The other evening I was having trouble falling asleep, so at 1am I started applying randomly to jobs. It was a calming mechanism intended to knock me out, and it worked. I fell asleep shortly thereafter. The problem was I woke up to a hundred emails from random companies I'd forgotten about, thanking me for applying and that they'd be in touch if I'm a fit.

That's great and all, but I don't actually have time in my life for a career. I will after my degree is done, and when my puppy is just a bit older, but for now I have to try and trim the budget the old-fashioned way - by actually not shopping. 

It's hard. It's very reversed Ace of Pentacles.

We have three kids heading to college this year, plus myself in grad school, so that's four tuitions that my husband's income has to pay for. It's a lot. It stresses me out, which is why I find myself looking for work every evening in order to calm down. Job hunting makes me feel like I'm contributing, even though it would ultimately be a mistake to go to work right away. 

Although random panicked job hunting is a very reversed Ace thing to do, I think I'll follow some of its other advice instead, like noshing on carbs and watching Ocean's Eleven. Maybe I'll get some tips on casino robbery. That will calm me down. 

Upright, the Ace of Pentacles in a reading is an extremely positive message about an upcoming productive or rewarding period in your life.

Reversed, there is greed, unhealthy decisions, or a period where the financial flow is lacking. You may be so focused on acquiring more stuff that you are failing to find gratitude for what you already have.
 
Questions answered by the reversed Ace of Pentacles:
Who? A greedy person 
What? A lost opportunity
Where? In a bank
When? Spring (Northern Hemisphere) or Autumn (Southern Hemisphere); Yesterday
Why? “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.” ~Mahatma Gandhi
Yes or No? Maybe

The reversed Ace of Pentacles as:
…an action?

• Take a bath
• Eat yummy food

 
…a place in your house?

• The garden
• A safe
• A young child’s room

…a place in your city?

• The bank
• A big box store
• A fancy hotel
• A resort

…a place in the world?

• The UAE
• A tropical resort
• Australia
• North America

…something to eat?

• Carbs
• A milkshake

 
…something to clean?

• The safe
• The children’s toys

 
…where to find the missing item?

• In a vault or secure location
• Near the fridge

 
…a color? Yellow
 
…a movie theme? Greed; missed opportunity

• Wonder Woman 1984
• The Producers
• Ocean’s Eleven

 
…a new career?

• Wall street broker
• Used car salesman
• News anchor
• business startup

Ace of Pentacles reversed
Before any card: A missed opportunity involving (card)
After any card: Greed; instability

For more on the reversed Ace of Pentacles, read Applied Tarot Reversed. Free on Kindle Unlimited. 

​The Pentacles are about earthly, physical, material things. It is money and careers, belongings and luxury, babies and nature, and everything we can touch with our physical senses.

Therefore, pulling the Ace of Pentacles in a reading is an extremely positive message about an upcoming productive or rewarding period in your life.
Because Pentacles represent so many visible aspects of our physical world, it is awfully hard to simplify the Pentacle cards down to one or two tangible items - because they represent all the tangible items in the world!

Questions answered by Ace of Pentacles:
Who? A baby 
What? A gift; A dollar
Where? In the garden
When? Now; Spring (Northern Hemisphere) or Autumn (Southern Hemisphere)
Why? It is time to strengthen your roots
Yes or No? Yes
 
Before any card: A gift involving (card)
After any card: Shopping, investing, new acquisitions

The Ace of Pentacles as:
...an action?

• Ground yourself
• Give or receive a gift
• Do some shopping
• Sell your wares

 
...a place in your house?

• A piggy bank
• A plant
• The baby's room

 
...a place in your city?

• The ATM
• The supermarket
• A department store

...a place in the world?

• Ethiopia
• The Amazon or Nile river
• Norway
• The Congo
• A safari

...something to eat?

• Corn or Maize
• Roots, seeds, berries

...something to clean?

• Water the plants
• Bathe the baby

 
...where to find the missing item?

• Near your money

...a color? Earth tones
 
...a movie theme? Opportunity, investing

• The Big Short
• The Producers
• The Social Network

 
...a new career?

• Property owner or real estate worker
• Landscaper or gardener
• Retail cashier, restaurant busboy
• business startup

Ace of Pentacles combinations
With Moon: Prosperity comes at the end of a long and arduous journey. Trust your intuition.
With Two of Wands: A new adult leaves the home to venture out on their own.
With Knight of Cups: A romantic fool dives in - a new relationship is born.
With Page of Swords: A curious mind finds treasure.
With Seven of Pentacles: Keep persevering - rewards are coming soon; tangible results may be apparent at the end of May.

Find out more about the Ace of Pentacles and other divinatory things