The Sun § Seven of Pentacles § Seven of Cups
The Sun says: Deal only in that which is entirely real. Make sure you are carefully and continuously thinking critically. The idiom pay attention is a standard expression because it describes what is required. We must give or bestow something of ourselves in order to gain the knowledge we seek. Our minutes of attentiveness are as worthy as coins, and The Sun reminds us of this every time he lifts himself over the horizon. He tells us to pursue not heroism but good timing. The goal is to be exactly where you need to be when your moment to act presents itself. And should your moment be a recurring chore, like writing to the incarcerated or serving up food to the hungry, then do that. Follow through. Meet your moment again and again—just as The Sun himself does for you. Consider the millions of small sacrifices, the quiet but enduring acts of commitment, and the unseen work of support that have kept the revolutionary spirit alive through the centuries. Pay attention—play your part as it finds you where you stand. The Sun is the truth, and according to him, reality favors us if we favor it.
The Seven of Pentacles gives us the recognition we deserve and she insists that we get some meaningful rest. This means that your body, including your brain muscle, fully relaxes into a satisfying activity that is not your job, or one of your projects, or even a bonding experience with your friends. We need time to simply exist if we are to be well. What strength and purpose looks like for each of us depends on our abilities and access. The Seven of Pentacles tells us to actively observe our thoughts around physical and psychological fitness. We need to be crafty and artful in how we resist the steady instruction to disregard our collective humanity to favor that which is fit and efficient. The Seven of Pentacles suggests this practical exercise: As you drift off to sleep at night, go over everything you did during the day. List it all: You brushed your teeth, fed the cat, filled the gas tank, got somewhere on time, and so on. Acknowledging yourself in this way will settle your nerves and increase your energy. When you catch yourself going over and over your worries, do this instead.
The Seven of Cups shows up with a depiction of our raw emotions as they attempt to communicate with our intellect. It is messy but it does not have to be terrible. Allow yourself the most basic grace to consciously mull over what feels dislodged, hurt, or confusing. The Seven of Cups is the universal experience of grappling with feelings as they collide with our decision making. Think of the vibe this card gives as ambient support, the way you feel in a familiar place. We are not alone in struggling with which course to take, but we are the one who must decide on a direction and the only one who will live in the aftermath of that choice. The Seven of Cups reminds us that if we have to insist that a situation is fine, it probably isn’t. You will get the most accurate assessments when you remove these words—always, everyone, no one, never—then restate your situations. The Seven of Cups is here to remind us that being human is not always comfortable. Winter birds huddle together because the weather is cold, but they are very much alive and absolutely free. May we provide ourselves core support.
reading by Michelle Embree | michelleembree.com
illustration by Gurleen Rai | zimteemo.com
