Is 7 of Pentacles a risk?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 May 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Belladonna	02 May 2003
I've always seen the seven of pentacles as being offered an alternative way of doing things in terms of career or health. A new and different job opportunity, for instance, or an alternative type of therepy. The emphasis always on the fact that it represents a bit of risk, the unknown factor, its nature being that it is NEW AND DIFFERENT, but that the reward is potentially greater than can be expected from continuing the same old. There's a real conscientious (that cannot possibly be the right spelling?) flavour to it as well. A pause, a hesitation, a consideration of the outcome, foresight. Opportunity. Does this seem right to you? It was recently brought to my attention that it could be interpreted as meaning hard work and success... but that seems kind of vague to me. Does anyone have a radically different opinion on this card?

sunflowr	02 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Belladonna I've always seen the seven of pentacles as being offered an alternative way of doing things in terms of career or health. A new and different job opportunity, for instance, or an alternative type of therepy. The emphasis always on the fact that it represents a bit of risk, the unknown factor, its nature being that it is NEW AND DIFFERENT, but that the reward is potentially greater than can be expected from continuing the same old. There's a real conscientious (that cannot possibly be the right spelling?) flavour to it as well. A pause, a hesitation, a consideration of the outcome, foresight. Opportunity. Does this seem right to you? It was recently brought to my attention that it could be interpreted as meaning hard work and success... but that seems kind of vague to me. Does anyone have a radically different opinion on this card? I've always thought of it as waiting for the fruits of your labor.. being patient.. waiting... nothing more that you can do and just need to wait for growth/harvest.. that kind of thing.

Belladonna	02 May 2003
Well, that's funny because I always think of the 8 of pentacles that way. To me the 8 is more about patience, nurturing, bringing to birth a project that you began or adjusted with the 7. Could you tell me your insight about the 8 as well? I appreciate it!

Diana	02 May 2003
Seven is the number of the union of spirit and matter. The spirit gives life to the matter. So the Seven of Coins would be giving impetus to the matter at hand. The seven provides the movement that any project would require. It's a card that can point to money coming in after having worked long and hard. Or if you're planning on investing money, it's a good sign, for instance. If it's reversed ......... :(

Nao	02 May 2003
Hmm...wow, quite different my thoughts on the 7 of Pentacles. I often see it as a period of life where after you've worked towards something, and you're waiting and hoping for some results. There are results but it may not be all that you wanted...or it may not be enough of what you hoped for. In that sense, I sometimes sense a period of wanting to rush things. Maybe a little of dissatisfaction. Ever tried hard for something and hoping for some quick and immediate results? But yet you know it in your heart that it's not something that can get results that fast? I associate that feeling with the 7 of Pentacles. The sitting and looking at the rewards and waiting/hoping for it to grow to the level that you wanted it to be. It's also time of sitting back and maybe taking a good look at all that you've done...and perhaps reevaluating it. You've reached a point in your life where nothing is really bad...but it's not really moving upwards as much anymore. Like a plateau. In this sense...I look at it in two ways...depending on the cards around it. Perhaps this is a time to think about what else you can do to further your goal or maybe it's a time for a different direction of change that you can take to make the growth prosper even more. I sometimes also read this as a negative card...in which the person may feel like things aren't going anywhere. They've worked long and hard...and they feel like the rewards aren't worth it or aren't enough. In this case...they can either move on to newer projects OR it can also be a card that tells the person, "hang on! it may not seem like much now..but be patient because you're almost there!" That all depends on the surrounding cards.

littleneptune	02 May 2003
I remember that the Mythic deck presents the 7 of Pentacles as a new opportunity and a choice between the security of the old versus the possibilities of the new. The RWS deck depicts the idea of gardening (and I have seen it come up in cases that literally mean gardening) and the idea of 'no guaranteed success' but slow growth, requiring a patient, long-term approach. The Eight of Pentacles is to me, more like get to work! the more you do now the better you get/the more you gain.

jema	02 May 2003
The Thoth decks calls this card "Failure" it shows 7 disks that are almost locked in, constricted by dying vegetation, the disks themselves are dull, yet faintly glowing of life. the situation may not be totally hopeless but it is time to re-evaluate the situation, perhaps a change of direction must come to pass cause not much is happening here. it is a stand-still. one question to ask oneself might be if perhaps i am sabotaging myself by focusing on changing things or holding on to things or people that i just should let go of. in short - time to weed that garden.

