Strength § Three of Pentacles § Nine of Cups
Every variety of strength is embodied in the archetype known by the same name. She is the quiet fortitude that raises courageous and resilient children. She is the patience required to gain the trust of her animal kin. She is the perseverance that will not give up on you too soon. Strength lives in a community among those who share a commitment of care with one another. There is safety in numbers, this is true, but only if tenderness and support rule the home. Strength prefers the gentle side of herself but her reputation for making a fierce defense when needed precedes her for good reason. At present, her pack is threatened and Strength faces her foes with extended claws. She knows that forming coalitions is a powerful tool for strategic social upheaval. The key is to lay out well-defined goals that will mark the end of the alliance, win or lose. Strength knows there is no validity to discourse that suggests the needs and freedoms of only a small portion of her family should be put first, while the others wait for what will likely never be served. Strength warns us to avoid persons unwilling to make enemies. Our adversaries abound and they seek precisely those who will provide access to our most vulnerable comrades.
The Three of Pentacles’ message is as staid as it is relevant: Stick with what you know how to do. We must become reliable riders against empire within the material reality of this historical moment. The Three of Pentacles represents our work in the public sphere. The Three of Pentacles tells us to know the value we offer and to be bold in letting other people know it too. The making of a pot of beans is small in the grand scheme of history, but it is a matter of extraordinary importance to someone in need of sustenance. The worst choice we can make is to neglect our best work in order to favor the mediocrity that pleases patriarchy. You can expect someone to attempt to foment self-doubt in you, but when you notice it, squash it without hesitation. The Three of Pentacles knows mighty towers are soon to fall and she understands what she will contribute to preventing them from ever rising again.
The Nine of Cups is the archetype of contentment. She likes a full belly, music that hits that perfect sweet spot, and the certainty that her home is secure from intruders and land seizures. The Nine of Cups belongs to herself in the sense that she can not be obliged to stay when she is ready to leave, nor is she one to be beckoned by those with nothing to offer. The Nine of Cups is, unfortunately, unfulfilled at this time. As the seams in society tear apart and even the smallest of illusions crash into nothingness, the internal conflict we face will bump against the same confusion in others. Contentment at this time is simply not an option. The Nine of Cups reminds us that joy—which is necessary to human health—is sometimes part of the state of contentment, but contentment itself is not required before one can feel joy. Seek that which fills you with awe, and offer others the solace of your non-judgment because these are characteristics of joy. The Nine of Cups leaves us with only this message: I will see you again in the future and we will be more intimate than ever before. May we hold the line.
reading by Michelle Embree | michelleembree.com
illustration by Gurleen Rai | zimteemo.com
