Let’s continue our Decan Walk into the 3rd Decan of Taurus, which is linked with Saturn in Taurus. This is also associated with the 7 of Pentacles from the Tarot. Let’s get into this Decan and understand what’s going on.

7 of Pentacles: Saturn in Taurus: 11 May to 20 May

In the first Decan of Taurus, the 5 of Pentacles, we worried if all the preparations would work out. We worried about how the seeds we planted would grow. We saw success manifested in the second Decan of Taurus, the 6 of Pentacles. And now, we are in the third and last Decan of Taurus.

The Decan: Taurus III

This 3rd and final Decan of the Sign of Taurus is from 21° to 30° of the Sign of Taurus. This Decan is connected with the 10-day period that starts around the 11th of May and lasts until the 20th of May. Here, we find the planet Saturn in the Sign of Taurus. Let’s begin by understanding the energy of the Decan.

As you can see from the image, this Decan can be a little intense. The Picatrix describes it as: “a red man with extremely white teeth appearing between his lips, with the body of an elephant and with long legs. A horse, a dog, and a resting calf.” We see these elements in the card image from the Picatrix Decans Deck. If you look closely at the image of the Telos Tarot card, you can see the horse, the dog, and the resting calf in the central circle. We also have a man with a scythe in the center of the image. And that is a reference to Saturn. The vibe of this particular decan is that of Humiliation, Servitude, Torture, Cruelty, and Disgrace. This is not a very pleasant Decan.

Interestingly enough, the energy of the Sign of Taurus is pretty good. However, it certainly looks as if, apart from the middle Decan (6 of Pentacles), the first and the last Decans (5 of Pentacles and 7 of Pentacles) seem to have a very difficult energy.

The description of the card from the Telos Tarot says: “Crops can fail in winter. That’s the season of Saturn. The man sharpens his Scythe. If the crops fail, the farmer wonders if he has time to replant using the horse and plow, right? Or he may have to hunt the stag in the winter and/or kill off his cattle (the calf) to eat in the spring.“

We have taken worry to the next level in this third Decan of Taurus (7 of Pentacles). This is the worry that we saw take root in the first Decan of Taurus (5 of Pentacles), where we wondered what would happen with all the preparations that we’ve taken. We may enjoy the success from the second Decan (6 of Pentacles). But that success now feels very transitory, because soon enough, we are in this third Decan, facing all kinds of disgrace and humiliation. Right away, we sense that the energy of this decan is quite difficult.

Astrology: Saturn ♄

People have different perspectives about the energy of the planet Saturn. In the StarCodes AstroDeck, the keyword is Structure, which sounds pretty nice on the surface. But Saturn is much more than just structure.

The energy of Saturn is about wisdom and maturity that comes from adversity. This is the sort of insight and understanding that comes from facing very difficult situations in life. Saturn creates situations where one takes on responsibilities and establishes oneself based on one’s personal authority. Duty has a big role to play in what one does. Saturn creates a sense of accountability. Saturn brings Karmic Justice. Saturn will push you into positions where you must drop your ego and be humble. You have to be of service without having any expectations.

Saturn is also associated with borders and boundaries. And there’s a very interesting reason for that. Back in the day, before Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were discovered, Saturn was the last planet of the solar system. So the space beyond Saturn was a mystery. And then, of course, Saturn has these beautiful rings, which help bring the energy of boundaries into play.

Saturn is also about the structures of society. It rules over the skeleton in our body. So Saturn governs the bones and teeth. Saturn establishes foundations, loves traditions, and thrives among things we build over time. Saturn rules the structures that govern every aspect of our life, and asks you to question the principles that decide your life’s structures. What are your boundaries? What are your limitations? Where do you let your ego come into play? And how can you be of service?

With all that, Saturn pushes you to relinquish expectations and drop your Ego. Ultimately, Saturn wants you to be the best and the truest version of yourself. And you can only become that after you’ve seen the best and the worst of yourself, and eradicated the hollow and the unfair parts of yourself. Saturn holds you to a very exacting standard. Saturn brings about Karmic Justice. So if you were in the wrong, then Saturn will punish you. But if you were in the right, then Saturn will reward you.

