It takes little talent to see what lies under one’s nose, a good deal to know in what direction to point that organ.
W.H. Auden
As we drag ourselves into the dog days of Summer (here in the Northern Hemisphere), trying to keep up with the lightning speed of geopolitical developments, let us welcome this week our dogged champion of such times. Say hello to the Knight of Pentacles.
As you probably know, the Court cards of the Tarot are the “people” cards. They usually represent an actual person—either ourselves or someone who is interacting with us. Less often, they may simply be abstract personality traits we are directed to notice.
The Knights of the Tarot are the champions, the energetic and often forceful movers and shakers of the Court. However, because the Pentacles are ruled by the element of Earth, he (or she) is methodical, calm, and even a bit conservative. “Slow and steady wins the race” would be their motto.
So here we have a Knight who is a sturdy, well-grounded person and who is rarely in a hurry.
Unlike the other, more adventurous Knights, the Knight of Pentacles sits quietly on his big workhorse, looking out across the fields that await planting. 
In his hand, he holds the Pentacle that is his wealth and investment for the future.
And like the younger, less experienced Page, the Knight’s coin is either transparent or else the same sunny yellow as the sky.
The Knight’s helmet and horse are adorned with oak leaves, reiterating his connection to the Earth, perhaps even the ancient God of the Land, the Green Man. Oaks, as you may know, are sacred trees that are revered as doorways to the Mysterious realms.
The timing of his visit is impeccable as we draw inexorably towards the time of the First Harvest.
Thus, he is an ally for wise collaboration and care for Earth’s bounty and resources.
He is often body-conscious, too, and may be athletic in a robust, formidable way. These Knights are crusaders on behalf of good health habits and wholesome nutrition.
Slow, Steady Sky Changes This Week
Since the Summer of 2021, we’ve only had two other visits from this Knight. And the first one, during the week of June 27, 2022, occurred just as Neptune stationed retrograde. Just like it is going to tomorrow!
The unfailingly amazing Elisabeth Grace tells us that this week…
Neptune has been slowing to a virtual standstill from our perspective on Earth… bringing all matters related to Neptune into focus. For more on how to make the most of Neptune’s backward trek (it turns direct on December 12 at 1 degree of Aries), here’s a bit from the take I gave to Elite Daily on Neptune’s retrograde in 2018.
When a planet goes retrograde, it typically signals to us humans down here on Earth that we need to “turn inward on matters involving that planet, as opposed to looking outside the self.” As for the matters that Neptune is involved in, Grace tells Elite Daily this planet “refers to vision, intuition, healing, and other intangibles,” in addition to deception, fantasy, and even scandal… An opportune time to turn inward for inspiration, healing.
You are the one you’ve been waiting for — not the guru at the bully pulpit shilling snake oil.
So what do we need to know about this introspectiveness? Elisabeth points out that the very next day, on Wednesday —
After a brief void, Moon enters Taurus at 4:30 PM ET, cooling the heat of me-me-me Aries and shifting the focus toward mine-mine-mineconsolidation. Comfort, material security, resources, and practical results are on the agenda through Friday.
FWIW, it’s the second and final day of the NATO summit in Ankara — all happening under Neptune’s spell, Mercury retrograde, and an impulsive Aries Moon. Avid Readers who attended a few of last year’s Zoom Q & A’s will recall the heavy patterns — mostly from streamlining Saturn — hitting the horoscopes of NATO and its seemingly former biggest supporter. If leaders emerge with bold new initiatives today, the negotiations are likely far from over.
Still, the Moon – Jupiter square at 7:45 PM ET, suggests optimism, big promises, and positive spin on someone’s part — especially where resources are concerned.
Which would certainly interest our Knight. Hopefully, he is watching out for our best interests.
Not to mention that on Thursday, Venus leaves Leo and moves into Virgo. That means Venus is shifting from Leo’s fiery energy into an Earth sign, echoing how all those Wands we’ve been getting have shifted into Earthy Pentacles. Elisabeth notes that:
Virgo can be in a constant quest for perfection. Don’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good. We all have fault lines.
Good advice for our Knight, too. How long will he pause, considering what precisely flawless thing he should choose to do with his coin?
