Tell You What, It Ain’t Always That Easy!
Diving straight into the Eight of Cups and the Eight of Pentacles I want to discuss what I call “work on it or move on.” Both cards require putting in the effort, whether physically or emotionally. The sweat and tears are evident and studying the symbolism behind them show that they both demand energy and exertion. The Eight of Cups features Saturn representing Pisces astrologically. Saturn in Pisces evokes a paradox of harshness in delicacy, dreaminess, and an illusory world of emotions that can only be felt and sensed. Pisces’ view of this dreamy, imaginary, and spiritual world can be weighed down by Saturn’s discipline and strictness. Saturn’s need to free itself from limitations that impede its spiritual growth is crucial. On the other hand, the Eight of Pentacles represents the Sun in Virgo. It highlights the delicate process of dedicating oneself to one’s craft and utilizing skills to create something that can be felt in the world like that of the results it has produced. It utilizes something else that can’t be touched and seen, the mind, to bring forth tangibility into our environment. And as with any card in the tarot, there are positives and negatives to consider. It’s important to reflect on these cards and their meanings, even if it’s challenging to confront the effort we have invested in something that may no longer serve us. By acknowledging the positives and negatives, we can make more informed decisions about where to focus our energy and attention.
Astrological Influences of Saturn in Pisces and Sun in Virgo
In the Eight of Cups, the presence of Saturn in Pisces brings a profound depth to the concept of emotional vulnerability. Saturn, as a planet, signifies discipline, control, and lessons learned through challenges. Its placement in Pisces, a water sign associated with emotions, intuition, and the subconscious, brings about a profound exploration of the emotional self.
Saturn in Pisces provides the discipline and structure needed to navigate the murky waters of our emotional landscape. It prompts us to confront our deepest fears and emotional insecurities, teaching us invaluable lessons in emotional resilience and self-awareness. It enables us to experience our emotions in their rawest form, unhindered by societal norms or expectations.
Within the Eight of Cups, this planetary positioning encourages introspection, urging us to delve deeper into our emotional selves. It’s about seeking emotional truths, introspection, and understanding, even when the journey may be challenging or uncomfortable. The Eight of Cups embodies the spirit of emotional exploration, mirrored by Saturn’s influence in Pisces, fostering an environment of emotional vulnerability, growth, and ultimately, transformation.
In the Eight of Pentacles, the Sun’s position in Virgo introduces a significant layer of meaning and symbolism to the card. The Sun, as a celestial body, is a symbol of vitality, positivity, and the life force that drives all growth and progress. When located in Virgo, an earth sign known for its practicality, industriousness, and attention to detail, it results in a unique interplay of energies.
Sun in Virgo instills a sense of diligence, perfectionism, and meticulousness within the Eight of Pentacles. It inspires us to take steady, methodical steps toward our goals, underscoring the importance of hard work, patience, and persistence. This astrological combination urges us to honor our commitment to our craft, to put in the labor necessary for mastery, and to derive satisfaction from the process itself rather than just the end result.
Within the context of the Eight of Pentacles, Sun in Virgo illuminates our path toward self-improvement. It encourages conscientiousness, reminding us that growth comes from consistent efforts over time. It’s about honoring the process, recognizing the beauty in the details, and finding joy in our pursuit of excellence. In essence, the Sun in Virgo within the Eight of Pentacles symbolizes the transformative power of diligence, hard work, and meticulous attention to detail.
In the Eight of Cups, Saturn in Pisces nudges us to face our emotional landscape with honesty and maturity. It invites us to bravely venture into the depths of our feelings, pushing us to confront and embrace our emotional vulnerabilities. It isn’t about wallowing in emotional discomfort, rather, it’s about understanding its role in our personal growth and transformation. This planetary alignment implies that there is a certain strength in acknowledging our vulnerabilities, not as weaknesses, but as catalysts for profound self-discovery and transformation. Thus, in the context of the Eight of Cups, Saturn in Pisces symbolizes the courage and wisdom in embracing emotional vulnerability, highlighting its crucial role in our journey towards personal growth and spiritual evolution.
The interplay of energies between Saturn in Pisces and the Sun in Virgo can make for a fascinating exploration. The Sun in Virgo, seated within the framework of the Eight of Pentacles, embodies the spirit of meticulousness, practicality, and a grounded approach to self-improvement. Virgo, an earth sign ruled by Mercury, is synonymous with logical thinking, organization, and a diligent work ethic.
When the Sun is in Virgo, it illuminates the path of personal growth through discipline, hard work, and attention to detail. It fosters an environment that encourages methodical progress and emphasizes the importance of small, incremental steps towards self-improvement.