In life, you may be able to show people, both your loved ones and your enemies, a very positive image of yourself. But you cannot fool your own self. Saturn asks you to look at yourself with that cold and clear knowledge, with nothing left to hide. Saturn holds you accountable — not to anybody else, but to yourself.

Thanks to the connection with time, Saturn is also connected with eternity, longevity, and durability.

Elementally, Saturn is associated with the energy of Earth, and it rules the Signs of Capricorn and Aquarius. Saturn is thus connected with ambition, discipline, organization, control, patience, stability, and persistence. Saturn gives you the strength to steadfastly push through with determination and pragmatism.

On a slightly negative side, Saturn talks of restrictions. Interestingly, borders looked at from a different angle are restrictions and limitations. With Saturn, expect to encounter obstacles, struggles, and delays.

If you go back to the first video + blog post I made introducing the Decan Walk, you will recall that Saturn moves the slowest among the Traditional planets of Astrology. That tells you that everything Saturn touches will slowly but surely reach the ultimate goal. However, you need to be very mindful of being truthful, humble, and fair. Without those qualities, Saturn will inevitably visit Karmic retribution upon the project or goal.

Traditions can be positive, but can also be used to talk about someone stuck in the old ways. If ambition, discipline, and organization are seen as positive traits, then Saturn brings the energy of hard work, trials, and Karma into the mix. Saturn is a very tough planet. It demands that you be truthful to yourself in the harshest and most black and white manner.

Greek Mythology: Cronus’ Generational Trauma + Daddy Issues

I like to look at the myths because they are the stories that establish the qualities of the Archetypal energies. These stories help us understand why a Planet, for example, is associated with specific attributes.

Historically, Astrologers have created various associations based on long-term observations. They have looked at the movements of the planets and the stars along with the records of events in History. Based on that, they have developed their correlations. Over time, they started seeing repeating patterns. That’s how and why they said that when a particular Planet moves into a specific Sign, we can expect certain things to happen. Based on their long-term observations of the Planetary positions of Historic events, combined with their understanding of the energies of the Planet and the Sign, we can make educated estimates of what to expect as planets move through the skies around us.

The myths surrounding these Planets help us connect the dots. They help make sense of those observations using the storytelling format. These events could have occurred in actuality, or perhaps the story of that event became a myth after thousands of years. Let’s understand Saturn’s deeper energy by looking at its story in Greek mythology.

See the Family Tree of the Greek Gods on Wikipedia.

As we can see from this chart, this is a pretty complicated family, with all sorts of daddy issues and generational trauma!

Here, I’ll just go over the bare bones of the story, but you can read this story in more detail, too!

Ouranos and Gaia

The story begins with Uranus (or Ouranos) and Gaia, representing the Sky and the Earth, respectively. They were a couple and had several children. When Gaia gave birth to the Titans, Uranus didn’t like them at all. So he hid them within the Earth.

If you look at the symbolism here, Gaia was the Earth. This meant that he put the Titans back inside of her. It must’ve been absolutely painful and horrible for her.

Gaia continued to have other children, but Uranus also put them back inside the Earth. She wanted him to stop doing that. So she created a steel Scythe and asked her children to help her eliminate Uranus. None of them are keen on hurting or killing their father, except for Cronus.

She gave Cronus the scythe, and he hid in his mother’s bedroom the night Uranus was supposed to visit. When Uranus tried to make love to Gaia, Cronus came out of hiding and struck his father. He wasn’t able to kill him, but he was able to chop off his genitals. While doing that, Uranus’ blood fell upon Gaia, and she gave birth to the Furies. Cronus then threw his father’s genitals into the ocean, and from that sprang Aphrodite. Ultimately, Cronus put Uranus and the other Titans into Tartarus, an infernal region.

Saturn Devouring His Son is a 1636 painting by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens, now in the Museo del Prado, in Madrid.

Cronus’ Golden Age + Cronus’ Fears

After that, Cronus ruled over a Golden Age. He married his sister Rhea, and they ended up having many children: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, and Poseidon. However, having children had triggered Cronus’ biggest fears. When he had put his father in Tartarus, Uranus had warned him that eventually Cronus’ children would also do to Cronus what he had done to Uranus. To avoid that same painful fate, Cronus swallowed every child that Rhea gave birth to.

Knowingly or unknowingly, Cronus’ fears had made him do to his children what his father had done to him and his siblings.

