Symbolism of the 6 of Pentacles in the Estensi Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 08 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Lutenist	08 Mar 2005
:OS:OS:OL:OL:OS:OS :confused: Hello, everyone. I would like to hear your views on the imagery in the Six of Pentacles in the Estensi Tarot (Golden Tarot of the Renaissance), which I am trying to decipher. I already have some ideas about the card, but I am yet to figure out what the deck designer might have had in mind in regard to this card. Any ideas and impressions on this card are welcome. I recently purchased my first tarot deck - not RWS/Thoth/TdM though, but Estensi Tarot. The descriptive one-keyword meanings given in the LWB and the images of the minor arcana are interrelated in a very obvious way and I had no trouble rebembering most of the main keywords right away. However there is one enigmatic card, whose allegory I really don't get: the Six of Pentacles. This card depicts a man with a leather pouch in his right hand, from which he is pouring coins to the ground. He is obviously communicating with someone outside the picture using his eyes and the right hand, as if in gesture of conciliation. Instead of human feet, he has the claws of some infernal creature. These are the meanings given to it by the Little Wise Book. ENVY - Profound unease, low self-esteem, jealousy. Reversed: Misanthropy, antisocial quality. When the card first appeared to me reversed in my very first reading, I browsed through my little white book and read at the 9 of pents: unrestrained joy, lust. I immediately saw the symbolism, and it related so perfectly to both the situation at hand and the placement of the card in the spread, that I found it almost scary. The feet represented his grasping to all things pleasant and the coins falling to the ground represented the gold of spiritual merit getting wasted etc. Well, obviously I had confused the number 6 with the 9. I decided not to change the meaning of the card in that reading, though. Later on, when I read the LWB more carefully, I noticed that there were single-keyword meanings, or "main keywords" for each card. They lined up with the images very nicely, but this one card I could no longer decipher. Envy? Jealousy? Low self-esteem? I think I have got stuck to my initial impression of this card somehow and can't get over it. The expression on his face does not reflect low self-esteem, envy or even slight unease. He actually looks quite confident about himself. The gray legs and sharp claws could perhaps reflect "misanthropy", but I am not satisfied with that answer either, because the symbolism of the other cards is as easy to read as a children's picture book, but this one bewilders me. Of course the card might depict Judas, for whom the symbols seem fitting. However as far as I know, his motives for betraying Jesus were more those of greed than envy. It has also been speculated, according to my dad, that Judas, the treasurer, might have been quite fond of the idea of becoming the treasurer of the King of Jews. This, of course, never happened literally, as he according to this theory would have wanted. Here we have the themes of social climbing, profound unease, perhaps even envy. However as fitting as it sounds, the explanation is still a bit far-fetched - especially as the other cards are very obvious in their symbolism. I don't think this card is unreadable, but I wonder if I have missed something. Of course I could simply rename the card "greed", but we already have the 4 of Pentacles signifying avarice, and this card would then be too close to that meaning. I'd like to hear feedback from other Estensi users concerning this card. What kinds of ideas or impressions does this card raise in you? How is this related to the intended divinatory / reflective meanings?

