Manifesting through the Queen of Pentacles

Manifesting through the Queen of Pentacles

The pentacle or coins of the tarot represent the aspect of physicality in our lives. It is the only one of the four suits that addresses the external world. Cards with golden shaped pentacles upon them represent physical health, career, home, prosperity and the abundance of loved one in our lives. Looking upon the Queen of Pentacles of most tarot decks we have the Queen of the suit sitting upon her regal throne in a natural outdoor setting. She gazes down upon a large golden pentacle in her lap. We can learn much about the message of this and other tarot cards when we compare the symbolic images to Chinese Medicine. Chinese Medicine is rooted in shamanic and Taoist traditions and maintains that health and wholeness comes from balance with Nature. Nature and everything in the universe and ourselves is made up in Chinese Medicine of five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The balance of these elements is represented in the tarot deck by the five pointed star or pentagram in the center of the golden coin. When we are in inner balance with the elements of Nature we can create harmony and abundance in our bodies and external world equally.

The area of the belly is emphasized in the Queen of Pentacles. In Chinese Medicine and the body movement practice of Qigong the belly it is an important reservoir of our physical vitality. This is the storehouse of our physicality called the lower dan tian, and it is the focus of Qigong practice. In Qigong we work with universal life force energy through intention, visualization and movement to remove any blockages while strengthening the energetics of the body. Focusing on acupoints and energy channels with our thoughts and body positions we build and refine our energetic flow for body-mind-spirit wellness.  When the lower dan tian center in particular is full our cells are nourished which helps maintain youthfulness and strength of body for greater quality of life as we age. (Note that western health practitioners such as gynecologist Christiane Northrup, MD and cardiologist Dr Oz, MD are recommending Qigong to their clients and media audience for this very reason). This energy center corresponds to our physical wellbeing but also the physical abundance in our lives.

On a vision quest five years ago I dreamed of a visit from a hippo nurse wife who carried the universe and placed it within my belly. She said it was time to return this wisdom back to me before leaving. Looking down at my belly, in similar fashion to the Queen of Pentacles, I watched the stars and the planets in deep space and recognized that the macrocosm of the universe was also within me.

Lao Tzu, the legendary founder of Taoism, gave spiritual advice for anyone of any faith in the Tao de Jing. He stated that through mindfulness practice and awakening the body’s wisdom we can learn the secrets of the universe without even leaving our front door. When this core of our physical being is full of healthy energy, we learn and grow through the inner guidance that results. We can also, as I have learned and the Queen of Pentacles image suggests, manifest abundance in our external lives.

For example, one morning I was day dreaming in bed about how much I would enjoy a new bike. The current one I had didn’t fit right and my knees would hurt while and after riding it. I remembered how much I had loved my former Trek bike in school, recollecting my experiences of joyful riding before it was stolen my junior year. I would like to note that while I was daydreaming about the bike I was relaxed in body and mind. I also had my hands resting gently on my lower abdomen as I practiced a little bit of Qigong natural belly breathing to strengthen my lower energy center.

A few weeks later my husband awoke after hearing a noise in the backyard. Waking me up he told me that the outdoor automatic light sensors were on and he was going out to investigate. He came back several minutes later to report that someone had snuck into our backyard and had tried to steal my bike. Having been scared off by my husband's activities, the would be thief must have taken off in a hurry as he also found a Trek bike left out in the street. We gave the bike to the police that later showed up to fill out a report. As no one claimed the bike in the weeks ahead it was later given back to us. The bike fit me perfectly, was the same color and brand of the former bike I had so loved and I was and continue to be happy to ride it without any pain. I had unknowingly manifested this bike into my life. And perhaps there was some karmic justice at work as stealing would be the venue for both the taking of and the receiving of a bike in this story. That there is an equal and opposite reaction to our thoughts and physical efforts only stresses the importance of being mindful of where we direct our intentions in life.

So the Queen of Pentacles represents the feminine aspects of ourselves and the wisdom of the body. She is often dressed all in red, the color associated with the heart and surrounded by symbols of fertility such as a rabbit and blooming flowers in a field. The yin or feminine aspect of the heart is called ling or spiritual potency in Chinese Medicine. Ling represents our potential to influence heaven and be co-creators in the universe. We activate ling spiritual potency when we open our hearts, follow the passion of our soul, allow time for daydreaming, get back into the body through mindfulness practices such as qigong and/or follow our inner senses and dream guidance. Gentle natural breathing for a few minutes while keeping our minds on our belly center increases our physical vitality and is also a great way to work with the Queen of Pentacles tarot card in our lives. As we celebrate and give thanks for all our blessings let us also remember and honor that the fruits of abundance arise from our own cornucopia of plenty within.

Christina Bjergo, LAC is an international speaker and author of the Tao of Tarot: “The Way” to Health, Happiness and Spiritual Illumination through Qigong Dreaming. She is an Asian Wellness and Body Dream Work Practitioner helping others explore the wisdom of the Self through TArOt dreaming. For additional information, articles and events visit her website at www.taooftarot.com.