Rhea grew quite upset about this behavior. Cronus often traveled across Greece, keeping in touch with his siblings and watching over the land. So once, when he wasn’t around, Rhea sought her parents’ advice. Gaia guided her to the island of Crete, where Rhea met the she-goat Amalthea and the Meliae, the nymphs of the manna-bearing ash tree. Rhea also found a special stone Gaia had asked her to look for.

Rhea gave birth to Zeus and gave him to Amalthea and Meliae. She gave Cronus the stone wrapped in swaddling blankets, and he swallowed it without thinking much about it. Meanwhile, Zeus grew up in Crete, and Rhea often visited him. She taught him and trained him for revenge against Cronus. When Zeus grew up to be a strong and magnificent young man, the Gods gave him a drink of copper sulphate, poppy juice, and manna syrup. Zeus gave that drink to Cronus, who drank it and threw up all of his children that he had swallowed. While Cronus was distracted, Zeus grabbed Cronus’s scythe and tried to kill him.

Although he couldn’t kill him, he did win the support of his siblings and various other Gods and Goddesses. A 10-year-long war ensued between the Titans and the Olympian Gods, which ended up with the Titans being thrown back into Tartarus, and Cronus being cursed to roam the Earth for Eternity.

Note: Cronus and Chronus are technically two different Gods, which merged over time.

In Roman Mythology, Cronus is called Saturn. In that version, Saturn went to the mortal realm and taught the people agriculture and to worship the Gods. He is loved and respected for his contributions to human society.

The Myth of Cronus: Subtle Undertones of Saturn’s Energy

The story of Cronus has several symbolic undertones. Let’s understand them better, to understand the energy of Saturn more deeply.

“Time Consumes the Ages”

Generational Trauma

While Uranus and Gaia were the Sky and the Earth, there was no concept of Time in play. When Cronus cut off his father’s genitals, he stopped him from being able to reproduce. That stopped the Eternal flow of Existence. Now, nothing new could be created within the void of Eternity. Therefore, Eternity ceased to remain timeless, and Cronus became the embodiment of Time. Time moves in cycles. So, when Cronus swallowed his children, he essentially prevented the next cycle of time from manifesting. This is why it was said that: Time Consumes the Ages.

Cronus wanted his rule to never end — which, unfortunately for him, was not how Time worked. In repeating the cycle of not allowing the next generation to live, Cronus had created and perpetuated Generational Trauma. He had unknowingly repeated exactly what his father, Ouranous, had done. He thus set himself up to fear the same outcome and judgment that he had visited upon his father.

Daddy Issues

The complicated father-son dynamics between Uranus and Cronus are unknowingly repeated with Cronus and his children. Uranus had passed down his fears to Cronus, who would live with them and the consequences of his actions for Eternity. Unfortunately for Cronus, his worst fears come true when Zeus decides to destroy him. However, just as Cronus could not eradicate Ouranos, Zeus couldn’t kill Cronus either.

Thankfully, in his desire to be different from his father and grandfather, Zeus didn’t eat his children or throw them into Tartarus. However, he did have several children with humans and various other goddesses. No doubt, this infuriated Hera, his sister-wife, who often ended up finding creative ways of killing all the women with whom Zeus had affairs.

Sidenote: It is painfully obvious that the wives in this family have very troubled relationships with their husbands.

Cycles of Saturn’s Return

Saturn takes 29 ½ years to complete an entire orbit around the Sun. If you connect that to everybody’s lifetime, we are looking at a big chunk of our lives. When Saturn returns to our Sign every 29 ½ years, it will force us to confront all that happened during the passage of that time. We will be judged for everything we’ve done and not done during that time. We will be tested for everything we have learned and experienced during this time. Saturn will examine how true we’ve been to our foundations and principles. We must confront all the rights and wrongs we’ve caused and suffered.

We must throw up all that we have ‘swallowed‘. We must face what we are afraid of. We must unearth all we’ve shoved into the depths of our inner Tartarus. We must confront our fears and face our judgment. We have to surrender our will to the might of the Divine and accept our flaws and faults. We must face our punishment and reap our rewards with humility. It is the only way we will have learned our lessons and grounded ourselves in our purest truth. That is the only right way to grow into the next cycle of our life’s journey. Just like Cronus, we must allow the next cycle, the next age, the next version of our own self to manifest into the world. Saturn forces us to confront what we haven’t allowed to evolve within us.

