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The Eight of Disks (Coins) is a promising start. This is the card of the dad, who is beginning to solve a long but successful task. In this sense, the page connects its starting position with a joyful outlook. It also shows that our motivation is good, we are delighted with the thing and we are proud of our first results. In a sense, it also means luck for beginners.

EIGHT OF DISKS : PRUDENCE

The four Eights are attributed to Hod. Being in the same plane as the Sevens on the Tree of Life, but on the other side, the same inherent defects as are found in the Sevens will apply.

Yet one may perhaps urge this alleviation, that the Eights come as (in a sense) a remedy for the error of the Sevens. The mischief has been done; and there is now a reaction against it. One may, therefore, expect to find that, while there is no possibility of perfection in the cards of this number, they are free from such essential and original errors as in the Lower case.

The Eight of Disks is called Prudence. This card is a great deal better than the last two, because, in purely material matters, especially those relating to actual money, there is a sort of strength in doing nothing at all. The problem of every financier is, first of all, to gain time; if his resources are sufficient, he always beats the market. This is the card of “putting something away for a rainy day”.

Its attribution is Sol in Virgo; it is the card of the husband-man; he can do little more than sow the seed, sit back, and wait for the harvest. There is nothing noble about this aspect of the card; like all the Eights, it represents an element of calculation, and gambling is securely profitable if one has adjusted the cagnotte properly.

There is yet another point which complicates this card. The Eight of Disks represents the geomantic figure Populus, which is an easy-going figure, and at the same time stable. One thinks of Queen Victoria’s time, of a man who is “something in the City” rolling up to Town with Albert the Good advertized by his watch- chain and his frock-coat; on the surface he is very affable, but he is nobody’s fool. 

The number Eight, Hod, is very helpful in this card, because it represents Mercury in his most spiritual aspect, and he both rules and is exalted in the sign of Virgo, which belongs to the Decan, and is governed by the Sun. It signifies intelligence lovingly applied to material matters, especially those of the agriculturalist, the artificer and the engineer.

One might suggest that this card marks the turn of the tide. The seven of Disks is in one sense the fullest possible establishment of Matter-compare Atu XV-the lowest fallen and therefore the highest exalted. These last three cards seem to prepare the explosion which will renew the whole Cycle. Note that Virgo is Yod, the secret seed of Life, and also the Virgin Earth awaiting the Phallic Plough.

The interest of this card is the interest of the common people. The rulership of the Sun in Virgo suggests also birth. The disks are arranged in the form of the geomantic figure Populus. These disks may be represented as the flowers or fruits of a great tree, its solid roots in fertile land.

In the Yi King, Sol in Virgo is represented by the 33rd Hexagram, Thun, “Big Air”. It means “retiring”; and the commentary indicates how best to make use of that manoeuvre. This is congruous enough with the essence of Virgo, the secret withdrawing of Energy into the fallow Earth. Populus, moreover, is the Moon retiring from manifestation to her conjunction with the Sun.

THE EIGHT OF DISKS - PRUDENCE

Astrology: Sun in the 1. decan of Virgo Tree of Life: Hod through Earth

For the Eight of Disks, the entering of Hod means a new beginning. The Disks have learned the lesson that Saturn has teached in the desastrous Seven, that everything needs time and consideration. Now here within Hod, the area of logic, the Eight of Disks develop prudence and patience. 

So the Eight of Disks have learned to be careful, take their time to overthink their steps, considerate all facts and patiently wait for their chances. They absolve an apprenticeship in their own field, trying to do it better and avoid the mistakes from ealier stages. 

On the dark side, the Eight of Disks can be over-careful, or careful just in small things while foolish in the big, over-anxious in front of risks, unable to come to any conclusion or decision, considerating with no end but finally doing nothing.

Drive: Consideration, prudence 

Light: Realisation of coherences, ability to wait for the right moment 

Shadow: Penny-wise and pound-foolish, hoarding, stagnity, immovableness

THE EIGHT OF DISKS - (Eight of Coins / Pentacles) - Prudence - Mercury 3rd House - Learning

Keywords: Sun in Virgo, inner and outer riches, wisdom, development, care, caution

Advice: It is the beauty and delicacy of what blooms within you. Give him the protection and nutrition he needs. You must not force anything! Everything will unfold when the time comes.

Questions: Do you give yourself the protection and nutrition you need to grow now?

Suggestion: Meditate on the well-known phrase of the Zen tradition: "If you sit in silence and do nothing, spring and grass will come spontaneously."

Revelation: I relax and trust in Life.

Analogies:

Ji-Ching: 17. Sui (Following)

Mythology: The Disciples (Talos, Neffe, Daidalos)

Keywords: desire to learn, dexterity, good start to the prospect

Our own desires can become more of a burden than the heaviest chains.

EIGHT OF PENTACLES

General Meaning

The Eight of this suit is the card of works. We see here the successful artisan spending time at his bench, hammering out the commissions he has attracted because of his skill. This artist is the best in her or his class, so popular that it's become difficult keep up with demand. She is paid whatever she asks and accepts only the most worthy assignments.

If there is a problem in this card, it has to do with the trap of workaholism, the feeling of being so indispensable that you will not ask for help or delegate anything. There is also the issue of becoming so identified as the creator of elegant works, that the personal identity of the creator becomes consumed by the works themselves. This artisan seldom gets to have a home life, time off, much time for friends. The solution lies in balancing creative energy with a personal life.

In the Reversed Position

The Eight of Coins reversed asks that you not mistake your work for your identity. It is a common error to overly identify with one's livelihood.

This card reversed indicates that you are in danger of losing your self to your work. This would be a big mistake. Refuse to accept such a limited definition of who you are.

In the Advice Positon

The Eight of Coins in this position recommends that you focus on your main project and produce as much as you can, while staying healthy. This is an important time for meeting goals. However, do not work so hard that quality suffers.

You are in a position where your effort can make a big difference. Apply yourself. Do the work and you will be rewarded with flexibility and freedom.

Read more:

• » The Book of Thoth - A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians by Aleister Crowley.
• » Liber LXXVIII - On the Tarot - A complete treatise on the Tarot giving the correct designs of the cards with their attributions and symbolic meanings on all planes. - A description of the Cards of the Tarot, with their attributions, including a method of divination by their use.
• » Manuscript N - The Tarot - A Golden Dawn Manuscript - A Theoricus Adeptus Minor Paper.