Thirteen	08 Mar 2005
I take it you're still a newbie, so let me first recommend two things if you are: 1) avoid reversed cards until you feel really comfortable with the meaning of all 78 cards. Even we experts sometimes have trouble with reversals, and when you're still learning, reversals can confuse. Obviously, this is not true for everyone; some people take to reversals right away. But its generally a good policy to get the upright clear first before swimming into the deep end of reversals. 2) Throw away the LWB--some aren't bad, but most aren't all that wise. In point of fact, I've never seen the 6/pentacles as "Envy" even when reversed. I suppose that *could* work but given how you describe the card, you're missing a piece to make it work--that being the beggar the man's tossing money to. He would be the envious one. Reversals, generally speaking, are a "blocking" of energy--that is, what is the card upright? Reversed is that energy blocked, unable to flow. So 6 Pentacles upright is usually about generosity. Ever hear the term "throwing your bread upon the water"? By giving you get. So this card recommends that when times are good, toss out that money upon the ground, give it randomly away (or to the poor), to even out the karma, to balance the scales. What you put out will come back to you ten-fold. Reverse that card and you block that generous energy. So, antisocial possibly, but more simply, ungenerous, unwilling to share the wealth, to give. Not miserly, that, as you point out, is aptly covered by 4/pents. This is a rich guy who likes to spend money, who flaunts his wealth, but never shares it. Misantrhopic in that he doesn't care about others, about their pain or poverty. He has money enough to give generously, but he'd rather spend it on things he doesn't need. On a simpler level, the card can mean--upright, a time of getting some generous help, especially financial--a donation, a gift, or scholarship. Reversed would mean that you didn't get it. By the by, as I can't find a picture of this card, I'm going to guess that the feet are strange boots? It's a very pretty deck, but it's also a deck of a time when folk wore strange clothes--including shoes that sometime looked like claws. This would help indicate his wealth, as the poor couldn't afford shoes, let alone ourageously designed ones.

firemaiden	08 Mar 2005
Dear Lutenist, I have the card, and the image is before me. It is indeed odd! And the Little White Book key-words are odder still. The image seems to have been taken for what it might have in common with the RWS 6 of pentacles - a man giving away coins. The common point here is the rain of coins. It might be worthwhile remembering that the images on the minor cards were chosen from frescoes which pre-exist the Little White book by several centuries. As Giordano Berti writes in his very interesting introduction to the Little White Book, they were taken from "the marvelous cycle of frescoes that Duke Borso d'Este had painted in the "hall of the Months" in Palazzo Schifanoia" Berti explains: Quote: This work, created between 1469 and 1471 at the same time as the "Charles VI" cards, is a true talisman, designed to exalt Duke Borso and protect him from all adversity. Not by chance, the creator of the frescoes, the scholarly humanist Pellegrino Prisciani, made use of the numerous magical and astrological treatises widespread between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Those references only partially influenced the design of this modern Estensi Tarot. In fact, each figure was chosen in relation to its closeness with the meanings dictated by cartomancy specialists." I would suggest not letting yourself be hampered by the suggested keywords in the LWB, and allowing your imagination to respond to the magnificent images on the cards.

firemaiden	08 Mar 2005
Here is a scan of the card

firemaiden	08 Mar 2005
Lutenist, I think your own ideas on this card are very interesting. I love how you first read it as the 9 of pentacles, and associated it with lust. There is something about "spilling one's seed" in this rain of coins. Your idea of some kind of assocation with Judas, as treasurer is also fascinating.

