Suit of Earth (Pentacles)
In Denizens of Earth, the four minor suits are represented by their elemental names, fire, water, earth, air rather than the traditional tarot suit names, wands, cups, pentacles and swords. Below are two infographics which illustrate this. Additionally, in Rider-Waite decks the court cards are King, Queen, Knight and Page, in this deck those court cards are Father, Mother, Guardian and Child respectfully. For each of the minor cards, there is a brief explanation and then some keywords for your readings in bold.
father of earth
t. thoreyi | Dragonfly
Dragonflies have been a popular decorative motif around the world for centuries. Some indigenous American tribes in the southwest associate dragonflies with transformation. They called dragonflies snake doctors because they believed they followed injured snakes into the ground to heal them.
Healing transformation, security, abundance.
mother of earth
l. mactans | Black Widow
The female black widow spider has a reputation for killing her partner after mating. Studies have indicated that this behavior may promote the survival odds of the offspring. Sexual cannibalism has been observed more often in laboratory cages where the males could not escape.
Pragmatic, nurturing, financially responsible.
guardian of earth
s. sacer | Sacred Scarab
Scarab beetles or dung beetles were particularly important to the ancient Egyptians. Scarab beetles eat their dung balls, and lay their eggs in them so in turn, their newly hatched young can feed on it in a very practical cycle of rebirth.
Hard work, productive routines, renewal.
child of earth
a. mellifera | Western Honey Bee
Honey bees live their lives in a very structured balance with their hive. They are born with purpose and work together to survive. Honey bees give the world the gift of pollination and create honey in surplus to share as well.
Manifestation, fulfillment of one’s potential, dedication.
ace.
s. alba | White Mustard
Harvested for their pungent seeds, mustard is also grown in rotation with other crops to prevent diseases and other ailments from spreading through the fields. The leaves of the white mustard plant are edible and it’s also often grown as ground cover for grazing animals.
Opportunity, bounty, prosperity.
two.
i. germanica | Bearded Iris
Iris, in Greek mythology, is the personification of rainbows and a messenger of the gods. She had the additional responsibility of carrying water from the River Styx in a vase whenever the gods had to take a solemn oath. The water would render unconscious for one year any god or goddess who lied.
Wisdom, adaptability, regulation.
three.
t. baccata | English Yew
Yew trees were sacred to the Druids, old yew’s drooping branches can take root where they touch the earth creating new trees. For this reason, in Celtic culture yew trees symbolize rebirth or resurrection.
Old knowledge, understanding, collaboration.
four.
t. vulgaris | Common Thyme
The name Thyme comes from the Greek “thymos” meaning spirit or smoke. Properties attributed to thyme by the Greeks included the giving of strength and bravery.
Security, control, stability.
five.
v. officinalis | Valerian
The Latin “valere”, means “to be strong” or “to be healthy”, valerian is mostly used for its calming properties. The plant has been used to treat anxiety, depression, and headaches for centuries.
Worry, disquiet, disturbance.
six.
j. officinale | Jasmine
The name Jasmine originates from the Arabic-Persian word ysmin or yzmin, which means a scented flower. White is the most common color and symbolizes purity of heart, innocence, generosity.
Benevolence, self-sacrifice, naive.
seven.
e. aureum | Devil’s Ivy
Devil's Ivy is a popular houseplant as it’s very hardy, easy to propagate and isn’t picky about being over or under watered. It’s a plant I associate with my mom since she’s always had at least a few of these plants in our home since I was very young.
Sustainability, practicality, perseverance.
eight.
l. vulgare | Ox-Eye Daisy
In Norse mythology, the daisy is Freya’s sacred flower. Freya is the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, and as such the daisy came to symbolize new mothers and new beginnings.
Neophyte, learning, fledgling.
nine.
c. sativus | Saffron Crocus
Human cultivation of saffron has taken place for more than 3,500 years and spans different cultures, continents, and civilizations. Saffron is the most valuable spice by weight.
Abundance, luxury, affluence.
ten.
t. aestivum | Common Wheat
Wheat is a long-standing symbol of fertility, bounty and resurrection. This symbolic association dates to the earliest days of Western civilization. Cultivation of wheat in order to produce bread created the ability to have surplus food and therefore sustain greater numbers of people.
Wealth, lasting success, family.