allibee	02 May 2003
It's funny how we can all see different things in this card :O) To me the 7 is a pregnant pause ... in all senses of the word(s) ... like being 6 months pregnant and getting impatient for it all to be over and have that baby in your arms. The 7 Major is the Chariot, which also signifies endurance, whilst still having forward motion. Really, there are other interpretations for both these cards too, so it is quite dependant upon the question asked and the other cards around it. Allison

skytwig	02 May 2003
Quote: Thirteen's Tarot Basics SEVENS As the fives indicated a particular problem, so do the sevens. The fives were about loss, losing momentum, losing love, losing an argument, losing money. The question there was, "How do I deal with this loss?" The sevens are about finding yourself in a situation where you are not in control. Sevens relate to the Chariot, a card about finding and maintaining complete control and mastery over wild or opposing forces. If the charioteer lets his horses run where they will, as they will, the chariot will crash. He not only has to have them completely in hand, but to win in a race or war, he must also control direction and speed. So, too, in life. You need to know not only how to take control but also how to direct the forces once you have them in hand. Sevens, like fives, are about overcoming fears and finding a way to succeed in a tough situation. They answer the question, "How do I take control?" 7 pentacles is 'all of the above' or not clear in our minds? Why is there so much difference of interpretation in Deck Makers? I like Thirteens reference to the Chariot and Diana's reference to numerology. Trying to get a solid image here. :confused:

Umbrae	02 May 2003
I have always looked at the Seven of Pentacles as – What you have been working towards, is coming to a close. And as it does so, you will see your role in it’s fruition change…but you get what you want – most folks will miss it (Failure) because they don’t understand that their role is changing. At harvest time, the farmer gathers his harvest – and now becomes a Teamster, hauling his crop to market. Then he must become a trader – attempting to get the best price. Same project – different role. Most folks miss it and keep trying to do the same thing, expecting different results…that’s the risk.

jema	03 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae At harvest time, the farmer gathers his harvest – and now becomes a Teamster, hauling his crop to market. Then he must become a trader – attempting to get the best price. Same project – different role. Most folks miss it and keep trying to do the same thing, expecting different results…that’s the risk. YES! *aha-moment* This is actually the first time I hear (or read) someone reconcileing the Waite-smith meanings with the Thoth meanings. Excellent, this goes into the journal:)

Macavity	03 May 2003
This one rather makes me chuckle. There's a guy(?) out there in cyber land who publishes various Tarot related conversations he has had with people on usenet re. (among other matters) card meanings. Almost invariably to point out how "wrong" these others are? He seems to be a bit of a Book of Thoth fundamentalist(?), so this one is "Bad Money" - NO more, NO less, NO argument! :D Macavity P.S. It happens to be the card that Crowley astrology might associate with MY birth date. My only wry comment is, bad or not, many other folk have seemed to quite like my money - from the government on down... Ain't that often the case? LOL })

Belladonna	03 May 2003
Wow, I didn't expect such diversity in opinion over this card... interesting. Thank you all for your input, it provides a lot of insight and food for thought. I'm going to have to chew on it for awhile. Jema and Umbrae, I wonder if you would kindly post again. I feel like I was on the edge of grasping your point of view, but I need a little extra shove. Could you explain it again? Is it that the risk involved is that you must recognize when your role needs to change in order to bring to fruition a particular endeavor? And then have the courage to do so knowing that there are still no guarantees? And the failure aspect, is that because failure is guaranteed if the risk is not taken?

Alex	04 May 2003
When you've got used to Windows95, there came Windows98, and then you had to upgrade your computer and learn to use it. Now there is Windows2000 and who knows what else. Alex.

Alex	04 May 2003
modern life has gotten us all stuck in an eternal 7 of pentacles of sorts. We're never ready for anything. Always trying to antecipate the next move, to catch the next train passing below the bridge... My skills get outdated faster than I can upgrade them. Too bad. Alex.

Umbrae	05 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Belladonna …the risk involved is that you must recognize when your role needs to change in order to bring to fruition a particular endeavor? And then have the courage to do so knowing that there are still no guarantees? And the failure aspect, is that because failure is guaranteed if the risk is not taken? The risk, is standing still – thinking you are doing what’s right…what needs to be done. When in fact, by your own hand – your job description has changed. The risk is about not changing hats (an expression we use to describe our several stations that we must attend to – in our lives, and with our fellow man). Refusal to change hats…that’s the risk. If you change hats...everything will be just fine, and that’s the positive aspect of the card.

allibee	05 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae Same project – different role. Yup, .... the pregnant woman becoming the mother.

Belladonna	05 May 2003
Ah! Thank you all. That's a great description, Alex. I laughed when I read it because it immediately struck me as so true. Thank you Umbrae as well for responding again to help me clarify this.

Alex	05 May 2003
"[yours is] a slow sort of country. Now, here, I see_ it takes the entire running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!' (The red queen, Alice in Wonderland.)

galadrial	06 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae The risk, is standing still – thinking you are doing what’s right…what needs to be done. When in fact, by your own hand – your job description has changed. The risk is about not changing hats (an expression we use to describe our several stations that we must attend to – in our lives, and with our fellow man). Refusal to change hats… that’s the risk . If you change hats...everything will be just fine , and that’s the positive aspect of the card. Wow, Umbrae! That is an extremely useful insight and memorable description. Very a-ha, as Jema noted. It is going in my journal as well.

The Is 7 of Pentacles a risk? thread was originally posted on 02 May 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.