Lutenist	08 Mar 2005
Quest for the :OS:OS:OL:OL:OS:OS continues... Thirteen wrote: I take it you're still a newbie, so let me first recommend two things if you are: 1) avoid reversed cards until you feel really comfortable with the meaning of all 78 cards. Oh, I cannot but feel comfortable... Due to a little revelation I'm about to reveal to you too, I could remember all the minor arcana meanings (at least the most significant part of them) almost in an instant. In my latest reading, I only had to resort to my lwb only for a half of the cards in the spread. I had hard time understanding the reversals, but although I'm only a beginning taroist, I'm quite confident googling around. From Joan Bunning's online tarot lessons I found the following explanation, which I used in my last reading: Quote: When a card is upright, its energy is free to manifest. Its qualities are available and active. When a card is reversed, its energy is not fully developed. It may be in its early stages, or losing power. It may be incomplete or unavailable. The qualities of the card are present, at least in potential, but they can't express completely. This reminds me of the Wheel of Fortune. There are four characters on the card. The ass reigning at the top is the upright card. The other three characters (the wannabe wereass, the outrivaled young man and the destitute old man) represent the waxing, waning and latent/blocked forces described by Joan. Almost like the phases of the moon. This is how I remember them better. Thirteen wrote: Even we experts sometimes have trouble with reversals, and when you're still learning, reversals can confuse. Obviously, this is not true for everyone; some people take to reversals right away. But its generally a good policy to get the upright clear first before swimming into the deep end of reversals. At least the reversals seem easier to use than elemental dignities... I read somewhere that cups (emotions, water) are discordant with wands (creativity, fire). Myself being a music lover, that is completely impossible for me to comprehend. :confused: Well, the elemental folks must have a logic of their own with that, something to do with golems and stuff... Thirteen wrote: 2) Throw away the LWB--some aren't bad, but most aren't all that wise. In point of fact, I've never seen the 6/pentacles as "Envy" even when reversed. I suppose that *could* work but given how you describe the card, you're missing a piece to make it work--that being the beggar the man's tossing money to. He would be the envious one. After purchasing the deck, I read through both Waite's The Pictorial Key To the Tarot and The Classical Tarot by Stuart R. Kaplan. My findings were that although a few cards are clearly influenced by the RWS, the pip card imagery has more coincidences with the Marseilles divinatory meanings given in the latter book, excepting the suit of wands, which seemed to observe the logic of its own. This deck is clearly not a RWS variant. It could be a fully illustrated marseilles deck, but it is not that one either. The minor card meanings may come from some Italian tradition I am unaware of. In Spain minors-only decks are employed for divination. Perhaps there are similar traditions in Italy as well? Anyway, I tried to study the Schifanoia Palace frescos, and this was no less confusing. I read through Agrippa's descriptions of the decans. Some decans depicted in the cards were also mentioned by Agrippa, but their characteristics did not match any of the given divinatory meanings. I tried the Little White Book to no avail. UNTIL... I noticed there were single-keyword meanings attributed to each of the cards. Now I understood that all the other "divinatory meanings" given, upright or reversed, were only clarifications to these "main keywords". I will describe a few minors to illustrate what I mean. Look at the bottom row of images at http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/estensi-golden-renaissance/ The first of these cards is called, according to the LWB, "Fertilization". Then the LWB goes on explaining with a few keywords, how this might mean 1) insemination (allegorically), beginning of an undertaking (as in planting the tree, which will eventually grow as we see in the card picture), 3) invention (again, from a seed one proceeds on to produce a plant of ideas, with new branches growing from the original idea). 4) Reversed: Decline (the last stage of the tree's life. From the earth it sprouted, to the earth it shall return. Also, as often happens to me, the project becomes harder to carry on as the initial enthusiasm wanes, thus 'decline'). The second from the left is called "Cheerfulness". This is also very obvious. One only has to look at the picture once, and she/he will be unable to forget the meaning. This is what I meant in my previous post: like a children's picture book. The "divinatory meanings" (or actually clarifications) given are: 1) Joyful reunion with relatives and friends (this, to my understanding might mean rather a friendly and sosiable mood than an actual reunion. Of course, according to context, it might mean just about anything. For instance in my third reading, I perceived it to mean that I should attempt to take a positive, joyful point of view to my works instead of viewing them as mere necessary responsibilities.) 2) Reversed: Unrestrained joy, lust. (Sounds like the commonplace worship of Bacchus to me). The rightmost one is called "Confidence". Additional clarifications: 1) Mature woman, 2) Able and energetic female mediator, 3) Reversed: dangerous liaison. This one is also easy to remember. The Queen has a raised sceptre in her right hand to signify confidence and authority. There is a book on her lap, which she is holding with her left hand. This symbolises her knowledge and ability. The two babies (whose expressions cannot unfortunately be seen very well in the scan), have cheerful expressions and their gestures clearly signify none other than victory over her foes/rivals/competitors. firemaiden wrote: I would suggest not letting yourself be hampered by the suggested keywords in the LWB, and allowing your imagination to respond to the magnificent images on the cards. I think the LWB meanings suit very naturally to the cards, although the "divinatory meanings" are extremely limited in scope. They are ment, as far as I understand, as clarifications of the general, main meaning, and once one has got hold of the general meaning of the card, it is very easy to devise more of these specific meanings. It seems to me that either Berti or Gonardi has had the list of keywords ready beforehand, after which a search for suitable tarot pictures has been commenced. If you look at the expressions on the faces of the Estensi personage, it becomes clear that they reflect