The 8 of Pentacles is the card of an artisan baker, master clock-maker, author, bricklayer, musician or athlete who is completely dedicated to perfecting their skill and work. Typically, what they do puts them in a state of flow because perfecting this skill is part of their life purpose… and when we do what we are here to do, we step into that space outside time. But even when flow evades the 8 of Pentacles type person, they buckle down and get busy. They know that the grind is the glory.
“Don’t wish it were easier. Wish you were better.”
~ Jim Rohn
So when the going gets tough and minutes feel like hours, these people persist because they know that nothing worth having comes easily. And as they hone their skills, they ‘level up’ as individuals because the act of dedicated work itself betters them as human beings.
Living with purpose
Think about it: we are here on earth for a very short time. What do you wish to accomplish in that time? What legacy will you leave behind and what will your dying thoughts be? Would you not that they rather be: ‘I did what I came here to do, to the best of my ability.’
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
Health
The 8 of Pentacles can also indicate a greater need for self-care and a healthier lifestyle. Because of the connection with the gut through Virgo, digestive issues and food sensitivities/allergies could be highlighted.
Affirmation: “I do my best.”
8 of Pentacles Prayer
Dear Mother-Father God, thank you for the inspiration to truly master a skill. Help me take pride in the work I do. Guide me on the path of self-mastery as I strive for excellence in every area of my life. Amen and so it is!
Correspondences for the 8 of Pentacles
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Planet: Sun
Archangel: Uriel, ruler of the Element of Earth
Gemstones: Amber, peridot
Essential oil: Frankincense
The 8 of Pentacles in Love and Relationships
When this card shows up in a relationship reading, it usually signifies that the energy of one or both people is tied up by work and there might not be a great deal left over for the relationship.
It can also signify a need to focus on the practical details that bring comfort to everyday living. Your partner may not be very receptive to your words right now but they will appreciate material help and gifts as well as your caring touch.
Ill-dignified or reversed, the 8 of Pentacles can signify nagging and dissatisfaction in the relationship even though all the material needs are being met. One of you could be pernickety or suffer from OCD. Or together, you could be the immaculate neighbourhood couple who likes to complain about others not being as tidy.
Single and looking
In a single person’s reading, the 8 of Pentacles can signify a work connection with a new potential partner or simply being too focused on work to care much about dating.
Intimacy
Physical intimacy is definitely a possibility if this card is upright and or well-dignified. The advice then would be to pay attention to detail. Neatness and hygiene are also associated with this card.
The Marseille Tarot image in this post is from the CBD Tarot by Yoav Ben-Dov.
Take me back to the Tarot Card Meanings page
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