In contrast, Saturn in Pisces, as we’ve explored earlier in the context of the Eight of Cups, encourages introspection, emotional depth, and the courage to confront our vulnerabilities. The combination of these two celestial energies – Saturn in Pisces and the Sun in Virgo – intertwines the emotional and the practical, the abstract and the concrete.
It’s an interplay that prompts us to balance our emotional depth with practical action, and to use our feelings and vulnerabilities as a driving force for responsible and diligent self-improvement. It nudges us to harmonize our inner emotional world with our external actions, cultivating a way of personal development that is both emotionally rich and pragmatically productive. This celestial interplay, thus, underscores the importance of integrating emotional honesty with practical diligence in our journey towards personal growth and self-discovery.
The delicate balance between emotional depth and practicality, as seen in the interplay of Saturn in Pisces and the Sun in Virgo, provides a unique approach towards self-improvement. On one hand, Saturn in Pisces represents the intuitive, empathetic side of our psyche, encouraging us to delve into our emotional depths, face our vulnerabilities, and understand our feelings in a profound way.
On the other hand, the Sun in Virgo promotes a pragmatic and disciplined approach, an ethos of continuous, methodical work towards bettering oneself. This involves a commitment to detail, an organized mindset, and a practical approach to problem-solving.
This powerful blend of emotional introspection and practical diligence encourages us to approach personal growth holistically. It nudges us to not ignore our feelings in our pursuit of practical achievements, but to embrace them, to allow them to inform our practical actions, and to realize that emotional honesty is as essential to personal growth as practical diligence.
This celestial balance teaches us that emotional depth and practicality are not opposing forces but complementary aspects of a well-rounded personal development journey. It helps us understand that our emotional vulnerabilities, far from being hindrances, can be powerful catalysts for our practical growth if we learn to harness them effectively.
Growing Pains
The eight of Cups can be a daunting card to draw in a tarot reading. As humans, it can be challenging to let go of things we hold dear. Often, we fail to recognize that what once fulfilled us has become stagnant, and we continue to pour our energy into something that no longer brings us joy and happiness. It’s difficult to walk away from something we have created with fervor, hoping that our efforts will eventually pay off. Especially when we know as humans what we care about so much is oftentimes difficult to let go of. We don’t always see that the things that fulfilled us and the things that once filled us have become stagnant even though we keep trying to bring color and warmth back to a place, a person, a situation, not realizing that the vessel has been slowly leaking and draining. How many times can you say you’ve wanted to and have been okay with abandoning your masterpiece, right? So we just keep putting effort into it, right? We keep hoping that the work that we’re putting into the things that matter to us will eventually show their worth again. That this something, whatever it is, will increase in value as we keep pouring ourselves into it with determination. And so that’s for us to really hone in and even as difficult as it is to open our eyes widely enough to look into these places, situations and relationships and wonder if the effort that is being put into is actually worth it.
Moving away from something that no longer serves us may feel like moving mountains, but it is necessary to embrace the unknown and grow. Like the metaphor of hair cutting in the Eight of Cups from the Sasuraibito Tarot to and the difficulty of letting go of something that has been a part of us for so long. Ultimately, the decision to cut ties or hair should be made with a focus on what is best for our well-being and growth, and it is up to you. Only you know if your hair’s best comes from cutting it every month, or every six months. It’s when you ignore your hair that it starts to become lackluster, becoming dry, producing split ends that keep it from being the vibrant reflection of the care and effort you’ve put into it and of the sustenance of nutrients you have given to it.
In contrast, the Eight of Pentacles represents a more positive aspect of the tarot. This card reminds us that hard work and dedication can lead to mastery of a craft or skill. The Eight of Pentacles is meticulous, slow, and sure. I came across a depiction of the Eight of Pentacles that I adore. The Wild unknown Tarot Deck portrays a spider web with a spider at its center, reminding us of the delicate process and materials involved in this craft. The spider dedicates itself to weaving silk threads to create a haven; a beautiful place that one can call home. This magical web is an example of skillful artistry. The Eight of Pentacles emphasizes that this process is not quick, nor is it effortless. It is an unfolding process that takes time to come into completion. The metamorphosis of a butterfly, as depicted in the Eight of Coins in the Slow Tarot deck, is a perfect analogy for this process too. It is in this card that we see that the process takes time to reach completion, much like the changing cycles of the moon or the seasons. The Eight of Pentacles requires physical work and dedication. Diligence is paramount in undertaking this task, much like reading a book from start to finish. So it asks us to embrace the process and be patient as it unfolds before us.
