Eight of Pentacles
Eight of Pentacles
On the eight of Pentacles a young man is hammering away at a coin. He has finished six and has another coin to go. It is clear that he is in the middle of a project that absorbs all his attention. He's isolated himself from others (the town in the background) in order to concentrate.
The Eight of Pentacles is the card of apprenticeship. While the seven indicates a time of decision and the revaluation of our financial situation, the eight indicates that a decision has been made and a new creative venture is underway. An apprenticeship is a time of learning new skills, a time of beginning something which one has not previously done. In this sense, the Eight of Pentacles indicates that you are experiencing or about to experience a change or new beginning in terms of work, education, or financial circumstances. However, unlike many of the other cards indicating change or renewal, the Eight of Pentacles symbolises a concentrated determination to master the new skill being learned. Some of the cards that augur change seem to imply that the change will be chaotic, unstructured, or forced upon us either by external circumstances or psychological necessity. The Eight of Pentacles represents the single-minded effort of someone who has consciously chosen a new career path or creative undertaking. This card is the herald of success through perseverance and initiative as opposed to luck or the generosity of others, as is indicated in the Six of Pentacles.If you encounter this card in a reading and are not currently engaged in the active pursuit of your goals, it may be time to ask yourself what you could learn or create to better yourself or your circumstances. If you are already engaged in the pursuit of new learning, the Eight of Pentacles may be a card of encouragement and reassurance that the energy you invest in your "apprenticeship" will be worth your while.
Self discipline, preparation. Patience, productivity. Moderation, Tree Of Knowledge. Application of talents, success at hand, which you have earned. Purpose. Small profits. Improvements in work life. Training that brings both discipline and skill, not just concentrating on the end result, but caring about the work itself. Also, the work needs to be related to the outside world (even though we are developing our own standards and instincts, our own self development, the work we do lacks meaning if it does not serve the community.) Learning. Development of skills which will result in profitable ends. Perhaps a new job.
Craftsmanship. You need to approach your situation like a skilled crafts person would. Study your subject, learn as you work, attend to all details with love and skill, and avoid perfectionism. Do not think about results or rewards.
In this scene we see the essential elements of the eight of Pentacles: hard work and attention to detail. This card often implies a time of great diligence and focus. It advises you to hammer away at the business of the moment, whether a work project, family difficulty, personal goal or unpleasant duty. Sometimes blessings fall into our laps to be enjoyed. Other times we must put out great effort to obtain them. The eight of Pentacles represents moments when you must give 100%. Just buckle down and do it. Fortunately, this kind of work is invigorating and leads to superb results. The labour of the eight of Pentacles is deeply satisfying and productive.
The eight of Pentacles can also symbolise the impulse to learn - to broaden horizons. Sometimes we need to develop new skills. We do research, dig out facts or search for expertise. The Hermit is looking for inner knowledge. The man on the eight of Pentacles seeks external knowledge - the how and why of the material world. This card can also show the need for meticulous attention. People who are painstaking are often dismissed as nit-pickers, but their extra effort ensures everything is as it should be. It's a matter of caring - taking the time to check the little details. Now is not the time to be slipshod or casual. Look for errors, and tie up loose ends. The key to success is an extraordinary effort. Whatever your task, the eight of Pentacles tells you to give it your all in every way.
Eight stands for symmetries, structures, repetitive and self-sustaining patterns. Eight is the wheel of the year--and how many billions of years has this clockwork been running on its own? Pentacles represent the body, the tangible and practical.
Reversed, the Eight of Pentacles is the recognition that proficiency is the enemy of innovation. The eight of pentacles is perfection in a self-contained world, a world that needs nothing but perfect pentacles, one after another. But what if the rules change? What if our artisan is called upon to sing opera? Short circuit. Syntax error. If you need to take a risk, or to shift gears, the eight of pentacles can be a barrier card. It means you have to let go of the smoothness and predicability of doing what you've mastered, and be willing to make a Fool of yourself all over againWhen in reversed position it indicates that the Querent desires financial rewards but is lacking the ambition and will needed to get them. He/she is too wrapped up in everyday concerns and worries to take the time out to gain more long-term security. Instead most of the Querent's energies are wasted pursuing short-term gains and rewards. This card in reversed position may also act as a warning against wasting energies on short-term securities, advising to become more like the boy in the card.