This is a card of…

Apprenticeship

Skill building

Duty

Education

Absorption

“The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”

-Martin Luther

Known as the “apprentice” card, the Eight of Disks speaks of the joy of working toward mastery of a craft.

This is not tedium and drudgery but the sublime feeling of being lost in our work; hyper-alert to the task at hand and untempted by any distraction. When the building of a skill through practice becomes a meditative connection between our spiritual self and the material world, we are living the Eight of Disks.

All forms of practical hands-on learning are indicated, along with repetitive tasks that nonetheless keep us alert and improving.

If this card makes you think of the work you are involved in right now: congratulations! You are on the right track and it is a wonderful time. If you feel like this element is missing in your life, sit quietly and seek in yourself where you might find it.