As the slowest planet (in Traditional Astrology), the energy of Saturn in our lives slows everything down to the point where we don’t have a choice. We must give up our ego. We also have to face up to the parts of ourselves that need to go, and bring out those parts of us that need to be born into the world. We must grow or perish. Unless we allow our newer versions to emerge, we will lose the ability to create anything new. I think that is the big function of a Saturn Return.

Tarot: The World

Now that we’ve truly understood the depth of Saturn’s energies, let’s look at the Tarot card associated with Saturn, The World.

Until the late 1700s, Saturn was the known last planet of our Solar System. Therefore, it’s interesting that this card, which is also the last card of the Major Arcana, is associated with Saturn. To put things in perspective, here are some interesting dates that establish a chronology of interesting events:

• The Tarot de Marseille was created roughly around the 1700s
• The planet Uranus was discovered in 1781
• Neptune was discovered in 1846
• The Rider-Waite-Smith Deck was published in 1910
• Pluto was discovered in 1930
• The Thoth Tarot was published in 1969

Here’s another fun fact. Before Uranus and Neptune were discovered, the Fool card was associated with the element of Air, the Hanged Man was linked with Water, Judgement was linked with Fire, and The World card did double duty as Earth and Saturn. After Uranus, Neptune, and subsequently Pluto were discovered, they were linked to these cards, based on their essential energetic natures. The Fool was now connected to Air and Uranus, the Hanged Man was related to Water and Neptune, and Judgement was associated with Fire and Pluto.

21: The World

The World – Tarot de Marseilles

When we look at the World card, the first thing we notice is the circle around the World Dancer. In the Rider-Waite-Smith and the Tarot de Marseilles, this circle resembles the Laurel Wreath. This symbol of victory and success originates from the Roman Empire, where victorious Generals would often be celebrated with a crown of laurel leaves.

In the Thoth and Telos Tarot card images, the ring around the World Dancer comprises 72 circles and an ellipse of 400 lesser circles, respectively. These represent the totality of Creation. Interestingly, this circular ring also resembles the rings of Saturn.

However, there is another interpretation of this symbol. This shape is connected with that of the Vesica Piscis.

Vesica Piscis is a Latin word that means Fish Bladder. This is a geometric shape formed by the intersection of two circles with the same radius, where the center of each circle lies on the circumference of the other. This image is associated with Sacred Geometry and architectural design. It symbolizes the union of opposites, the interconnectedness of all things, and the cycle of creation.

This shape is also used to draw the symbol of the Fish, which is linked with the story of Jesus Christ, where an endless supply of Fish helped feed all his followers. It is a well-known symbol amongst Christians, who believe that having Faith will help them receive all they ever need or desire, and that their Faith will provide the necessary sustenance for their physical and spiritual journey through life.

In the Major Arcana, the story begins with the Fool card and ends with the World Card. This signifies that you have accomplished what you have set out to achieve. It represents completion of a long-term journey or process. It means the success and fulfillment of a big life cycle and goal. That could be a big goal or a big project. A big cycle has been completed. Perhaps even a 29 ½ year-long Saturn return cycle has been completed.

In the four corners of the card, we see the symbols of the 4 Fixed Signs: the Angel for Aquarius, the Eagle for Scorpio, the Lion for Leo, and the Bull for Taurus. These Fixed Signs are stable, dedicated, and persistent, just like the energy of Saturn. In comparison, the Cardinal Signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn are enterprising, active, and enthusiastic, while the Mutable Signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces are flexible, adaptable, and changeable.

In the Thoth Deck, we also see a snake representing the unending cycle of Time and the ability of regeneration. The imagery of this card talks about the ending of an old cycle and the beginning of a new cycle.

On a very mundane level, the World card also talks about traveling abroad.

Another interesting set of interpretations in the Tarot de Marseilles is self-sufficiency, isolation, being the center of one’s universe, preoccupation with self, and feeling trapped. Other interesting interpretations of the World card are sexual union, reconciliation, centering, finding one’s calling, seeing the big picture, the ability to manifest, completion, and wholeness.

