Ace of Pentacles reversed may indicate being so focused on holding on to what you have that you have failed to recognize the needs of those around you, especially needs for material aid; a false or premature sense of security; extreme competition where financial gain is concerned; blinding ambition; and reluctance to “leave the garden” and make our own way.

In some ways this card is about being like Daffy Duck in the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. In one episode he is sitting in a cave surrounded by wealth but he is in danger of having it taken from him so he grabs onto something and cries “Mine, mine, mine”. To me this epitomizes the energy of the reversed Ace of Pentacles. It represents a fear of losing everything; a contraction into oneself. Instead of expanding to explore potential opportunities for new beginnings in material activity or manifesting ideas and using talents that haven’t been utilized.

So the focus for me needs to be on how I’m contracting and focusing too much on fear of loss rather than how I can manifest positive things in my life. As the expression goes, I’m acting as if my security tree has been badly shaken. And that’s true. For so long now I’ve been so focused on not losing my job (and more importantly the accompanying medical benefits) that I haven’t really considered what I want to do. I have hunkered down into a defensive posture and become so focused on mere survival that I haven’t looked at what would allow me to create a juicy, joyful and deeply satisfying life.

The pentacle on the Whispering Tarot resembles a sun hanging in the sky. So if I want to release this energy and start moving forward in a positive direction, I have to consider what would bring sunshine into my life, what would brighten my day and what would allow me to shine for others.

I’m realizing as I look over my readings for the past few days and weeks that it’s time for some serious soul-searching in order to create a new path in my life. I’ve been inspired by James Wells’ recounting of his Astro-Journaling retreat. I think I need to take some time away from the hustle and bustle that keep the monkey mind chattering away and distracts me from where I really need to focus my energies