Honing Your Craft with the VIII of Pentacles
VIII of Pentacles card from the Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
Who doesn’t love the VIII of Pentacles tarot card? If you are into crafting or making art, then you understand the love this card can evoke. The image of the person in this card from the Rider Waite Smith deck (image on the left) looks relaxed and focused. He is off in his own little workshop, removed from the distractions of life, and is making what he loves to make. He looks like he could just go all day, lost in the beauty and physicality of his craft.
The VIII of Pentacles represents the mastery of a skill, applying oneself, and getting things done diligently and precisely.
Whenever I draw this card I feel like I am about to kick ass and take names.
When the VIII of Pentacles shows up in a reading, it’s time to be damn good at whatever it is you do. Or, at least, become better at something you are dedicated to learning. You may not be a master just yet, but you will be if you follow the energy of this card. It’s pointing you towards applying yourself, being focused, honing in on what you want to become, and not letting up until you make progress.
This card is about progress, not achieving perfection. The person in the VIII of Pentacles is trying to to become as good at a thing as possible for them. Sometimes we can truly become a master of a trade through practice and other times we can only get so good at a thing. We are not all cut from exactly the same cloth so we can’t each perform all tasks exactly the same either.
Truly, it is the practice that matters. It is the dedication that is important. It’s not about being THE BEST, but rather about being YOUR best. We can’t all be guitar soloists, or basketball centers, or professional chefs, but we can each play guitar and basketball and cook at our own level. We can even get better and better at those things in our own ways. That’s the beauty of the VIII of Pentacles, it’s urging you to work towards you best version of yourself at this time, not of all time, but of right now.
How can you get better at your craft? What would you like to practice and improve? What gives you joy, meaning, and inspiration? The VIII of Pentacles is your permission slip to focus on what you love to do and feel the satisfaction of improving your skills.
I set up my sewing machine in my office space, the same place I’m writing this blog from right now!
As for me, this week I received a custom bag order on my Etsy shop for 10 little bags of 2 inches by 3 inches. This is not my normal groove. Usually I make bags that are big enough to hold a tarot deck. I discovered that the size of the bag makes a difference in my ability to make a quality product. So, I needed to hone my skills and learn how to make a smaller bag.
The process was fun, because I love sewing little bags, but it wasn’t an immediate success. I have some bags that didn’t make the cut that will be available on my shop if you’re looking for a totally unique little bag. And the 10 bags I did make were not all exactly 2 inches by 3 inches. But close! And beautiful! And my whole thing with making these bags is that each one is unique. I’m not a machine so I produce varying results.
Ten small red bag that are each totally unique but of a kind.
And I love not being perfect! It gives me freedom to explore and to make mistakes and to be my own unique individual person. The VIII of Pentacles emphases craft but it isn’t about churning out endless exact copies. It’s about self expression and putting your own stamp on something. Yes, for some people, exact copies will be how they express themselves. For others, it will be slight variations. And then there are the people who will never make anything even slightly the same- complete originality at every step!
Remember to hone your craft in the way that feels most authentic to you. But don’t forget to actually do it! The VIII of Pentacles does ask you to work hard. It’s not messing around or making light suggestions. It wants you to get physical, to create, to make things with your own hands. This is important. It matters. The Pentacles are a practical, earthy suite that want you to be present in this world with your whole being.
How do you want to show up? What do you want to make? What will you get better at today? Use the energy of the VIII of Pentacles to focus and improve and the process will bring meaning and satisfaction to your life. Yippee!