Pentacles are associated with the material world, acquisitions of wealth and possessions, our connection to Earth and Nature, sensation, matters pertaining to the physical plane and the element of earth.  Pentacles can also be connected with practicality, groundedness and being realistic.  The number nine is the number of the wisdom of the Moon.  It is also a mathematically magical number - its square root is three and the sum of any number multiplied by nine equals nine when added together (e.g.. 9 x 8 = 72, 7 + 2 = 9).  Nines can represent struggle, attainment, and having the end in sight.  The 9 of Pentacles often represents abundance and plenty in one's life. 

Interesting that I drew this card today because on of the issues hubby and I had to deal with was related to property and enclosures.  So it manifested itself in a very literal sense, which can be entertaining.  Looking at the card it also reminds me that I really do treat my house as a retreat.  It is my bower, my refuge, my place of renewal and rejuvenation.  It is where I go when I need to get away and recharge my batteries.

The danger to this type of setup is that it can become isolating and create a situation where I withdraw from the world.  And that's okay for short bursts.  I know myself well enough to realize that long term withdrawal is not in my nature.  I do genuinely like being around people, just not too many at once and not all the time.  I also need to be careful not to become so wrapped up in getting "things" that I lose sight of what is more important.  I'm sort of a stress buyer.   When things are bleak and I should really save money, I have a bad habit of buying stupid things or spending money on things I don't really need.  It's almost like I'm trying to convince myself that things aren't that bad. 

The 9 of Pentacles may also be a reminder that I should appreciate what I have in my life and enjoy it.  Rather than focusing on what might be missing I should make sure I fully realize how blessed I am.  At the same time I should be wary of judging others because they don't have what I do.  Or more accurately said - that I don't judge them badly because they have made choices that have led to situations of financial difficulty.  I think in an effort to assure myself that this could never happen to me, I view people's financial problems as examples of their poor judgment.  If they hadn't done "that" then "this" would not have happened to them.  In some cases this is probably true, but these folks don't need me pointing out the obvious to them.  I'm sure they realize their own folly has brought them to this pass.  My smug judgmental attitude certainly isn't helping.  I know this and I've gotten better at decreasing it, but every so often I can't help myself.

Looking at the image on the Self-Guided Tarot I was at first puzzled by the starfish sitting in the middle of the woman's forehead.  Then I realized that it could be symbolic for not being able to see what is right before your own eyes.  We can go so caught up in the pursuit of "having it all" that we lose sight of what is truly important.

In some ways the story Mildred Pierce is an example of what can happen in someone's life when this desire goes haywire and takes control.  In the James M. Cain novel, Mildred is a housewife with great legs, great skill as a pie maker and a desire for something bigger and better.  She has a husband who is a dreamer with expensive tastes and two daughters, one of whom is a snob.  Mildred divorces her hubby and focuses her energies on supporting her two daughters.  She starts her own restaurant which is a success.  But tragedy strikes and her younger daughter dies.  Mildred is relieved because her favorite daughter (the snob), lives.  Mildred becomes involved with a playboy whose family is Pasadena old-money.  This man takes Mildred's daughter under his wing and introduces her to the life of the wealthy in Pasadena.  This just encourages the child's worst traits.  She is embarrassed by her mother's profession and her working class upbringing.  Mildred does everything to buy her daughter everything she wants, including eventually supporting the boyfriend so that her daughter will continue to think highly of her.  By the end of this tale Mildred loses everything, including her grasping, snobby daughter.  Mildred's focus on the trapping of wealth caused her to lose sight of what was really important in life and what she already had so she lost it all. 

In fairy tales the story of the fisherman's wife carries a similar warning.  The wife is never happen with what she has and always wants more.  At the end she loses everything because of her greed.

So I think I need to be careful and make sure I take time to appreciate and enjoy what I have.  I am, despite current stresses, very lucky and happy with my life.  My hubby is a very special man, I have great friends and I can afford to indulge some of my hobbies (for now).  That's more than a lot of folks ever have.