When Shit Hits The Fan
There is something to be said about the delicate process of building a relationship with care and confidence, allowing it to unfold and reveal its true value. I’m inspired by the imagery of the archetype of the spider, which takes its time to recognize the best course of action, avoiding mistakes and ensuring sustenance. However, we must also have caution that we must also be mindful of the sustainability of our efforts. Just as a spider must choose a suitable location for its web, we must assess whether our relationship is truly nourishing us or ultimately leaving us starving and hungry. I’ve been feeling the pressure of change in my life as of late and I’ve felt the fear creep in insidiously. I’ve struggled with recognizing what to walk away from and what to work on. My relationships have been put under a microscope, forcing me to make tough decisions. It’s never easy to choose what’s best for ourselves, especially if it means leaving behind people and situations that were once full and vibrant. It’s no coincidence that in the actual sky right now Saturn is in the sign of Pisces and has been for a few months and is currently retrograding in the sign! We can accumulate cup after cup until we have eight, but they never seem to hold the same joy they once did or are as full as they once were. It’s a reminder that sometimes, we must let go of what no longer serves us to make space for new and better things to come. Coming from the Seven of Cups that presents a multitude of options in the transition to the Eight of Cups, we realize that some of those choices aren’t truly beneficial in the long run. We may be inclined to hold onto the past, represented by the Eight, but it’s important to acknowledge that the symbol’s infinity shape implies constant movement and change. In order to progress, we must abandon outdated habits and strive for more. It’s crucial to keep moving forward without fear of what may shift or change. It’s not easy, but the Eight of Pentacles reminds us that effort will bring about results. There will be an outcome to the work we put into any situation, relationship, or person. There’s the reminder that You have the power to shape your world through tangible actions. When to stay? When to go? It all comes down to a feeling. If you keep putting effort into something and nothing is moving, what’s the point anymore? You may be creating from a stagnant pool, lacking the rushing waters that once pushed and inspired you. And this realization has been daunting. It’s scary to consider whether to keep going or to move on and find something else. Even with relationships being tested and wondering if it’s time to abandon what you’ve been putting yourself into so deeply, a transition will come either way. With the aid of pentacles and its transitions outward and the aid of cups, which has both inner and outer manifestations that propel movement trust that the process is occurring and unfolding anyway as energy doesn’t stand still and that eventually the appropriate actions will take place so long as there is a recognition of truth driven by the internal compass of our spirits. This is how we’re able to transition from one thing to the next, whether it be a relationship or anything else in our lives.
What CAN I Do?!
Decisions, decisions, decisions, but really, what the fuck should I do?! And it’s funny because now I hear Sunshine’s voice in my head and her saying of “Fuck The Shoulds” Damn it. Hahaha. But I’d love to offer ways to come into the present to feel grounded and sure of the choices that are here to be made right here and now in these present moments when we find ourselves struggling hard on the struggle bus of life. And that first bit IS to find ourselves here and now. It’s practicing mindfulness that helps us stay present in the moment, not filled with anxiety for the future nor nostalgia for the past so that we can feel into what is happening right now, inside of our bodies. This brings me into acknowledging your feelings. Being authentic with yourself and what emotions are running through you, both pleasant and unpleasant, so you can understand each one of them and what purpose they are serving in your life at the moment. The other thing that follows these acknowledgements is to ask questions. Why are you here, what do you want to show me, why am I feeling resistant, how can I use this to serve my wellbeing the best. Inquiry is the best form of starting to compound our thoughts and words to start making sense of them. I love to do by keeping a record via words and this can be either writing down your thoughts and emotions into a journal or verbalizing your thoughts and emotions into an audio note, basically anyway that works for you that you can go back to and reflect upon if needed. And lastly I would invest in caring for myself on a deeper level by setting up some sort of I care about myself routine so that I can find myself feeling not like a stranger inside of my own body. This could look like carving out any amount out of your day just for YOU that helps you be present and not distracted by everything and everyone around you. It could look like setting shorter term goals that help move the needle on some of your longer-term goals. Staying committed to our own personal growth, our professional growth, our spiritual growth fills us with our own power and gives us the ability to hone the tools we need to be able to decide in each and every moment what to do with ourselves, within ourselves and in our surroundings.
P.S. With Love
Everything that I talk about and speak about is for you to take with you and consider. If it offers you a different outlook on life, or further solidifies a belief that differs from my own, I will always consider that a win. I like to think about outcomes, probabilities, possibilities, and when I share I am offering you a way to see the world from my own lens. What you take or don’t take from my shares are your gifts to be had. Consider life, remember to choose, and decide to dream.
Are you looking for a deeper understanding of yourself and your life?
Ineisha is a deeply gifted intuitive psychic and spiritual advisor with years of experience helping her clients. Utilizing her powerful connection to spirit, along with tarot cards, she is able to tap into deep insights that provide clear direction for clients seeking answers and a richer experience in life. Ineisha creates personalized readings tailored to each individual’s needs which will help them find clarity and confidence in their choices.
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