8 of Pentacles

Keywords & phrases

• Mastering your craft
• Artistry
• Attention to detail
• Throwing yourself into something
• Finding joy & bliss in work
• Trusting the process
• Selfless commitment
• Humble hard work
• Attainment

First impressions

At first glance, not such a glamorous card. No drama, no excitement, just good old fashioned hard work and a little bit of ‘practice makes perfect’.

What is happening in the card?

In the 8 of Pentacles, we see a craftsman in overalls at a bench in his workshop, hard at work engraving a star into a coin. There are 6 other coins in this picture, completed and on display and one other lies at his feet on the floor, perhaps still to be perfected.

It appears that our craftsman has nearly completed the current project. He is totally immersed in this activity and well on his way to mastering the art.

In the distance, we see a town where life goes on but he is not to be distracted from the task at hand.

How can we relate to this card?

They say that the Devil is in the details, but in the 8 of Pentacles I think we see that the divine is in the details.

We feel the energy of the 8 of Pentacles when we are totally absorbed in a task, right down to the last stroke. This is our ‘zone of genius’, a moment when we are almost blissfully involved and in flow with the work at hand. Writing, creating, building, repairing, perfecting.

This card suggests someone who is not afraid of hard work or sacrifice and also someone who is prepared to humbly start at the bottom and work their way up when embarking on something new or mastering a skill.

Message & affirmations

Today, I humbly and gratefully focus myself entirely on the job at hand. I pay attention to the details and find creative and elegant solutions at every opportunity.

My personal experiences of this card

As a teenager poring over the cards at my friend’s kitchen table we tended to skip over cards like the 8 of Pentacles.

Where’s the glamour? Where’s the romance? Give me the 9 of Cups or The Lovers, even the 3 of Swords and some drama any day.

Now, it’s a completely different story. I love this card when it shows up in a reading or a daily pull, reminding me to focus on the details and to let the big picture take care of itself. To surrender to the process and let the rest unfold.

The astrological reference for this card makes so much sense to me ~ literally pouring all your energy (Sun) into perfecting the details (Virgo).

A couple of my favourite renditions of the 8 of Pentacles are from The Spacious Tarot and The Light Seer’s Tarot (see below). In the first, we are reminded of the productivity of the humble bee. These creatures all have a specific function in the life of the hive and they dedicate themselves to that entirely. In doing so they fulfil their purpose in life and are fully productive members of their society. A tiny but vital part of something much bigger than themselves.

The second card shown, from the Light Seer’s Tarot, we see a young woman sitting at her worktop entirely absorbed in what she is doing. She is putting in the effort and the time, as indicated by the phases of the moon, to become a master of her art. She is creating something magical.

I relate very strongly to this card because I see myself in this girl. She even has my hair do! It also relates to the job at hand. I’m working my way through the 78 cards of the Tarot, card by card and I’ve found the only way to do it is to concentrate on individual cards as they come and worry less about the completed project is going to look like or when it’s going to get finished.

If I focus myself entirely on the card at hand the deck will take care of itself. And in doing this I will also gain new level of mastery and understanding. I’m trusting the process.

Events, situations & readings

In a work/career/business spread:
The 8 of Pentacles when it appears in a work spread suggests that now is the time to get your head down, focus on the details and your mastery of a skill or project. Time to immerse yourself in the work, put in the effort now to reap the rewards later.

In a relationship spread:
A reminder that relationships, with yourself and others, take hard work and sacrifice.

In a spiritual/personal development spread:
This card is also suggestive of mindfulness – focusing on the present moment.

Reversed:
Perhaps suggestive of a lack of focus and an inability or unwillingness to put in the hard work in order to achieve something. Still searching for purpose.

People & interaction with other cards

With inspirational and auspicious cards like the the Ace of Wands and the Ace of Pentacles, the 8 of Pentacles bodes well for new projects if you are prepared to get your head down and dedicate the time and effort required to reach completion.

When the 8 of Pentacles appears with Strength VIII it it a reminder that mastery can be gentle, subtle and achieved with compassion. Don’t be too hard on yourself and others in your quest for perfection.

With The Star this card shows you how you can make your dreams a reality. Follow your bliss and dedicate yourself to the work.

Questions, prompts & insights

Where do you need to focus your energy right now?

Have you found joy in your work? The divine in the detail? 

Featured decks & credits:
Main image from The Rider Waite Tarot. Also featured, images from The Spacious Tarot by Carrie Mallon and Annie Ruygt and Chris Anne’s Light Seers Tarot.

The animated image of The 8 of Pentacles is part of an ongoing AI art Tarot project by Still Small Voice Tarot.