Now, the character of Smaug isn’t exactly charming. He amassed his fortune by laying waste to the town of Lonely Mountain and stealing it! Hardly what we’re used to with the traditional imagery of the Ten of Pentacles so much more inviting. However, Smaug’s adorning this rendition draws attention to the contrasts as well as the parallels.
Smaug valued his treasure above all else, and indeed his outrage over the theft of an inconsequential piece of it—a single cup—is what led to his undoing. While he was heavily armored, his soft underbelly fortified by the jewels he laid upon for so long they became embedded in his skin forming a armor of treasures, there was a single missing scale. The area not protected was near his heart.
So in Smaug’s fury in taking his revenge of the theft of his cup, that vulnerability left him exposed. All the treasures of the world made no difference because his heart was not pure or guarded.
That’s a message strikingly similar to the RWS Ten of Pentacles, showing the other side of the pentacle. Ha!
The people at that family gathering ARE the most important treasures. This card does speak to material abundance no doubt, but it’s more: the total picture (and not the bank account) dominates. Family love is the greatest treasure of all! Those pentacles would be nothing but meaningless bits of shiny metal without the ability to use them in an uplifting and constructive way, and to share with loved ones, consistent with what’s in one’s heart. Without that, the wealth is empty and useless.
What do you most value? Do you guard it?
Lord of the Rings Tarot Deck & Card Game
P.S. Thanks again for this deck!
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I have been that dragon this week, when my kid was mistreated. Those metaphors all apply .
Now I just realized more of the precise symbolism.
Because the dragon over-reacted and paid the price.
It did occur to me that if I hadn’t said anything it may have been better, to let it blow over, rather than escalate. Dang it.
Aww, sofie, that’s a hard situation any way you slice it. You do the best you can and keep focus on what matters most: your child’s well-being. That’s all you can really do with it. Much love. ♥
Sofie, I want you to know your words also helped with my decision this morning to not attend a meeting. I felt my hubby was being bullied & I was going to “tactfully” say my peace. HA! Tactful, me? Not when I’m pissed! I would NOT have been helpful & probably would’ve made the situation worse. I have a tendancy to overreact & escalate.
Sorry for this irritation you’re dealing with. I’ve reacted the same way, sadly I have a tendancy to still do this. This parenting things is a hard gig and sometimes I think we learn more from our kids than we teach. Hope it gets better & THANKS for your assistance today
I’ve tried to. They didn’t value me as much as I did them.
I was going to a meeting with my hubby this morning but decided against it. I didn’t need to go just to make sure he’s taking care of his responsibilities, I have my own thank you (dentist appt included). I have FAITH in him & TRUST he will handle things. Maybe he doesn’t do the way I would (thank God) but he does what is needed-he always does.
Good question to ask & the answer is not so simple. I love/value my family yet it’s our safety & living without fear I guard (or am searching for) -or- maybe that’s just what I worry about.
I am Smaug like, dragonish & fire breathing (just ask my kids); it’s the outrage over the inconsequential (again ask my kids). This also sounds like our business partner. FAITH is needed otherwise we will never feel safe.
Wise words once again my pink haired friend
Smaug destroyed the town of Dale, and overtook the kingdom of Erebor under the mountain from the dwarves. The dwarves were experts in creating armor and many from all over came to obtain such armor and the dwarven kingdom became very rich in that time. Erebor was home/dixiblog/domains/afoolsjourney.com/public_html to the largest dwarven hoard in middle earth. =)
I really love that you used this deck
Thank you for the correction! I am WAY out of date on Middle Earth history. (Okay, so I’m looking a lot of this stuff up. So sue me.) I’m sure you’ll have to help me along while I’m learning it. ♥
She’s just showing off
“Family love is the greatest treasure of all! Those pentacles would be nothing but meaningless bits of shiny metal without the ability to use them in an uplifting and constructive way, and to share with loved ones, consistent with what’s in one’s heart. Without that, the wealth is empty and useless.”
I have failed miserably in this area. Or: That area has been a total failure for me. I am now currently and actively working on turning that around.
Make sure you’re not defining failure by someone else’s standards. It’s not relevant how someone responds to ME. Only that I live and take responsibility for what’s in my own heart and live consistently with that truth.
p.s. ♥
I hear ya, and yes, ~my ~definition, very much so.
xo