Sweet Center Filling

From the Hoi Polloi Tarot, the Nine of Pentacles; from the I Ching Pack, "Mountain over Fire:"

These two cards remind me of my daughter when she was a toddler, and the way she used to eat Oreos. She would lick the creamy filling out and carefully place the two cookie halves back together. Unless you looked closely, they appeared to be whole. The woman in the Nine of Pentacles has put forth the self-discipline and effort to create a life of comfortable independence. The second card, Mountain over Fire, shows a woman trying to look her best through makeup, clothes and hairstyles. The hexagram's keyword is "beauty," but it is not the outward variety. The book describes a "hidden" fire in the valley; a beauty of the inner self - grace, mercy, compassion and kindness - should be developed. These cards suggest that while making sure my physical needs are taken care of, I also must nurture my spiritual growth too. Otherwise I'm going to be a well-preserved cookie without the sweet center.