3 of pentacles-

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Jul 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

catti	24 Jul 2003
just what is that guy carving? is he inside the church or outside? is it even a church? and whatever does it mean reversed? just a few questions that came to mind as the 3 of pent (rx) presented itself as the solution to my 5 card spread....everything else was clear ( probably because if the solution was clear to me i wouldnt be throwing ;-) !) but then i started reading some masonic signifigance in another thread... and wondering on how this card ties to the empress ( creating, being recognized as an artist and asked to do a public work...??) any thoughts ? catti

Trogon	25 Jul 2003
Hi Catti, Hmm.... Well, this card to me is usually about "work" in any of it's various aspects. I generally think of it as relating to actually working on something... the work in progress so to speak. Now this can be work in the earth-related sense - work in the physical world and perhaps related to applying some particular skill or tallent you posess. However, another thing that I have considered in this is working on one's personal and spiritual development. As an outcome card, it occurs to me that this may be pointing out that whatever issue you're exploring, may need to be removed in order for you to get going on this "work". (My above comments are both what I was thinking of as I read your post as well as from some of my personal notes - gleaned from several sources.) I'm not sure how this card might relate to the High Priestess... Hope this has been of some assistance.

catti	25 Jul 2003
hi trogon, im not sure what the high priestess has to do with the card either. I was wondering about the connection with the Empress , because she is the card 3 in Major Arcana. but yes building something....all the pentacles to me are about having your feet on the ground, i have always associated wands more with spiritual growth, but i think i have been missing something about the pentacles, thats kind of why i started the thread to get something going about the card /suit in general. thanks , catti

Karenwhe	26 Jul 2003
Pentacles are also about results, something that materializes in practical terms. Work done well now highly appreciated, reaching the expert status etc., etc.. Anyway, the way I see the 3 of Pent., is someone that is an expert at something as a result of his hard work of many years (as you don't become an expert in one day). This is the result of his dedication and hard work. Just my 0.0000001 cents. Karen

Umbrae	26 Jul 2003
You know the whole lot of the Golden Dawn crowd were Freemasons. And this card is a wonderful example of Masonic symbolism and allegory. When the bosses arrive, workers stop, and step down to talk with their bosses…this craftsperson has not. The two that stand below him are depicted as being of higher socio political and economic position. He wears an apron, holds a maul, and is on the step. He is on a single step. Our point of view is therefore from the south looking north. He is in the west. He is a ‘first degree’ or entered apprentice mason In the hands of his ‘superiors’ who look at him as equals, they hold the designs (look carefully at it). There are three pentacles, three supports (hinting at three columns). What’s it mean? Craft, (fraternal) teamwork/network, good works, and good will. A project/process demonstrated to successful end. Planning and competence. Recognition of all the above.

Elle	26 Jul 2003
Catti, Maybe it is your mother admiring you, recognizing you for something you do well, or just proud of you. Elle

Thirteen	26 Jul 2003
Umbrae's on top of this one. He's covered all the masonic significance. As to your questions: Quote: Originally posted by catti just what is that guy carving? is he inside the church or outside? is it even a church? and whatever does it mean reversed? 1) Think of how it used to be back in the middle ages when the Church had more money then, well, God. Or just about anyone else. They were the ones able to hire the workers to build all those amazing cathedrals. So it is the Church and it's supporters who support our craftsman. What is our guy carving? He's carving the support of an arch--the support of the keystone, if you will (remember your Bible, about the stone that was tossed away but became the "keystone," etc.). Thus, the Freemasons are the "keystones" of the Church. Support, support and more support is part of the message of this card. Freemasons, let us remember, were also big on patronage and support--they patroned each other in all sorts of ways. You had to have a patron in order to join the masons for that matter. 2) He's inside the Church and yes, it's a Church. Pentacles are the physical embodiment, the actual stone and structure that houses the spiritual. That's why they're so important--care for the body is care for the soul. This is a card about the Craftsman; he's got the talent, but he needs the patronage to be able to freely work. By showing these patrons what he can do, he gains more money to do more. Reversed, this card could indicate a lack of patronage (money) to do what you want. It could also indicate that you need to work on (make healthy) that which houses your soul or family. That the keystone of your body or home is weak or missing. It could, in short, indicate a lack of support, physically or in work.

