Pause and Pay Attention

From the Shining Tribe Tarot, the Seven of Stones (Pentacles); from the Animal Tiles, the Green Anole:

          Pollack explains the top of the image as her rendition of the Saptamatrikas, or Seven Mothers of India. Interesting that they also resemble tadpoles and a line of eggs (toads lay their eggs in strands rather than clusters like frogs). The toad at the bottom was in earlier times associated with a woman in labor, squatting as she brings forth a child. Considering this illustration with the RWS version of the Seven of Pentacles, this card makes me remember brief moments between contractions of trying to relax and catch my breath. The Green Anole is shown with his bright pink dewlap extended; it is a warning to other males to stay away from his territory. Anoles have two ways to protect themselves: camouflage (changing from bright green to dark brown) and autotomic tails (which break off and continue to wiggle to distract predators). Both the draws today suggest that the labor-intensive work already done should be protected so all that effort does not go to waste. It's time to pause and pay attention to what might become a complication or a threat.