Making friends with the 5 of pentacles.

There are certain cards that when they keep cropping up can cause a chill in anyone. And I reckon the 5 of pentacles is one of those cards.

And every time I read for me- there it is. I’m only human, it triggers the usual fear of lack, not enough, not being able to provide for my family.

And so I have sat with this card, played with its meanings, and allowed the card to tell me what it really wants to sat- instead of my normal fear based reaction.

All of the 5’s can be difficult. Half way through is always hard- you realise how tough something can be, yet you are completely committed. It will take as much effort to continue as it would to go back.

The 5 of pentacles can be about “lack” and this can be physical, financial, or emotional.

The window fascinates me. We can see a sneaky 6th pentacle peeping through- this card can mean birthing something new. And I speak from experience when I say birth is hard work- and this card can refer to hard work being needed. But we have a stained glass window in the 4 of swords- a card of rest and recuperation. Almost opposites in some ways. With the 5 of pentacles saying just keep going a little longer, it will be worth it. And the four of swords saying stop, take a break, rest.

As a studier of Norse wisdom and the Younger Futhark (Scandinavian runes) the rune poem for the Norns springs to mind with this card;

“The naked freeze in the frost”.

The rune for the Norns (“nud”) reminds us that when difficult times hit if we adapt and learn they can be times of great personal growth. My business probably wouldn't be as successful as it is if I wasn't a solo parent needing the income to feed my kids!

I think its always worth considering the card in its natural order; going from the strength of the 4 of pentacles, pushing through with a tough mind in the 5, until we take control of our assets (time, money, energy..) in the 6 of pentacles.

The honest truth of this card is that I am learning to move from a fear of money, to managing my money well- from a business perspective. In the past I have kept hap-hazard accounts and often under estimated how well I was doing. Letting fear push me to work even harder. Perhaps the harshest meaning of this card is when that lack is a self belief, and you don’t believe you are good enough.

So I am getting to the point where I see this card with a smile, a “hello my old friend” and think of it as reminding me to make friends with abundance- rather than fear lack.