Thus, we see a positive vibe of Saturn’s energies in the Tarot. We see completion, we see the cycles, and we also see accomplishment, ambition, success, and the patience required to wait it out till you reach your goals.

Astrology: Taurus ♉︎

We’ve met Taurus before, so this isn’t new. I’ll quickly go over the energies of the Sign of Taurus.

Taurus is stable, steady, persistent, and patient. The Sign has endurance and takes deliberate action. They are tenacious, unyielding, and strong. They are trustworthy and practical.

Taurus is ruled by Venus, which brings a love of the materialistic, sensual energies. With Tarueans, material security and sensual love are prioritized. They are focused on nurturing and growing roots. Looking at the keyword, Cultivate, we can surmise that they love spending time developing and taking care of the things they care about. They persist and work diligently to manifest their world. With the energy of Venus, you can be sure that all of this happens in a beautiful, very sensually pleasing environment.

On the flip side, Taureans can be stubborn, possessive, change-resistant, and self-indulgent.

Tarot: The Hierophant

We’ve looked at this card before, too. The Hierophant is the Tarot card associated with the Sign of Taurus.

The Hierophant is a religious leader, and as such, he establishes the systems and codes of moral behavior and morality. Within those systems, the Hierophant decides the codes of morality that will be applied in society. He decides the dos and don’ts, the rights and wrongs of behavior. Along with religious systems, the card also talks about teaching and training. Within all of these frameworks, we have to be persistent and diligent. We have to keep at it. And that is the energy of Taurus.

To accomplish the learning goals, or the goals of the faith, the codes of society and morality, you must keep following the rules, slowly and steadily, step by step, persistently, and sincerely. After that, you will gain access to the Key to wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

Saturn in Taurus: Ostentation

In the Oracle of the Radiant Sun card, we see a different perspective on the combination of Saturn in Taurus. Their keyword for Saturn is Ambition, and for Taurus is Material Values. Together, the energy of Saturn in Taurus, according to them, creates the energy of Ostentation. Ostentatious means a pretentious and vulgar display of wealth and luxury. So they suggest that this combination, where Saturn’s ambitious nature combines with the materialistic aspects of Taurus, will result in a vulgar display of wealth and materialistic luxuries. Saturn helps build upon Taurus’ material values.

I find this interpretation a bit hard to believe. However, since this is part of the group of decks we’ve chosen to study, I can’t leave this out! And while I may disagree with this interpretation, it may make sense to others. So it makes sense for me to share it here. With that being said, there are certain aspects of the interpretations offered within the guidebook of this deck that do make sense to me.

Saturn is about diligence and discipline, just like Taurus. And while Taurus likes to make the environment artistic and cozy, Saturn prefers things to be functional and a bit dreary. The Taurus energy could help Saturn indulge a bit. Another set of interpretations is: a steady improvement in finances, a strong sense of duty and responsibility. Both Saturn and Taurus are pretty aligned with those vibes.

Saturn and Taurus have a need to create financial and romantic security in their lives and seek committed partners. They have an energy of discipline and determination. This energy could also bring delayed or late success, so long as one has remained humble and diligent with one’s work.

On the darker side, this combination can create an obsession with money, a fear of never having enough material security, and even a fear of losing that material security. This anxiety to establish material and romantic security could create issues in other areas of life.

The Number: 7

Let’s take a quick look at the number 7.

The number seven is often linked with luck and opportunity. It is also connected with spirituality, belief, and faith.

7 is also about limits. 7 wants you to discover, set, and push the different limitations in your life. The energy is similar to that of adolescent children who always try to see how far they can push the limits of the laws laid down by their parents.

The energy of 7 is also connected to the spiritual world. 7 encourages you to explore possibilities, take action, persevere, negotiate, and be introspective. 7 is about cosmic concerns, inner conflicts, and secrets. 7 also asks you to question your material attachments.

Tarot + Astrology: 7 of Pentacles: Saturn in Taurus: ♄ in ♉︎

Let’s look at our Tarot card – the 7 of Pentacles. However, before we dive in, there are some additional bits of information that we need to have.

7 of Pentacles of the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot: Original vs Re-Colored Version

First, I want you to look closely at the slight differences in these two card images, especially regarding the colors. Here, I’m comparing the pictures of the 7 of Pentacles cards from the Original Rider-Waite-Smith deck and the re-colored version of the deck, which we also know as the Universal Waite deck.

