Eight of Pentacles

Keywords & Phrases:
The work card. Apprenticeship. Talent. Education. Craftsmanship. Job training. Study. Self-improvement. Schooling. Learning. Acquiring skills. Enthusiasm about work. Working hard to perfect a skill. Work-study program. Absorption and pleasure in work. A new job. Good use of talents. Applied effort. A fulfilling hobby or avocation. Working on a project. Preparation for the future. Prudence. Diligence. Dedication. Perseverance. If you're going to do a job, do it right. Skill. Hard work. Productivity. Meticulousness. Care over details. Management of assets. Creating something that is meant to last. Self-discipline. Preparation. Quality control. Persistence. Step-by-step development. Knowledge. Patient production. Perseverance paying off. Training for a new skill. Widening your knowledge.

Summary:
The Eight of Pentacles suggests that your work will be fulfilling and enjoyable. You will use your skills wisely. If you are starting a new job, you will settle in easily and find the work absorbing. Your heart is in your work, and you may be up for a promotion. You have the opportunity to enter a phase of apprenticeship to develop your talents. Your time and effort will pay off.

You can turn a talent, hobby, or interest into a new career. You're an apprentice now and you're loving every minute of it. You tackle a long-term task with excellent future prospects. Hard work and practical ideas have gotten you this far; good luck carries you the rest of the way. You take pride in everything you do, and it shows.

To labor with humility, never thinking we have achieved our goal, is the best way to obtain great results.

The creation of things is no small matter. By application, something that did not exist before, takes shape. It could be a work of art, but also any other form of creation. The link between the material and the possibility to shape it is a very important type of intuition. Only via this perception can a creator actually generate something that is the fruit of his labors.

We work, we get down to the nitty-gritty, we pay attention to detail. Then sometimes we don't. When this card appears in a spread, it signifies that now is the time to get on with it. Concentrate all your energy on getting the job done, whatever it is. Attend to your relationship, check the facts, read between the lines and give all of your time to the task at hand. This card implies that you must persevere at all costs and the more you give out, the more you put into your work, belief, relationship or problem, the more successful the outcome will be.

The Eight of Pentacles suggests that repetition and daily routines need to change so that you can shift into another gear. Time to add variety to your life in some way so you don't get bogged down in the same old thing. Take up a new skill, learn new techniques, make an effort to improve your knowledge.

This card often implies a time of great diligence and focus. Just buckle down and get to work. Fortunately, this kind of work is invigorating and leads to superb results. The labor of the Eight of Pentacles is deeply satisfying and productive. The card can also symbolize the impulse to learn - to broaden horizons. Sometimes we need to develop new skills. We seek external knowledge - the how and why of the material world. Now is not the time to be slipshod or casual. Look for errors, and tie up loose ends. The key to success is an extraordinary effort.

The most ordinary of clay, shaped by expert hands, can be transformed into life. I am Nu Gua, goddess of ancient China, creator of humanity.

Questions:
What are you working on? What skill or craft are you learning? What details do you need to examine and take care of? How can you create a regular time and place to work? What preparations do you need to make? What do I need to do to feel more satisfied with my life and work?