the exact emotions associated with the given LWB meanings. In my, up to now only a handful of readings, I see familiar people and situations in some of the cards, these not being derived so much from the given meanings but my own experiences. Especially as the beginner I am, I feel I need something more concrete than just intuition. And what comes to me, words help my intuition too, not just images. Perhaps the LWB keywords could be thought of being kind of support to intuition rather than limitations or strict definitions? But to return to the main topic, almost all cards in the deck are as easily remembered and comprehended as the three explained above, excepting the ENVY, which I just cannot decipher. Thinking of "Judas", it might even mean "Betrayal", but there are already three minor arcana cards depicting this theme from different points of view: A man stabbing his lover, or perhaps friend. Another one holding a knife behind his back, a loyal dog sitting at his side. An armour-clad soldier turning his back to the squad. Thirteen wrote: Reversals, generally speaking, are a "blocking" of energy--that is, what is the card upright? Reversed is that energy blocked, unable to flow. So 6 Pentacles upright is usually about generosity. Ever hear the term "throwing your bread upon the water"? By giving you get. So this card recommends that when times are good, toss out that money upon the ground, give it randomly away (or to the poor), to even out the karma, to balance the scales. What you put out will come back to you ten-fold. Although I agree with the morality of this story, it is however clearly absent from the Estensi card. The monstrosity of this character is very obvious. At the best it could depict generosity as practiced for selfish aims (manipulation, becoming known as a generous man of good reputation etc.) The RWS merchant usually associated with the 6 of Pentacles is here transposed to the 7 of Pentacles instead. But no-one poor or destitute cannot be seen in that picture either. The merchant, here with a harsh expression is throwing away his money, to the direction of a woman who just couldn't look less interested. This card is called "Loss", the meaning clarified with the "divinatory meanings" of delay, unproductiveness, useless effort. Reversed: waste of time or money. He clearly seems to imagine there is no thing one cannot buy with money. Another lady is standing on a balcony above, looking down. Perhaps she is attracted to this harsh and cold man, who does not even notice her. Again, what a waste... I am quite glad she remains unnoticed. firemaiden wrote: I have the card, and the image is before me. It is indeed odd! And the Little White Book key-words are odder still. The image seems to have been taken for what it might have in common with the RWS 6 of pentacles - a man giving away coins. The common point here is the rain of coins. Another card is used to signify generosity in the Estensi deck: the 10 of pentacles. According to Agrippa: "In the second face [of taurus] ascendeth a naked man, holding in his hand a key; it giveth power, nobility, and dominion over people". Here this character, the second decan of Taurus, is given the meaning of "Generosity". In the card, a celestial bull is standing on a constellation of coins. Above him is situated a man with a loincloth, a very long hair (he's wearing a turban), and a key. As I noted, I don't see much in common with Agrippa's descriptions of the decans and the given divinatory meanings. These are just pretty pictures picked from the Schifanoia Palace frescos to depict several (I suspect premeditated) divinatory meanings. Here are the clarificatory meanings: "Offering of material and spiritual help. Reversed: Excessive generosity". Excessive generosity... sounds like a good thing to me :rolleyes:. But perhaps this could mean "generosity with no wisdom involved", or even "generosity practiced to attain selfish aims only". Thirteen wrote: Reverse that card and you block that generous energy. So, antisocial possibly, but more simply, ungenerous, unwilling to share the wealth, to give. Not miserly, that, as you point out, is aptly covered by 4/pents. This is a rich guy who likes to spend money, who flaunts his wealth, but never shares it. Misantrhopic in that he doesn't care about others, about their pain or poverty. He has money enough to give generously, but he'd rather spend it on things he doesn't need. Yep, in Estensi, he (4:OS) is drooling on a gold coin (literally), and in his other hand he is holding a piece of ham great much too big to digest by one person alone. Somehow now that I think about it, it seems that the Estensi imagery is perhaps harsher and more down-to-the-recesses-of-earth than the RWS. (?) firemaiden wrote: Lutenist, I think your own ideas on this card are very interesting. I love how you first read it as the 9 of pentacles, and associated it with lust. There is something about "spilling one's seed" in this rain of coins. Your idea of some kind of assocation with Judas, as treasurer is also fascinating. I think I saw somewhere a description of the seed in context of the tower as well... It had something to do with conception, sexuality etc, leading into the Star, representing pregnancy. And indeed looking at the picture one can see a person, here male, before his eventual collapse. But the 9 of Pentacles, althought I partly agree, this card deals with something different altogether. I am not satisfied yet. Everything in this deck is very logical. Every picture has been chosen "in relation to its closeness with the meanings dictated by cartomancy specialists". From the empirical evidence I have at hand (the deck itself), I can see this is not only a marketing speech. And the choice is indeed "masterfully interpreted by Jo Dworkin", although the rest of the closing sentence seems to be pure empty-headed gibberish. (Dimensionless time of astrological symbols? Basis for numerous mantic techniques? This deck has nothing to do with astrological correspondences, besides the fact that some of the decanes have ended up as pretty pictures on the deck.) thirteen wrote: By the by, as I can't find a picture of this card, I'm going to guess that the feet are strange boots? It's a very pretty deck, but it's also a deck of a time when folk wore strange clothes--including shoes that sometime looked like claws. This would help indicate his wealth, as the poor couldn't afford shoes, let alone ourageously designed ones. Firemaiden posted a scan... :) http://www.tarotforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=3192 Now, before the sun rises, I will have to conclude this message and go get some sleep. }) *vampiric grin* Thanks to thirteen and firemaiden so far - the quest for the six of pentacles is not yet over though!

