The Devil § Nine of Pentacles § Knight of Pentacles
Be prepared for The Devil to turn his intoxicating charm into a weapon of manipulation more enthralling than a Siren’s call. Though on the right occasions we will find good company or even an ally in The Devil, we must remember that he is loyal to none. The Devil is the ultimate confidence man. He is compelling when he assures his targets that their best interests will be served by agreeing to his plans. The Devil is known for separating his marks from their money, but he gets an equal thrill from detaching us from our ethics and better senses. Our worst enemy easily hides in our own early programming, especially where authority is concerned. Our political reality is sanguine, and when The Devil says he can help us to help our comrades, it’s a deal too good to be true. The Devil has a special smirk for every time he plays on our subconscious biases.
The Nine of Pentacles has resources and she is ready to assist. She tells us to ask for what we want. Our commitments are what will hold us up at this time. Take caution against making agreements you are unlikely to fulfill. It is perfectly fine to be a person who does their best work by flitting around to various endeavors. If you know this about yourself, decide from there how you will show up. Our mistakes are great teachers but the errors of others can be just as illuminating. Don’t reject something just because you disapprove of the source. Listen to both truth tellers and liars, and learn to differentiate between the two by virtue of the structure of the story rather than relying on gut feelings alone.
The Knight of Pentacles appears to some as a bore, and she uses this reputation to her advantage. People talk in full earshot of those they either forget to notice or those they think simply do not understand. The Knight of Pentacles can be very good at making a wallflower of herself only to report every word of it back to her beloved Queen. Whether this be a warning to you or a piece of tactical advice is, of course, a matter of what you need to hear at this time. It is never a good idea to run our mouths unnecessarily, but it is human. Just remember that secrets are currency and when you tell them you are exposing someone, be they friend or foe or yourself, even. The Knight of Pentacles reminds us to take our time even when, especially when, time is of the essence. You do not—she is adamant about this—have the hours to spare in gossip or worse. May our integrity get the better of us.
reading by Michelle Embree | michelleembree.com
illustration by Gurleen Rai | zimteemo.com