7 of Pentacles (Original Rider-Waite-Smith)

7 of Pentacles

Pay attention to the colors of the leaves of the pentacle fruit tree. You’ll notice that some leaves in the Original Rider-Waite-Smith card have started to darken and look old. Now, see those leaves in the re-colored version, and you’ll notice how those leaves have a slightly different shade. This is something that goes unnoticed by a lot of Tarot students. This includes me as well. I hadn’t realized it until it was pointed out to me some time ago. And this realization blew my mind! 🤯

What do these leaves show as they grow old? Are they trying to tell us that this farmer patiently and diligently cultivated fruits that have become over-ripe? If we notice his expression, we see he looks worried and tired. And yet, we also notice from his posture that he isn’t doing anything! His delay in plucking those fruit could be fatal — the over-ripe fruit could spoil, and he won’t be able to eat or sell them.

Now we see a very different energy emerging from this image. Here, the diligence and patience of both Saturn and Taurus are ruined by Saturn’s delaying energy. Meanwhile, time (Cronus) doesn’t stop for anyone. And the fruits become over-ripe!

7 of Pentacles of the Thoth: The Geomancy Connection

Here’s another quick segue into Geomancy to understand the central symbol on the Thoth, the Tarot de Marseilles, and the Telos Tarot cards.

Geomancy means earth-based divination. It also includes divination from the patterns of soil, rocks, sand, and other earth-based elements. I was introduced to this interesting Divination method when I backed the amazing James R. Eads during his Kickstarter campaign for the Cosma Visions Oracle Deck. He offered a lovely Geomancy kit as an add-on, and I was intrigued enough to buy it.

If you want to learn more about this system, you can buy this kit from Amazon or from James R. Eads’ website.

Geomancy is a unique and ancient system used in ancient times. This system is also called Khatt al-Raml or Darb al-Raml. The word Raml means Sand.

Querents would think about their question and use sticks to poke holes in tubs of sand. The interpretations would be made by counting the number of these holes. An odd number resulted in a single dot while an even number resulted in two dots. The querents used to have to do this several times to generate at least 4 of the basic symbols, which would then be used to cast a shield. From those 4 symbols, the Geomancer could create the rest of the symbols, and ultimately arrive at an interpretation.

Those symbols could also be further interpreted, after being transferred to a chart that looks very similar to an Astrological Chart. Geomancy and Astrology were considered to be sister sciences of Divination. You could also use a pair of 4 4-sided dice to arrive at the symbols a little quicker. Nowadays, you can also use regular dice to arrive at the symbols. Or you can use the Geomancy coins. This kit can be purchased from Amazon or James R. Eads’ website.

The pattern of the iron coins in the 7 of Pentacles originates from the ancient system of Geomancy and is called Rubeus. Rubeus is Latin for Red, a symbol of Ill Fortune.

We see the symbol for Rubeus on 3 out of 4 cards: the Tarot de Marseilles, the Thoth Tarot, and the Telos Tarot.

7 of Pentacles

With all that information in our heads, let’s look at the 7 of Pentacles card and understand how the energy of Saturn in Taurus shows up in the imagery.

In the Rider-Waite-Smith image, we see how the diligence and patience of both Saturn and Taurus have gone too far. The fruit has become overripe, and unless he stops overthinking, the farmer will be unable to eat or sell the fruit. All the patient hard work he put into growing the crops will ultimately be wasted. He won’t be able to enjoy the fruits of his labor. This card also asks us to understand the connection between effort and reward. It asks us to be very clear about our motivations and end goals before we begin the project, and only put in the amount of effort necessary to reap our rewards, and of course, to collect on that reward well within the right time. Otherwise, all the efforts will be wasted, and we’ll be left with nothing worthwhile.

We can apply this to various material ventures like business projects and investments. We need to have an end goal in mind, consistently monitor the progress, and reap the value when the time is right. We can also apply this to other life situations, like relationships. We need to be sure of what we want from the relationship. We must invest the required effort, depending on our desired outcome. However, if we don’t see any reciprocity, we must stop lingering and overthinking. Or we face inevitable stagnation and certain failure. We must remove/take all we can to save what we can. Any delay would mean that we would have to discard it all. Here, we see Saturn and Taurus giving us a fair warning, urging us to be diligent, avoid overthinking, or face the perils of failure.

