The culmination of the Court cards is the King of Pentacles, and there are some major differences that set him apart from the Page, the Knight, and his Queen.  These differences demonstrate the final mastery of the element of Earth and what we can expect as we “come into our own” in the realm of the earth sphere.

The King is the first card in the court cards to use only one hand to handle the element of the suit.  The pentacle is balanced on his knee, and the other hand holds a sceptre.  The sceptre is a symbol of his rule, but also alludes to the balancing of masculine and feminine energies (the ball/orb — feminine, and the rod/staff — masculine).  The sceptre denotes his station as the protector and provider of those over whom he is ruler.  He has a duty to make available to all in his realm the fruits of the Earth. Also, notice that he is the only court card to have his hand OVER the pentacle, holding it down, firmly under his control and yet balanced on its edge.  All the other court cards in the suit hold the pentacles in the receptive position (cupped hands).  Only the King knows the limits of the power he wields and takes control of it.  He is wise enough to know that his control over the element must be “balanced” and that “control” is something defined by how one handles the “edge” of reality.  The King casts a watchful eye over the symbol of his demesnes, however, he holds that symbol lightly, balanced, and is “on top” of the situation.

The grapes that have shown up elsewhere in the Pentacles suit are present here in the rich robe of the King.  Gone are the representative colors of the Court cards.  Here the King is the fruits of the land itself.  He is one with the land, one with what the land has produced, and as such, the fertility of the land is strongly tied to his own fertility.  The throne is made of black stone, perhaps obsidian.  Qabalah students know this as the color of Binah, the black pillar, the Universal Mother.  Like the black land of Egypt known as Kemet, like the throne symbol that represents Isis, Egypt’s Great Mother, the King personifies the land and is given sovreignity and support by the Great Mother.

The bulls on his throne represent Taurus, the fixed astrological sign of Earth (incidentally, a feminine sign).  This King isn’t going anywhere.  Work based in Taurus is especially long-lasting.  As visible in the background, stone is also especially long-lasting.  Not only does it seem as if the throne is made of stone, but the wall that encompasses his garden and the city beyond are also made of stone.  The King of Pentacles speaks of permanence, solidity, and generosity for the betterment of all.  The lower nature (the head of the wild boar beneath the King’s foot) has been subverted and the power of that nature (for boars are extremely powerful) has been put to controlled use.  The King still wears his armor from his growth as a Knight; these Knightly skills may be hidden beneath the new role he performs, however, these skills have strengthened him and now invisibly protect him during his reign.  The results are obvious.  The King is master here, crowned with the laurels of victory.  Long live the King!

Lessons From The King: Culmination of power in a skill is exemplified through control and balance, mastery of a skill automatically requires its use for the benefit of others, work within the earth sphere brings mastery within the earth sphere, one’s ability to rule the element of earth internally is directly dependent upon sanctification and support from connection with the Mother Goddess (Binah — the principle of Severity that allows the King to be Merciful), mastery of any skill requires the careful control of the powerful-yet-untamed parts of ourself that can “run wild” against our will.

Next entry in Pentacle Power Series:  In Closing…

Photo of King of Pentacles card, art by Pamela Colman Smith under direction of A.E. Waite, originally published by the Rider Company, 1909.