catti	26 Jul 2003
thanks everyone for your additions- i had a feeling that this was a spiderman kind of card ( appears mild mannered but there is alot going on underneath) there is another thread here aobut the 3 of swords/ 3 of cups and over in your reading, tallarino posted about a reading with the 3 of pentacles, swords and wands. which has really got me on a thing with 3's again thanks for the insights and background information. catti

Elle	26 Jul 2003
I TOTALLY misread the content of your question - had my head in a new deck all day long - so sorry - I thought you meant the Empress was in the spread alongside the 3 of Pentacles. Whoops, Elle

catti	27 Jul 2003
thats fine elle, i figured something like that happened, interestingly enough when i did a clarification card on the 3 of pent i got the queen of cups. so 2 queens in 6 cards. the female energy is being expressed :-)

Ruby Red Slippers	27 Jul 2003
Catti says…… and wondering on how this card ties to the empress ( creating, being recognized as an artist and asked to do a public work...??) Umbrae says…………… What’s it mean? Craft, (fraternal) teamwork/network, good works, and good will. A project/process demonstrated to successful end. Planning and competence. Recognition of all the above. I generally take in the “#” in the suit and do run it past the “#” in major arcane. Therefore, the #3 is attached to the Empress. I think Umbrae coalesced it so nicely, combining the two for me when he said…..”teamwork/network, good works and good will.” I think these are the qualities associated with the Empress 3, using the what is around you to create in harmony for the best possible outcome. Just my thoughts…thanks for the thread. Ruby Red Slippers

carrielynnsim	27 Jul 2003
I'm so glad you posted this thread!! I've often wonered what he was carving myself. In fact, this afternoon my 13 year old daughter saw me looking at the card and she asked me, "why is that man killing that bird?". Thanks everyone for answering. Carrie

divinerguy	27 Jul 2003
Okay, its pretty clear he's a carver or a sculptor because of the mallet. Whatever he's carving, its tall, because he's on a bench. I don't think its a keystone for the church, because a keystone in an arch is at the top center, and this appears to be on a vertical surface. The priest and the abbess are holding plans of the alcove area. As its in an alcove, its either a shrine to the virgin or a saint, or perhaps a confessional. As the abbess would not be involved in the confession process, I'd lean towards a shrine. In a typical Roman Catholic church, shrines usually consist of a kneeler, a rack of candles and a statue. The statues are frequently above the worshipper. These things lead me to conclude he's carving a statue, or perhaps a bas relief, either of which are within a shrine.

Trogon	28 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by catti hi trogon, im not sure what the high priestess has to do with the card either. I was wondering about the connection with the Empress , because she is the card 3 in Major Arcana. Ah yes... well... er... oops... I meant to say Empress... yes... :| Thanks everyone though for the discussion on this card... very enlightening indeed...

Thirteen	28 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by divinerguy These things lead me to conclude he's carving a statue, or perhaps a bas relief, either of which are within a shrine. But why would he be up on a bench? Notice that the pentacles and a rose pattern are clustered there within reach of the man so long as he's standing on that bench. I don't think he's carving the keystone, actually--I think he's just finished carving that rose filligree shape right below the pentacles on the pillar supporting or accenting the arch. If that is a rose he's been working on, it would also reinforce the mason element as it makes the three men "sub rosa"--talking under the rose. Sub rosa is an old Roman practice, taken up, I believe, by the masons. You put up a rose to indicate that the meeting was confidential, secret, and going to be kept that way.

The 3 of pentacles- thread was originally posted on 24 Jul 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.