A Solid Foundation for Creativity & Joy

Hello lovely readers, how is October treating you so far? This year is much busier than usual, so I’ve been making sure to schedule in all my autumnal excitement (which, I’m realizing just now, is very pentacles-y of me) - we went to the pumpkin patch on the 1st, have been hitting the apple cider hard, and I’m now starting to prepare for my annual Halloween party.

There have also been a lot of changes happening around here, which is why I wanted to start things off on a more conversational tone. Some brief announcements:

Okay, enough updating, let’s dive into the cards, shall we?

This reading is like a big hug, dear readers. I’m surprised to see these cards on the table, practically glowing with warmth and personality. Not because it’s been an epic slog recently and they’re standing in high contrast, but because they’re so calmly present and… tidy. It’s as if they’re saying we’ve arrived somewhere stable within ourselves. If there’s ever a moment to tell yourself you’ve achieved a form of integration, it’s now.

This is a time, above all else, to acknowledge how we’ve taken leadership in our lives. Often, this is tied to responsibility - taking the reins, making difficult decisions, and owning up to our shortcomings. Yet there’s also a gentler side to responsibility, something more sustaining and kind. We’ve been talking a lot about our ongoing journey through the pentacles suite. It has spanned over two months and seems to be reaching a culmination this week as The King of Pentacles ushers in a chapter of solidity and capability. We’ve proven something to ourselves: that we’re able to steer our lives towards abundance, maintain what we have while growing new things, and, most plainly, that we can take care of ourselves.

I often bristle at analogies centering around marriage with all of its associated power dynamics and gender roles, but sometimes it just works. Here, we have a potent coupling of The King of Pentacles and The Queen of Wands: Earth, stability, and physicality combining with fiery energy, dynamism, and creativity. What happens when we bring both of these approaches to our lives? We end up in the Ten of Pentacles, a card bursting with vitality. Chaotic, yes, but gloriously beautiful. A life well-lived is complicated, bustling, and a lot to maintain. Ultimately, however, it sustains us and brings incredible richness. Not just the material side of the pentacles suit, but the spiritual as well.

When we have cards of culmination in the reading, I’m often drawn to look back and see what’s brought us to this moment. I’m thinking here of the card of October, the Eight of Pentacles. Just doing the work, it seems, has slowly been accumulating returns. You might be surprised to see how much you’ve accomplished as we begin the week. Little details, occasionally irritating tasks, repetitive obligations - all of these are adding up to a welcome feeling of competency and satisfaction shown in the King of Pentacles.

I often think of the elemental pairing of pentacles and wands - earth and fire - as a lightening bolt hitting the dirt, its chaotic and bright energy becoming grounded and generative. Yet we have a reversal here when we look at our reading. The solidity of the King of Pentacles is making space for the creativity of the Queen of Wands. The earth being cleared to make space for a fire. This speaks of intention and follow-through. Think back on how you’ve chosen to prioritize your practical life - daily chores, finances, time management, and other such *sexy and alluring* interests and demands - and how that work is now opening you up to change.

Now that we’ve cleared space, things are starting to light up. If you’ve been waiting to launch something, put something out into the world, or simply get out and have fun, this is the week to do it. The Queen of Wands is the ultimate party guest. Bright and vivacious, they need to express themselves, be seen, and follow their urge to collect inspiration and beauty from the world around them.

I’m struck, now, as I look at these cards, by how the Queen of Wands is bolstered by these two powerful pentacles cards. What I see here is a theme of sustainability. Be on the lookout for ways in which you’ve created systems that will help keep your creativity both safe from outside influences and distractions and held in a place of honor in your life. You can both keep your life going and shine brightly. It seems as if we’ve been uncovering some personal secrets around how to do just that. Take note so you can continue feeding them, then get out and enjoy the excitement and contentment of self-knowledge and responsibility.

This kind of reading, since it’s so affirming, leaves room for lots of other ventures. Almost like “the parents are home and have things covered,” what fun can we get into? Be sure to enjoy yourself (this is comparatively gentle energy) but be sure your pursuits are in-line with your values and goals. The only risk we run this week is distracting or distancing ourself from our personal power.

I also want to mention one thing about the Ten of Pentacles: sometimes the beauty of this card can hide behind a lot of life. It may be helpful this week to reframe busyness, lots of demands on your time and emotional energy, and “ye olde mess” as a sign of a life well-lived, not an obstacle to overcome or an encumberance to what really matters. It’s all happening now and it’s actually quite impressive and delightful. Lean into it.