, Earth represents both the fertility of agriculture and the finality of the grave, the womb of life, and the tomb of death, regeneration and disintegration. With Earth, we enter into the great mystery of the cycle of life and loss, planting and harvesting, death and rebirth. This is the element of incarnation, cycles and mortality. However, Earth is also the element that supports and sustains us while we inhabit the physical realm. Following fire in the zodiacal sequence is Earth. What was conceived in the imagination of fire, can now be incarnated through the womb of Earth.
The element of Earth comprises the signs Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, whose focus in life is firmly grounded in the present. This element is realistic and productive and st
rives to create something concrete and tangible. While the earthy element excels at accumulating facts, it often misses the significance or meaning of the connection between the facts. It focuses on details and presentation, not on the meaning or the bottom line. Its function is to determine that something exists, and it utilizes the five senses as a measure of reality. Anything beyond the five physical senses is suspicious and not reliable to Earth. When Pentacles are highlighted in a spread, the sensuality of Earth needs to be acknowledged. Pentacles profile earthy personalities and describe the earthiness either in others or in our selves.
Earth is associated with the realms of business, trade, building, and the concerns of the outer world. As with all elements, relationships are also part of this temperament’s destiny. The Earthy temperament needs to define boundaries within their relationships without cutting off the life force. It strives to have a stable and committed relationship without it becoming fixed and bound to routines. Earth values commitment, fidelity and devotion in relationships, and feels responsible and protective towards loved ones. Earth needs stability and security, and therefore it is important that life provides this ongoing structure. When Pentacles appear in a spread, they describe individuals who embody the earthy archetype.
The three earth signs, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, share the earthy traits of being at home with facts, details, and instructions, but are often suspicious of symbols, signs, and metaphors. Earth types learn best when shown and given an instruction book to guide them. They are most at ease with a step-by-step approach. However, once they have mastered the technique, they are more able to explore their options. Energetically, they tend to be able to pace themselves and set appropriate boundaries, and are more aligned with their physical bodies.
TAURUS is the fertile earth. It is the sacred ground we stand on and the patient effort to build our lives using the resources at hand. Psychologically, it is the value we ascribe to being able to flourish and grow in the world and ourselves. It is the resourcefulness, and willingness to share this wealth with others.
VIRGO is the earth of practical efficiency and analysis, the life, which grows out of the earth, the grain, the flowers, and the trees. Psychologically, it is how we support and contain our blossoming in the world. Humble and reverent, it represents the rituals, tasks and labors of daily life that maintain our sense of well-being.
CAPRICORN is the earth of authority, persistence, and responsibility, the solid structures of life, whether mountains or earthen structures, the highest peak. Psychologically, the process is one of autonomy and authorship of one’s own life script, lawmaker of one’s own social code. From here, we contribute our vocation to the world.
When earth is out of balance in an individual’s life, this manifests as not being grounded, feeling ‘spaced out’, or out of place in the material world. When earth is over-developed, or the individual is over-compensating for a perceived lack of this element, he/she may feel weighed down, stuck, unable to move or change direction.
When Pentacles appear in a spread, we are alerted to what is worthy and valuable for the individual. Structure, form, and material substance are of importance. However, what is of highest value is that the material world reflects the worth and self-esteem of the individual. The journey of Pentacles illustrates the development of the earthy function through the labors, challenges, and triumphs in the world.
The Ace of Pentacles: Sagitta
Piercing the heavens just north of the celestial equator, is Sagitta, a small constellation whose star pattern is an arrow. The more familiar arrow constellation, Sagittarius, is depicted as a centaur with a taut arrow, about to be released from his bow. It is not surprising that Sagitta was often linked with this zodiacal constellation, as well as with the other celestial centaur, Chiron. As the seminal card of Pentacles, the Ace represents the beginning stages of incarnating spirit and vision. Fire is ready to be fused with the earth and applied to new projects and goals. Ideas are ready to materialize, plans can now be implemented, and goals can be structured.
The Greeks continued the Persian tradition that associated the stellar pattern with a mythic arrow. For the Persians, the arrow was their favorite combat weapon and, along with the bow, came to symbolize war and power. Eventually, the Greeks came to utilize the weapon, yet it was never their preferred instrument of war. Apollo’s epithet of ‘long sight’ referred to his ability to his strike his enemies from afar with his arrows. The arrows of the sun god also became symbolic of the sun’s rays. With Artemis, the arrow was emblematic of the hunt and also the swiftness of death. While Hercules’ favored weapon was his club, the Greeks specifically linked the constellation Sagitta with the arrows that the hero used to kill savage birds. One version suggests Sagitta is the arrow used to kill the man-eating Stymphalian birds that were menacing and polluting the countryside. In this instance, the arrow represents the facility to kill off negative thoughts.
