I'll admit when I first saw today's card I was a bit confused. Okay, I was more than a bit confused. The Nine of Pentacles shows successful endeavors and the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of your labor. After this weekend, successful is the least of what I am feeling. Both personally and professionally.
In the Gilded image (left), our lady (who reminds me of Annie Lennox) stands in front of a gazebo. She is surrounded by fluttering butterflies. Pentacles hang of a flowered vine and a hooded falcon sits perched on her arm. Immediately, I am reminded of the image of Snow White and the forest animals happily cleaning while singing, "Whistle While You Work."
The image on the Rider deck (right) has similar elements. Again. we see our lady with pentacles growing off a vine. Only the vines are growing grapes not flowers, and the vines surround her instead of being off to the right. The falcon still sits hooded on her hand and we see a snail crawling in front of her.
Yes, this card shows the enjoyment of success, but there are also elements that requires deeper reflection. Nines represent compromises and struggles that are needed to go through before the completion of the Tens. We see images of falcons on both cards. Symbolically falcons represent intelligence and soaring imagination. But our falcon is hooded. While loyal to our lady and her protection, that loyalty came at the cost of our hunter's natural instincts.
The hooded falcon also shows a decision to be subservient to his mistress. He has subdued his natural instincts which takes great devotion, will power and discipline.
Our woman, especially in Pentacles, is grounded and very much aware of nature. This is reminiscent of both the Pentacle Queen and the Empress. Both cards represent sensuality and sexuality. Yet our woman stands alone in the garden. She has had to sacrifice part of her nature for this success.
The snail crawling slowly in front represent patience. It takes time for success to come to fruition. The first steps are planting seeds. It takes time for those seeds to blossom to flowers or grapes.
The success represented in the Nine of Pentacles is gotten by compromise, but our lady is very much aware of the decisions she has made. The messages here a clear. Success comes when you not only are clear and focused about what you want, but you are willing to deal with compromises, and have the patience and discipline necessary to achieve it.
The card is no longer confusing to me. In fact, it makes perfect sense. I am at the beginnings od a business adventure. The Nine is showing me that I will be successful, but I must have patience. I must keep my "eyes on the prize" and be willing to bend and compromise to make it work.
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