Perseverance and Persistence
Perhaps he hesitates because he never starts something he isn’t determined to finish. So it makes sense that he can be cautious and may take a long while to make up his mind and get started.
But once committed, he is rock-solid. Like his big black steed, he powers through obstacles, taking a dogged approach in the pursuit of his goals.
A hard worker, he has tremendous stamina and dedication. Every job is always completed down to the last detail. He never multitasks or leaves anything dangling unfinished. He’s careful and prudent, never wasteful.
Work comes first for him, and he can be inflexible about what others would consider minutiae (there’s that compatibility with Virgo for you). He doesn’t much like change or risk and can tend towards pessimism (in the name of being “realistic”).
To fiery Wands types or clever Swords people, the Knight of Pentacles might seem a bit stodgy and dull. True, he’s not renowned for his sensitive side (like Cups) or his speed, charm, charisma, or intellect. And he is seldom the life of the party. Instead, you’ll find him in the kitchen, doing the dishes, serving his homemade, homegrown preserves, and keeping track of the recyclables.
He is practical, direct, and down-to-earth. He’s the level-headed one you want nearby in any kind of emergency. And when he gets around to giving his heart, it is for keeps.
This Knight would never allow himself to be talked into some sketchy crypto scheme, nor does he react to emotional disputes. But you can be sure he would never turn his back on discussions or decisions that affect our planet’s health and well-being.
One Candidate for a Living Knight
He is guileless and understands himself as a steward in service to the land. He is plain-spoken, straight-dealing, and what you see is what you get.
In this forthrightness is his great power, for with no secrets, no double-talk, or backroom deals, his honesty and integrity speak to our better angels.
I would propose that one Knight of Pentacles in the public spotlight might be Bernie Sanders. While few would call him conservative on social issues, he is doggedly driven to champion economic parity and to challenge the entrenched systems that prey on the working class and the poor.
Despite his years, Bernie is not a king, sitting on a throne. He tirelessly saddles up and fights the battles of financial injustice and encroaching oligarchy every single day.
Who would you nominate for the Knight of Pentacles?
Resonating with this guidance, remember that while the Knight of Pentacles is the action hero of the Pentacles suit, he cannot be hurried. Learn to attend to and align with the natural rhythms of the Earth Herself at this time if you seek (and seed) good fortune.
Time to Assess
Is there a situation with your health, home, or work that demands a guarded response? For instance, just because cautions have eased in many places, the danger of the pandemic is not magically gone. Our Knight is in no rush and will not risk what is most valuable to him because of someone else’s timetable or agenda.
So pause if you need to, and don’t get pushed. Consider your options before you act, and insist on integrity and candor from others.
Being vigilant regarding your material security is always a smart choice, but it is especially wise during this time of so many uncertainties. No matter when (or if) shipping in the Strait of Hormuz fully recovers, the prospects for the coming Fall harvests and accompanying prices are not cheerful.
So perhaps the Knight represents a trusted adviser you could turn to on these matters.
There may be a project around the house or garden that you are ready to start. He certainly gives his blessing to this, particularly if it pays off in “sweat equity.”
On the other hand, have you been working too hard? Or could it be possible that you are being a little too stubborn on some matter to do with physical resources?
The Knight of Pentacles may tend to believe his way is always right because he takes such care doing his homework before making a move. So, he reasons, how could he be wrong? And yet, change is what life is all about.
His challenge is to know when to be swift, flexible, and more lighthearted when needed.
But his gift is to demonstrate how to be more prudent and persistent. When we slow down and focus, we are given much more vitality to get the job done. True success comes from bucking the trend of superficiality and instead learning to do “deep work.”
He urges us to tend our resources, protect our assets, and share what we have with gratitude and care. Like him, we would be prudent to assess what we have on hand and prepare for changes. Then, carefully choose in which direction to point our awareness.
Let us take a long, clear look at what is really of value (which is rarely what we are being hustled). Let us learn from the Knight of Pentacles to tend our garden, growing a future that will feed the peaceful welfare of all, especially those yet to come.
May he offer you his blessings of abundance, patience, and persistence for the seasons that lie ahead.