In the Tarot de Marseilles, we look at the meaning of the number and combine it with that of the element. Here we bring the faith and belief of the 7 to the practical, earthy, and material energy of the Pentacles. This 7 will also push the limits of the stable and harmonious energy of the 6 of Pentacles. Thus, the seventh pentacle is specially shielded and protected with the leaves. Here, the seventh coin seeks acceptance and protection while pushing the limits of the harmony of the previous six coins. Dynamic creativity is subdued to stability, as these limits are gently explored. We see Saturn’s desire to discover his place in the story of his complicated family, while Taurus wants to keep the stability going.

In the Thoth Tarot, we see a grim picture. We see leaves that are dead or dying, and seven lead disks inscribed with the glyph of Saturn placed upon them. Here, we see the starkness of the ruin and decay emerging from the “Ill Fortune” of the Rubeus pattern. We see how Saturn’s energy of delays and blockages has hindered the growth and cultivation of Taurus. We see the calamity of the situation. The slow-moving Saturn cannot let go of the attachment to material benefits — even though there are none to be had. One is unable to walk away from a futile situation. One clings to it, holding on, and only finds failure. One needs to face reality or risk suffering in this space for a long time (Saturn).

The image of the Telos Tarot has a grim mood as well. We see skeletons praying in each circle, arranged in the Rubeus pattern. We also see a horse, a stag, and a calf in a central circle. In the foreground, we see a man holding a scythe. He worries about the crops failing in winter (Saturn’s season). He sharpens his scythe. He might have to replant the seeds with his horse and plow, or he may have to hunt the Stag or kill his Calf — all so he can eat during the year. All in all, not a very pleasant image to see. His worries about the future have come true, and he now has to take care of the situation by making difficult and painful decisions.

Supporting Cards: The Ace of Pentacles + Page of Pentacles + King of Swords

We’ve already seen the Ace and the Page of Pentacles. The Ace of Pentacles is the seed, the root of the Earth energy. It gives the necessary firm ground upon which all these energies can form. The Page of Pentacles is the diligent and sincere energy that helps set things in motion. Now, with the 7 of Pentacles, we have the energy of the King of Swords to look at.

To be honest, I like seeing the King of Swords here. The King of Swords combines Fire and Air, both masculine energies that support each other. He is an intelligent, rational, and determined person. He doesn’t waste time with irrelevant thought processes and cuts to the truth. He is truthful and authoritative — qualities that Saturn is quite fond of. He is harsh and controlling, and may even become ruthless and manipulative. However, the King of Swords has the willpower to break away from the past and look to the future. He is strategic and objective, and gifted with words. These abilities are used to see and convey the clear and honest truth, no matter how harsh it may be.

This is precisely the energy required to break through the stuck energy of the failure within the 7 of Pentacles, resulting from overthinking. Towards that end, I feel that the presence of the King of Swords can get that energy unstuck. His clarity of thought and rational perspectives will push past the negativity of overthinking and move the energy so that one breaks away from the past and looks towards the future.

7 of Pentacles: Saturn in Taurus: ♄ in ♉︎ : Overthinking Creates Failure

If we look at all 3 Decans of Taurus, the first and last Decans aren’t all that pleasant, which is unfortunate, because the energy of Taurus is quite lovely. In the first Decan, we were plagued with the worry of failure, and while we briefly enjoyed success in the second Decan, we met that failure face-to-face in the third Decan. I think the lesson of these Decans can be surmised into the adage: Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it. This is true, especially if that wish is full of worries about failure.

When the serious-minded Saturn came to the realm of the diligent Taurus, things may seem fine at first. But as they settled in with each other, we saw the overthinking of Saturn take root in the nourishing earth of Taurus, and what grew and bore fruit was not very pleasant to behold. We saw how that overthinking stalled the movement of manifestation and ultimately caused the failure of the enterprise. We saw how clinging to futility inevitably led to decay and ruin. This calamity can be avoided and sidestepped with the rational and straightforward clarity of the King of Swords. Otherwise, the image of the 7 of Pentacles shows you exactly how overthinking leads to failure. Saturn teaches us to be fair and just with our efforts, while Taurus asks us to nourish ourselves while we are at it. During this process, we are constantly reminded to balance our efforts with the rewards that we receive from those efforts.