Thirteen	08 Mar 2005
Ah. The picture makes all the difference. Okay, so his feet really are claws. Do you know, he looks to me like some mythic creature leaving behind the gold for people to find. Quote: The monstrosity of this character is very obvious. At the best it could depict generosity as practiced for selfish aims (manipulation, becoming known as a generous man of good reputation etc.) While I understand why you'd feel this--and while it's your interpetation--I'd say that up-right, at least, this creature is too nice looking to be entirely shelfish in his aims. The claws on his feet don't negate that really nice, angelic face--and let's remember that half-beast/half-human creatures aren't always evil. Mythically, they can be quite helpful, if not for their own sake, then because their own fairyland laws demand it. This creature seems, at worst, unconcerned, perhaps lacking in undertanding of what he's doing and so lacking in true empathy and generosity--but hardly manipulative or shelfish. What that means to you given the question you asked and the spread you laid out is for you alone to say. Unless you think he's laying out coins as bait and is going to eat whoever shows up ;)

Lutenist	09 Mar 2005
Thirteen wrote: Ah. The picture makes all the difference. Okay, so his feet really are claws. Do you know, he looks to me like some mythic creature leaving behind the gold for people to find. [...] Unless you think he's laying out coins as bait and is going to eat whoever shows up ;) Perhaps he's laying them as a bait and explaining to someone to the right of the picture area: "Move along, nothing here to see." (How clever of him!) :D Thirteen wrote: The claws on his feet don't negate that really nice, angelic face Don't you know that looks can sometimes deceive? :P Quote: --and let's remember that half-beast/half-human creatures aren't always evil. Mythically, they can be quite helpful, if not for their own sake, then because their own fairyland laws demand it. Yes, that's it! A fairyland undercover agent! He's lying the coins on the ground and saying: "Move along, there's nothing here to see!". Then he hides behind the big bush and when people come to gather the coins, the other scary creatures arrive, searching for prey. "Ah, people! Yummy eatables for hungry us! Everyone from near and far! Come people eat! Come people eat!" But the clawed man with a pouch, now empty, comes and magically draws the malevolent spirits into his magical pouch. Now everyone is both rich and free from the fear of malevolent spirits. THE END I wonder whether this picture is derived from the Schifanoia Palace frescos at all. It might be inspired by the art of Hieronymus Bosch. By the way, perhaps someone should ask Mr. Berti himself, why was this particular picture chosen to represent envy.