The other menacing bird associated with Sagitta is the one that daily pecked out the liver of Prometheus while he was chained to a rock in the dungeon of the underworld. Hercules used his deadly aim to bring down the bird and free Prometheus from his torment. Intrinsic to the story is the reason why Prometheus was punished so severely. The hero, Prometheus, had stolen the fires of the gods and given it to mankind, enraging Zeus. Prometheus had acted prematurely. When the Ace of Pentacles appears, it heralds the mythic release of Prometheus, suggesting that it is time to release the spirit of vision that has been chained or trapped by our fears or insecurities. On an oracular level, the Ace of Pentacles ushers in a mature phase of material progress and accomplishments, freed from past difficulties and torment.
The arrow of the Ace of Pentacles augurs a fertile period where spiritual ideals and visions can be incorporated into new projects and innovative work. The arrow represents the fertilization process and suggests that seeds of prosperity are being sown. As the arrow pierces through the material plane, it inseminates this sphere with fruitful ideas and fertile seeds. On a mundane level, it suggests that resources are available to help actualize material goals, while there is also more physical vitality and energy to accomplish the tasks. The first trinity of Pentacles is associated with Capricorn and the process of structuring and securing professional and practical goals.
Ruling the card is Capricorn and Saturn. Capricorn’s urge is to structure the vision released by its predecessor Sagittarius. Implicit in the symbol of Capricorn is material mastery, competence, ambition, autonomy, achievement, and success. Embedded in Capricorn are the arrows of the previous sign Sagittarius, which have been disseminated and now need to be applied and focused. As the representative of the Ace of Pentacles, the arrow symbolizes the philanthropic spirit, set free to systematically direct its intuitive ideals and spiritual goals. Cardinal Earth, which has the ability to implement the practical application of visionary ideals, initiates the individual into the seminal experience of Pentacles. On a divinatory level, the card signifies incarnating ideas, embodying inspiration, and focusing ideas towards a successful outcome. Like the arrow, goals and plans may be far-reaching, but material and physical resources now support them. On a divinatory level, this card suggests that financial security is possible through a myriad of ways: new avenues of employment, work bonuses, passive income, a legacy, a windfall, or investment opportunities.
While the card suggests practical achievements and successes, it need not be at the expense of one’s spiritual life. With the Ace of Pentacles, a new creative vision is unleashed and directed towards the material world. The arrow symbolizes this creative power being directed to new targets. On a divinatory level, the card foresees a period of growth and abundance coupled with drive and ambition in the individual’s material endeavors.
The Two of Pentacles: Aquila
Since the Mesopotamian period, the constellation of Aquila has been recognized as an eagle. To the Greeks, this majestic bird was sacred to Zeus, and be
came aligned with the Olympian king as it had in other cultures. Across different cultures, the eagle has been connected with the highest officials, kings, heroes and rulers. As king of the birds, the eagle was aligned with the sun, as its pattern of heavenward flight reminded the ancients of the sun rising in the sky. The eagle became symbolic of the majesty and power of heavenly fire, including firestorms, lightening and thunder. Hence, it was appropriate that the eagle was the instrument of Prometheus’ punishment when he stole fire from heaven, and that Zeus became associated with the lightening bolts, the fiery eruption of the sky god. When the Two of Pentacles is revealed, we encounter the potent image of the eagle, an emissary from the highest order who swoops into our life, guided by the will of the gods. As a surrogate of the sun, the eagle represents the awareness of a wider horizon, as the creative spirit is ready to take flight into a period of growth and expansion.
The constellation has also been known since Roman times as Aquila or Antinous, named for the beautiful youth who was the lover of Emperor Hadrian. The Greeks had depicted the constellation as an eagle carrying a youth towards heaven in its claws. In Greek myth, Zeus’ eagle Aquila had abducted the beautiful young Trojan prince Ganymede, and taken him to Olympus, where he became cupbearer to the Gods. Zeus was in love with the young boy’s beauty and elevated him into the heavens as Aquarius. Similarly, Emperor Hadrian fell in love with the youthful beauty of Antinous. When the young man mysteriously drowned in the Nile, Hadrian’s grief was so great that the boy became immortalized, his image combined with Aquila’s. Myth and history overlap in the motif of the kingly god’s love for youthful male beauty. In the Two of Pentacles, Ganymede and Antinous symbolize the creative resources and capital that is available. Beauty and masculinity combine as the image of worldly potential which the more mature aspects of the self-desire. Therefore the Two of Pentacles card promotes the integration of the mature and worldly with the more youthful, innocent, and potential aspects of the self.