🎞️ The Video

Here’s my video of the 7 of Pentacles – Saturn in Taurus – the third and final Decan of Taurus.

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📸 The Infographic + ⬇️ The Download

Click the buttons below to download the infographic of the 7 of Pentacles – Saturn in Taurus. You can also download the PDF of the slides I used for the video I made about this card’s astrological connections. And of course, you can also check out the handouts I’ve created so you can make your notes.

Click here to Download the Infographics

Click here to download the Presentation Slides PDF

Click here to copy the Decan Walk Worksheets to your Google Drive

📚 Homework

📓 Things to Think (or Journal) about the 7 of Pentacles – Saturn in Taurus

Here are some ideas for thinking (or Journaling) about the 7 of Pentacles and to consider how the energy of Saturn in Taurus has shown up in the card imagery and your life.

• Reflect on the times when you’ve experienced failure, mainly when you’ve worried about something so much that you delayed taking action. Now that you look at the energy of Saturn in Taurus as it shows up in the image of the 7 of Pentacles cards, what would be your takeaways, lessons, or guidance?
  • How would you have handled the situation, knowing what you know now about these energies?
• Which areas in your life, primarily where material resources are concerned, do you tend to overthink and worry?
  • Does that create hurdles or delays for you? Does that delayed action result in anything positive or negative?
  • Do you think of yourself as open to taking risks or risk-averse?
  • What conditions or situations would need to be present for you to be ready to take risks or invest efforts (and/or time, and/or money) into a specific project or venture?
• What are the times in your life’s journey where you have patiently and diligently taken action, only to have failed? Taking the lessons from the energy of the 7 of Pentacles, what would you have done differently in that situation?
• Look at your birth chart. Do you have Saturn in Taurus in your chart? If so, which house is it in? How has that energy shown up in that area of your life?
  • Look at the placement of Saturn in your birth chart. How has Saturn’s energy played out in the life area controlled by that House?
  • Look at the House in your birth chart where you see the Sign of Taurus. How has Taurus’ energy shown up in the life area controlled by that House?

🧶 The Story So Far…

Now that we’re 2 Zodiac Signs into the Decan Walk, let’s look at how the Decan Story is shaping up.

In the 2 of Wands, Mars in Aries was jumping at the chance to start something, to expand their existing realm. The Emperor began his adventure with energetic passion. In the 3 of Wands, the Sun shone bright and exalted in Aries, showing the Emperor the way forward. He crossed all the hurdles and passionately put his plans into motion. He watched as everything moved according to his wishes. In the 4 of Wands, Empress Venus visited the Emperor, encouraging him to celebrate his victory and success. Although debilitated, she decorated his castle, planted flowers, and turned his house into a home.

6 of Pentacles

7 of Pentacles

In the 5 of Pentacles, Mercury zipped into the earthy realm of Taurus. Here, the Magician Mercury worried so much about how he would fit into the rules and systems of the Hierophant that he ended up being lost and dejected. All he could do was wander about in the cold, trying to find some hope. In the 6 of Pentacles, hope arrived with the Moon in Taurus. Here, the exalted High Priestess opened the gates of insight and wisdom to the students of the Hierophant who received the keys. The worthy received the knowledge, which manifested in the real world through material success. Finally, there was a sense of harmony. However, that joy was short-lived as Saturn showed up in Taurus in the 7 of Pentacles, bringing delays and overthinking. Even though the project could have succeeded with the World card’s energy, the indulgent Taurus held on to the situation’s futility. Overthinking created the failure, and ultimately, the fruits became overripe. In the 7 of Pentacles, the pensive farmer stared as the leaves turned yellow and the fruits began to age, stalled by the desire to see what happened if he pushed his limits.

💌 Tell Me What You Think …

The 7 of Pentacles has been quite an interesting revelation — especially when seen through the astrological associations. Complicated Saturn and uncomplicated Taurus come together, and things don’t always go as planned. What is your take on this perspective of the 7 of Pentacles? How would you interpret this combination of Saturn in Taurus within the imagery of the 7 of Pentacles Tarot card? Tell me what you think — even if, or especially, if your point of view is different from mine. I would love to hear your thoughts and interpretations.