Seven of Earth

With the arrival of summer here in the Pacific Northwest, I've been spending as much time as possible outside. I've either had a weeding tool in hand or a fistful of colored pencils.  Yesterday I finished the last of the Sevens.  Here's my 7 of Earth, which is a bit different from the usual "waiting for the harvest" theme of the RWS 7 of Pentacles.

Remember that in the Sevens, we set a new goal for ourselves, one that reflects our inner work (as opposed to a goal in the everyday world).  With the 7 of Earth, we set some kind of practical goal that manifests in the physical world.

A woman plants a red cedar sapling near a creek where salmon spawn.  She is volunteering for a habitat restoration project in an area that was once heavily logged.  Western Red Cedar is a slow-growing species that won’t reach a mature height of 150 feet for twenty years. As it grows, it helps to shade the stream, keeping the water cool so young salmon can thrive.

When the Seven of Earth appears in a reading, we set a goal for ourselves that involves long-term planning.  We don’t expect to see results immediately but are content to know that we are working slowly and steadily toward our goal. We learn to be patient. We’re not on our own timeline here — instead, we’re on Mother Earth’s timeline!  We learn to live in synch with Her rhythms and cycles.  We trust that our efforts are worthwhile, even if we don’t see the fruits of our labors for a very long time.

Comments

[Laura]

I love this one! Just looking at it is grounding. Plus, this would be the card from your deck I would be most likely to use to represent myself in a reading. It's wonderful!

[Hecate Demetersdatter, Runnymeade Conspirator]

Oh, gorgeous! Been planting all weekend. That's a lovely, lovely picture that captures the 7 of Pentacles so well. You plant a tree, it can be a while before you see real results, but it's so worth it.

[Pilar]

Wow, I thought the last one you posted was my favorite, but I am torn! :) I love your rendering of "long-time planning" and I'm glad you didn't stick to the traditional imagery. This is lovely.

[Kate S.]

I have just now ordered the Majors deck and was exploring your site when I found this.

Your work is very beautiful, and I've wanted the Majors deck for so long. My waiting was, in a sense, like the message of the image above.

Thank you for sharing your insight and healing work with us. Many blessings!

[Cate (kerrdelune)]

Joanna, this may just be my favorite card ever - there is such tenderness in her expression as she tucks her seedlings into the earth. The lovely expression "faithful gardener" comes to mind at once. Brightest blessings and much love, Cate

[Carolyn Cushing]

I am struck by the care and gentleness with which she is placing the tree into the ground. It is almost the way you would hold a child and points to an intimate relationship that is possible with trees (and by extension all kinds of plants and creatures).

[Jeanne]

Wow! That's spooky Joanna. I was coming home through our local park the other day and came across a felled whitebeam, sawn up and awaiting disposal due to it having a rotting disease :( Growing out of one of the sections was a young rowan. I was horrified that it might end up in a wood chipper, so very carefully gave it a tug and a twist til it came free. It is now planted in a tub in my garden, til I find a home for it.

[Cynthia]

I got goosebumps. I'm so looking forward to your deck.

[Beth Owl's Daughter]

Oh, Joanna! What they all already said! Such a gentle, tender expression and energy here, yet strong and so grounded as well. You have touched something deep in my heart with this one. Thank you!

[joanna]

Thank you all! The tenderness and care you see is due in large part to my model -- my friend Wanda, who has owned a native plant recovery nursery for many years on the island where I used to live. The energy you are picking up on, is in large part *her* energy and the way she connects with the plant world. I have learned a lot from her! So glad you like the card.

[Gina House]

Amazingly beautiful. I can just see the wishes and intentions on her face as she lovingly plants. The colors are so soothing, but also hopefully and alive with energy. Love this card, Joanna!

[Stacey]

I have been coming back to this card many times a day since you posted it. Every time I look at it I feel enfolded once again in my mother's arms and loved unconditionally (she's been dead almost 15 years now). How blessed you must be to have such a friend as Wanda!
I have no real knowledge of tarot, although I do own your Major Arcana and have been living with them for several months. What would you suggest as a good book to begin with, especially related to your cards? I look forward to the continuing revelation of these wondrous cards.
Shalom. Stacey

[joanna]

Gina and Stacey, thanks for letting me know how you feel about this card! Stacey, I don't know of any books that would go specifically with my deck (until I finish writing my book :-) - but I do have a list of resources on the Links page of my site, although it needs to be updated:
http://www.gaiantarot.com/links.html

I would recommend you start with Teresa Michelson's "Complete Tarot Reader"; Mark McElroy's "Absolute Beginner's Guide to Tarot" and/or Mary K Greer's classic "Tarot for Your Self."

Have fun!

[Teresa]

Joanna, what a lovely interpretation of this card. I continue to be struck by how nuanced but straight forward your images are. I wonder, is there any correlation between cards for which you've used the same model? I think I recognize this woman from one of the threes (another of my favorites of the minors!)? I'm wondering if there is some kind of kinship there, or if she represents a quality to you that is pertinent to both cards...

[joanna]

Hi Teresa,
Very perceptive of you! Yes the same model is the center figure in the 3 of Earth. In most cases, my choice of models has to do with the energy they bring to my interpretation of the card. The 3 women in the 3 of Earth are friends and we do get together like that, working on various creative projects. And Wanda really does do habitat restoration work, as you see in the 7 of Earth. Those are her hands, cradling the rootball of the baby cedar. Thanks for asking.

[TarotByArwen]

I left a comment before but must not have done it correctly. What strikes me from this card is the obvious pleasure she is getting from putting her hands in the earth.

[joanna]

Mmmm, Arwen . . . yes, definitely. I can see how the idea of pleasure would make for an interesting slant in a reading. Thank you!