Ritual for understanding inheritance using the Ten of Pentacles

The traditional Ten of Pentacles card shows a family scene with multiple generations. It represents fulfillment and completeness in the realm of Earth, meaning especially inheritance. In this ritual we will work with the idea of inheritance in a sense that includes a lot more than just money and physical possessions. For this ritual we take time to see ourselves as occupying a present moment between past and future, where we understand how the past has shaped the present and also how we have the opportunity to affect the world that we will pass on to those who come after us.

Materials: For this ritual you will need ten pennies and the Ten of Pentacles card from your favorite Tarot deck or an image printed out from online. Ten small stones would also work, but pennies are a better representation of the pentacles in the card.

Ritual:

Ground and center yourself.

Cast the circle:

I cast the circle in this time and place to acknowledge the wisdom of the past.
I cast the circle in this time and place to do my work in the present.
I cast the circle in this time and place to prepare the way for the future.

Call the Quarters:

Powers of the East, Element of Air, let me hear the wisdom of the past, speak my own words, and listen for what is yet to come.
Powers of the South, Element of Fire, help me to consume what has been, to transform it in the moment, and to use it to light my way forward.
Powers of the West, Element of Water, wash through me with the love of those who have been, help me flow with my own emotions, and continue the current into the future.
Powers of the North, Element of Earth, you hold the bones of our ancestors, you give form to our bodies, and out of you will grow the potential of what is yet to come.

Invite the Goddess:

Goddess, ever-present one, you have ever been and ever yet will be. In this moment, help me connect with what has been and what will be. Steady me as I understand my place in the ever-moving flow of time.

Sit in the center of your circle and arrange your materials: put the Tarot card in front of you and pile up five pennies on the left and five pennies on the right. The center space represents the present moment, the left the past, and the right the future.

Reflect on what you have received from the past. What can you consider part of your inheritance? This is not just things you have received, or what you have gotten from your blood ancestors. Think about people who have been mentors, elders, resources, or guides for you: what did they gift to you? Think about what you’ve received even from people you never met; many of us honor our forebears in the Goddess movement, for example. What about the experiences you have had with your family of choice?

As you reflect on these things, choose one thing you have inherited, name it out loud, and move a penny from the pile on the left onto the card. Repeat until all five pennies representing your inheritance from the past are on the card.

Hold your hands over the card and pennies and give thanks for what you have inherited and how it has shaped your life.

Now reflect on what you can pass on to others. Will you give them love, physical care, teaching, something you make, or simply your presence? How will you do things that will be remembered, even by one person, or even by people who do not know your name?

Choose one way you will shape the world for others to inherit, name it out loud, and move a penny from the pile on the right onto the card, stacking it on top of one of the ones already there. Repeat until all five pennies representing what you will give to the future are on the card.

Hold your hands over the card and pennies and give thanks for the opportunity to pass on your gifts, and ask for Goddess’ help in doing so if you wish.

Ground and center yourself again.

Thank and release Goddess:

Goddess of the waxing and waning moon, present in all moments and moving through all our times, thank you for your help and love tonight. Let me always use the present moment to continue the chain of transmission of gifts.

Thank and dismiss the Quarters:

Powers of the East, Element of Air, I honor your wisdom; help me pass it on. Go now with my thanks and praise!

Powers of the South, Element of Fire, I honor your transmutation; help me to do the same. Go now with my thanks and praise!

Powers of the West, Element of Water, I honor your current of love; help me to move it forward. Go now with my thanks and praise!

Powers of the North, Element of Earth, I honor your shaping of our very substance; help me to use it well. Go now with my thanks and praise!

Open the circle, and ground and center yourself again.

You may wish to do something special with your pennies, whether that is keeping them for future use, giving them to charity, or giving them to your landbase. You may also wish to journal about your reflections and commitments in this ritual.