Lutenist	09 Mar 2005
Wait! Now I got it! Thirteen, you opened my eyes! :) There exists a tradition of Indian origin, which explains that the opposite force of envy is action for others' benefit. That's the medicine one is aviced to use to counteract envy. In the Six of Pentacles we can see the two polarities in one picture. The lower half of his body, from the waist down, represents envy. The upper half of his body represents different means for benefiting others. The image thus allegorically depicts the transformation of a lowly beast into a dignified man through the act of working for others' benefit. This does not neccessarily mean generosity alone, as generosity is more specifically viewed as the antidote to avarice, grasping and such. With a pure intention, one becomes able to move the focus from selfish gain to the benefit of all. With pure action, the intentions become manifest in the form of actual benefit to others, and to oneself as well. As you said, action put to others' benefit comes back to oneself. The absence of envy is a great joy, the benefit of others is a great joy, the external good that will eventually return to the benefactor is a lesser joy. Take notice, how in this explanation come together the card meanings given by Gonardi and Waite. Superficially contradictory, they are now one. And not only envy! As I previously explained, there are features, which make me associate the card with greed and lust. Generosity is the antidote to these. In this sense, the claws represent grasping and the coins represent generosity. And not only grasping! The beastly claws used to catch the prey are a symbol of hatred. The gesture and expression of the man, however reflect kindness, which is the antidote to hatred. Thus, this is also the symbol of the polarity hatred/love. And not only hatred! The legs are those of a beast, an animal, symbolising ignorance. The upper part of his body shows a gesture of teaching, and the gold of profound wisdom being poured. Thus, this is also the symbol of the polarity ignorance/wisdom.

firemaiden	09 Mar 2005
Wow, Lutenist, you take my breath away, that was fascinating, and makes tons of sense. I guess you'll have to lead a study group and go through all 78 cards!

Lutenist	09 Mar 2005
firemaiden wrote: Wow, Lutenist, you take my breath away, that was fascinating, and makes tons of sense. I guess you'll have to lead a study group and go through all 78 cards! [indent]:rolleyes: *blushes* [/indent]

Cerulean	09 Mar 2005
Image below; original art explanation from an out of print history. http://gallery.euroweb.hu/html/t/tura/schifano/index.html In the middle band, to the right in the "Triumph of Mercury". Mercury is the god of trade and commerce, according to the historian of the Schifanioa Months at Ferarra. In the iconography of the time, using De Sphaera as an example, the rhyme was: Mercury, bright star of reason Produces of eloquence a great fountain intellecs of the subtlest and every fine art and is of all things, vain the foe. (Mercurio di garion lucida stella Produce d'eloquenza gran fontana Sobtili ingiegni et ciashun arte bella E e nimico d'ogni cosa vana.) The description of the middle band, with the rightmost figure from the image link matching the Six of Pentacles: ...that of a man with webbed and clawed feet, smartly dressed and bejewelled, attacked by a winged dragon as he is setting foot on a ship laden with gold and silver; to the exception of the homo ferus with boar's fans in Taurus, this is the only figure in Ferarra that closely following the dictates of astrological texts, offers a monsterous combination of human and animal limbs, adhering to the Arabian tradition prescribing: Vir cuius pes assimilatur pedi celhae, that is with feet like a tortoises'.* To be honest, the meanings that people came up with on their own might be better! Best regards, Cerulean *D’Ancona, Paolo. The Schifanoia Months at Ferrara. With a critical notice on the recent restoration by Cesare Gnudi. Milano: Editioni del Milione, 1954. ... Translated into English from the Italian Text by Lucia Krasnik

The Symbolism of the 6 of Pentacles in the Estensi Tarot thread was originally posted on 08 Mar 2005 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.