TAROT

Three of Pentacles § Knight of Swords § Knight of Cups

The Three of Pentacles encourages us to sit down and intentionally make a list of everything we do well. Write as many things as you can come up with, including your interpersonal and social skills. Just gush over yourself, because what you notice will be crucial in navigating what lies ahead. The Three of Pentacles represents the work we do well: our works of art or activism or how devotedly we assist our children. The contributions we make to the world all matter and our lists should be exhaustive to showcase an accurate reflection of ourselves. Genuine confidence underlines our competence and sense of self possession. The Three of Pentacles values work that is done well, with substance, precision, and presentation. But no matter how good or promising our work might be, if we are unable to manage our emotional life, we will be passed over for opportunities. Make another list that outlines five qualities a person would need to step into the next role you want to play, or the next level of acumen you wish to achieve. Then gain or hone those qualities because you are going to need them in the coming weeks. Natural confidence is the only confidence.

The Knight of Swords knows his skills and the direction he intends to go. What he does not know is exactly how many obstacles there will be ahead or what difficulty they will present. Most importantly, he knows he can only prepare so much before he needs to muster his courage and face these oncoming risks. In order to be brave, we must be aware of the potential dangers we face and agree to take on those risks. It can be alluring to dive headfirst into our endeavors, because if we think too much we might lose our nerve or talk ourselves out of it. But in order to fully engage in commitments, we must be willing to accept the challenges as they come. Without this step, everything we do will feel overwhelming. The Knight of Swords knows better than to waste resources on petty slights, real or imagined. The danger need not be as menacing as a fire-breathing dragon, but there will be necessary drudgery because everything worthwhile comes from staying the course and remaining engaged. Your list of traits and skills becomes your tool. Use it to leverage your strengths in your strategy. Don’t leave to chance what you can adequately prepare to confront.

We will meet the Knight of Cups along our path in the form of a person or opportunity. Luckily, we have been thinking carefully about what we do well and how we present ourselves. The Knight of Cups could be someone with resources to compliment our skills, but she could just as easily be our competition. What kind of a competitor are you? As long as you can answer that question and keep focused on yourself, you could wind up making a solid relationship with someone who enjoys healthy and satisfying challenges with their peers. The Knight of Cups holds a real gift for us that is ours if we accept—and we are wise to do so. Whether the Knight of Cups arrives to compete or to cooperate, take her on. May your skills serve you well.