Just finished up the Seven of Pentacles, a fortunate card full of positive returns on your investments financial and otherwise! Beware of its reversal, though, for you may lose what you’ve gained. Nothing’s a sure bet, so it’s important to keep an eye on what you’re putting your time, money and effort toward. Will your garden flower, or will you become entangled in the vines?

This is the 47th card completed; in another five assemblages I’ll be 2/3 of the way done! I wasn’t due to be at that point until the beginning of September, so I am making really good time. And I just got another shipment of skulls for future assemblages, so I have plenty to keep me busy. I’m so excited!!!

Just a quick note as I have an art show this upcoming weekend and I’m busy with prepwork–here’s the Page of Pentacles, featuring a weasel skull and vertebra! I chose this critter since the card’s symbolism is about bounding into new opportunities and having the energy to chase one’s goals. Weasels are active little creatures, seemingly overflowing with more energy than their small, lithe bodies can seemingly contain, and the Page of Pentacles has tons of enthusiasm for his goals. So the imagery of a weasel focused on the hunt–often chasing prey larger than it is–is what came to mind when I was meditating on this card.

Reversed, it can signify any of a number of obstacles keeping you from your desires. Your efforts may not be paying off enough, or you just might not be putting in enough time or resources. You may also have chosen a path that simply doesn’t fit you.

I just finished up the Six of Pentacles–which, in some ways, looks like the Four of Pentacles from yesterday. Both include deer vertebrae radiating out from the center of the piece. However, in the Four, the bones are bound together at the center, more on display than free to roam. The bones of the Six have no such restrictions, and may be sent out into the world to share generosity wherever they go.

And that’s really the central message of this card: share the wealth. It’s important to have your own needs met, to be sure. But once you get to a point of comfort, you may wish to help others through gifts or loans of your money and other resources. Beware of this card reversed, though–the loans and gifts may come with hidden strings of stinginess, power or resentment.

Here’s the 42nd assemblage for the Tarot of Bones, the Four of Pentacles! This card often represents possession of resources and a desire for control. Reversed, it may mean greed, materialism and selfishness even in times of abundance.

This was a fun card to make; it called for layering and texture, and between the paint, burlap, coyote hide and pine cone scales I’m rather happy with the result. Also, if you notice the four bones are tied together at the center, representing the desire to control one’s resources.

Just a quick note to let y’all know that I completed the 41st assemblage today, the Hanged Man! I chose a resin replica skull of a Southern two-toed sloth for this card. The Hanged Man represents slowing your pace so you can consider a situation more carefully and perhaps even get a better perspective (to include upside-down, as sloths often are!) Reversed, it may mean that your efforts are not fruitful, or that you’re being so introspective that you’ve crossed right over into selfishness.

I’ll be starting the next assemblage tonight or tomorrow, so hopefully I should have it completed by the end of the week.

Last night I finished up the Knight of Pentacles–which means that I am officially halfway through the 78 assemblages for the Tarot of Bones! AND I’m a month ahead of my production schedule! Woohoo!!!!!!! many thanks to everyone who’s been cheering me on as I’ve continued this Great Work; you make everything easier, you know that?

The Knight of Pentacles is an appropriate card for this moment. He is not the flashy show-off that the Knight of Wands is, and he isn’t prone to nip like the Knight of Swords. Rather, he steadily works in the fields, directing laborers and protecting them. In the same way, the Columbian ground squirrel acts as a sentinel toward his or her neighbors. While these pudgy rodents need to eat, groom and otherwise attend to daily activities, the largest portion of their waking time is spent sitting on a mound or other raised surface, keeping an eye out for trouble. If a threat is seen, an alarm goes out and everyone dashes for cover. Over time, this creates a setting where young ground squirrels can grow up, where everyone can have a chance to eat, and where, with luck, the entire colony can grow and be successful. But it all relies on some individuals taking on the mantle of the Knight of Pentacles, embodying diligence and patience.

And so I try to embody the same sense of patience and diligence. The Tarot of Bones has taken up a lot of my time these past five months, and while I don’t regret it, sometimes it can be tough to return to the pieces on the workbench when there are so many other art projects to work on. Like the ground squirrel, I take my breaks and care for myself. But then it’s back to the task at hand. At least what I’m doing is a lot more fun than sitting around keeping an eye out for hawks and coyotes!

Hi, all! Sorry I’ve been quiet the past few days; I needed a bit of a break after all that end-of-the-IndieGoGo-campaign craziness, and making over a dozen assemblages in less than a month. But I’m back at it, and here’s the 38th piece, the Eight of Cups! That means just one more before I’m halfway done with the assemblages, and I’m a month ahead of schedule to boot.