Nine of Earth
The Nine of Earth energies prompt: Savor the fruit of paradise. peace and plenty. Celebrate wealth by giving. The hidden star of hope sustains us.
Nine of Earth: Pentacles
The Nine of Earth energies manifest in the Apple Tree.
Apple
Reciprocity is the key to sustainability. Restraint and self-control with your bounty lead to community abundance. Measure your wealth by what you have to give.
Apple is an ancient tree that contributes to the well-being of both the land and the people. Living to over one hundred years, apple trees supply branches for fencing material, they welcome pollinators, bear hundreds of pounds of fruit each season, and provide cold-prevention medicine with leaves and blossoms.
Though harvested in fall, apples last into the spring when properly stored. When you care for you resources with intention, you can feed more than yourself. Apples cut in half reveal a five-pointed star.
Believe in the magic of the earth.
Qualities
| Positive | Negative |
| independence success financial stability/ security profit prosperity wealth property abundance rewards through hard work collecting on investments thriving business status freedom wisdom maturity indulgence | lack of independence/ stability/ security reckless spending shady investments |
Crafting With the Nine of Earth
The Nine energies feature fruit bearing trees. They are the treasures of the sustainable food forest. Fruit trees are often the central point on a guild, a permaculture term used to describe a grouping of plants grown together to increase longevity, production, and sustainability. The trees are supported and surrounded by ground covers. understory herbs and vegetables, pollinators and more. These trees are beneficial to all beings. They stand by themselves yet in service to the whole.
The plants of the nines celebrate the herbcrafter’s triumphs. She is now able to enjoy the fruits of her labor. She is able to handle her grief, is nurtured and taken care of, and is able to nurture others without depleting herself. The maturity of the Nines is made possible by saying “yes” to the invitation of the Sevens and overcoming the challenges of the Eights. The Nines also represent the culmination of the herbcrafter’s adventures through the three minidramas. She has been introduced to the ways of the healing plants and learned to work well with others. Now, she revels in the completion of her journey. In the Nines, the herbcrafter awakens to the power of the soul.
Craft
- Give an offering of gratitude to the apple tree as you gather fruit to store for winter.
- Make extra applesauce and share with friends.
- String garlands of dried apple rings as reminders of the hidden stars of hope.
Mini Meditation
Meditation
Get into a relaxing position and close your eyes, make sure you are a comfortable temperature and not likely to be interrupted.
- Take three deep breaths
- Feel your tension melting away.
Imagine yourself doing one of the crafts mentioned above. Use your imagination. Make it as elaborate or as simple as you like. Have whomever you would like to be there come and share the time with you.
Imagine what it would look and feel like, as if it were really happening. Use your five senses and imagine all the sensory details as though you are really there.
Be creative and indulge in this moment.
Spend as long as you like in this visualization and feel the benefits of crafting with nature. Think about your meditation as often as you like as you go through your day. If possible, create it in reality.
The Herbcrafter
Herbcrafter
An herbcrafter is an afficianada of the botanical realm. She is in love with plants and longs to know them more deeply.
Her approach is driven by a playful, wild spirit.
The herbcrafter embraces the plant world as her teacher and friend through observation and botany, gardening and wildcrafting, medicine and kitchen craft, fiber arts and weaving, art and magic.
She recognizes herself as part of nature. She seeks reciprocity in all things. Through the relationship with the botanical world, she learns how plants and people can be of service to one another.
Gratitude builds a bridge to abundance.
Roy Bennett