Mar 20 | 2023 — Queen of Pentacles
My beautiful husband and I have had many discussions about how gay men naturally seek out strong women, drawn like a moth to a flame. Think Madonna, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Dolly Parton, and Beyonce… shit, even Queen Elizabeth and The Golden Girls. (And just to show how different we are, when we were discussing this topic several years ago, he was giving an example and started in with, “Like Be-” he finished with “-yonce,” but I interrupted and rightfully finished, “Bea Arthur.” I guess that illustrates our generational differences. Two very different queens, but queens nonetheless.)
Today’s card, the Queen of Pentacles, represents the characteristics and personality traits that these types of women outwardly present in varying degrees. In fact, most of the Queens in Tarot would probably be ripe for adoration by the gay community. I think, however, the Queen of Pentacles is the most widely representative of what we see in the media and public eye.
Traditionally, the original QoP is a strong and grounded embodiment of feminine energy. Again, I say “feminine,” but the Queen of Pentacles is not bound by gender; any person can embrace this energy and these character traits. But what makes the Queen of Pentacles special is that she has found material success on her own. She has climbed her own ladder without relying on others and has broken through the social (and often professional) “glass ceiling” and won the hearts of many. Her strength and confidence are obvious, and she is a natural leader with a loud voice and a strong personality. However, given that Queens also embody water energy, she is comfortably emotional and keeps her household running smoothly. She’s also often seen as a housemaker who is supportive of her family and runs a beautiful, well-established household. She is someone who values the arts and spends her energy supporting and promoting various forms of creation and expression.
Message of the Day: Yes, we all love our queens. Having the mindset to be individually successful while still supporting and maintaining a life outside of your success can be a challenge. Of course, many of these queens are dripping in riches and can hire people to help manage the different aspects of their lives. That, sadly, is not something we can all have. So we make do with what we have and the time and energy we are willing to expend.
I also think that living the “dream” of the Queen of Pentacles balances on a fine line. Too much focus on material success can quietly begin to alter other parts of life; like when there is more emphasis on money and all the beautiful, fabulous things, and less interest in supporting others and making sure those we love have the things they need to be stable in life. Traits I would associate with this other side of the Queen of Pentacles — or what we would call the Queen of Pentacles reversed — include selfishness, greediness, being unrealistically materialistic, superficial, living a life of excess, and being neglectful.
While those negative attributes seem to be applied with a dramatically large brush, reality often paints them in finer strokes. When I think about myself and how I sometimes embody the Queen of Pentacle’s lesser attractive qualities, I think of situations like not calling my family as often as I should. Is it purposely neglectful? Definitely not, but life happens and shit gets in the way. Over time, those fine strokes become bolder and more visible to those around us.
I think there are other everyday-type situations where we can see this side of the Queen of Pentacles. For example, buying things outside our means just to make ourselves look or feel good. I’m thinking of routine mani-pedis, eyelash extensions, massages or spa days, elaborate hair maintenance, new shoes our purses… these are all things steeped in vanity. And I’m by no means criticizing or poo-pooing any of that… unless it’s preventing you from spending your money on more important things (bills, food, things for the kids, etc.) Vanity at the cost of mounting debt would definitely fit the bill of the Queen of Pentacles reversed.
So for today and this week, the Queen of Pentacles is asking us a few things:
- What should you be doing to pave the way for your own personal success in life? If you have found that success already, what are you doing to maintain and grow that success?
- While the Queen of Pentacles is fantastic at taking care of others, what are you doing to make sure you’re taking care of yourself on an emotional and spiritual level?
- What does it take for you to be willing to accept the support of someone else?
- Are there places in your life where the Queen of Pentacles reversed have crept in? Are there important parts of your life that are beginning to show signs of neglect? What will it take to reverse course?
- As the queen and leader of your life, where does your warmth sit? How do you share your care and compassion with not only your immediate loved ones but with the world around you?
- Are your materialistic desires and habits digging you into a financial hole?
So welcome your inner Queen of Pentacles; find your voice, and lead the way to your own success (however you define it). Be pragmatic and involved, but cautious, and lead with a firm, but careful and loving hand.
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