In the Hermetic tradition, the Two of Pentacles is known as The Lord of Harmonious Change. This change is a material one. It is a transition in fortune, a domestic situation, or an occupation. This card applies to something highly practical and relevant to daily living. Harmonious, in this case, does not necessarily mean easy or without pushback. What it means is stagnation is not an option. Movement is happening and the challenge is to harness that momentum to leverage your cause or point of view.
A common saying, put your back into it, comes to mind.
The unsteady waters in the background of the Pamela Colman Smith card show us that our effort in steering our ship will be required and our knowledge of navigating the general waves of life will be put to use. A common saying, put your back into it, comes to mind. This card is active, it needs our attentive participation. The payoff, however, is greater than the sum of its parts.
Erin Brockovich is a cultural icon who exists both as a real person and as a character fictionalized by Hollywood. In both cases, she is a larger-than-life figure. Known for her work as an activist advocating for those harmed by toxic waste, her story has become part of a wide, collective imagination.
…requires her to actively insist on putting her self-respect ahead of seemingly safer options.
What stands out in the fictionalized story of Erin Brockovich is this, at every turn in her story she is presented with an obstacle that requires her to actively insist on putting her self-respect ahead of seemingly safer options. Her unwavering dedication to her own worth is both her magical power and a theme-obstacle against which she must be relentless.
In the film, Erin Brockovich juggles the pentacles we see in the card and she keeps her feet moving throughout the proceedings of a real-world court but also through her archetypal trial. We can think of that tall cap as a symbol of her big mind thinking it all through. She uses the momentum of a case already proceeding through the court system to leverage a platform for survivors of careless destruction to launch a case of their own.
At the end of this story, the settlement awarded to plaintiffs in the case of Hinkley vs. PG&E was the largest in a direct-action lawsuit in United States history.
PG&E claims to have made permanent changes that prevent the problem from recurring.
Erin Brockovich then enters into a career path based on the success she attains by creating dramatic material change for others and herself. As a living legend, she carries on with her work.
Only an archetype with an origin story that includes the struggle to be regarded with worth can fully understand the deeper obstacle facing communities that must fight back against toxic dumping.
May we lean all the way into dignity for all as non-negotiable.
Author of Daydream Tarot: A Basic Guide for Visionaries
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