posted January 20, 2013 07:09 PM            

She quit a PhD abroad, decided to get pregnant, came back to have the baby here because of their "bad planning", her husband and her are jobless, the baby is almost 3 months old now, and her savings are now smaller than his, it the family is concerned because it seems she has invested more financially in this new family of theirs than him.

The king of pentacles, the hermit and the 10 of swords make total sense.
The six of pentacles means to me she will depend on others to get a job, but then I start having other ideas about its meaning. I'm afraid I am being partial.
Any other views on these two cards ?

Past: King of Pentacles - you were in a stable, safe and prosperous situation

Present: The Hermit - you are alone, looking into yourself in order to develop yourself and find your path on you own, and making use of what you have learnt

Future: Six of Pentacles

Advice: 10 of Swords + Hierophant

let go the plans that did not work out, the failures, losses, sensation of being the victim and powerless. Accept the current circumstances and let changes happen.
Find out what is right for you, plan it and do it.

posted January 21, 2013 07:31 PM            

I think the cards can be read from different angles, perspectives and levels. The cards here show that there was quite a bit of weighing up to make the decision to have the baby, and it was a considered decision based on your sister's age and the importance of the relationship to her.

It seems to me that she has chosen well, and now she will have to become extra ingenious and resourceful to aim towards 'having it all', which she seems capable of doing. The relationship seems sound enough to me. And I would add that somehow the guy is offsetting his 'contributions' and it doesn't seem the full picture to say that she has invested more into the new family member.

They have a rich relationship in terms or relationship qualities and the baby is an important adjunct to them.

I think its just part of your sister's journey in life. The worst decision would be to stay. She needs to try and get back to what she was doing pre-baby, but it will be modified and this as I said may be in terms of location of place of academic certification, or an altered path to achieving the same or similar.

The six of pentacles feels like a combination of assistance that could include maximising financial assistance from any grants/government allowances, as well as perhaps gaining a scholarship.

posted January 21, 2013 07:39 PM            

In terms of her journey your interpretation of the 6 of pentacles makes sense too, she invested a lot of money she worked hard to earn for years, in this phd abroad and didn't really dedicate herself enough, did not like the institution, the people, and was distracted by her boyfriend (then husband) pursuit of her while she was there, and she thought she could do the phd in a slow pace, and at the same time have the baby, but she did not get all the information and did not plan it as she should, plus she started to abandon the course - so a plan that did not work out (10 swords) despite all this I think she still does not regret quitting, she says she can do the another phd here later... Anyway her relation with money seems to be changing

Well we can do another reading asking what she can do to ensure herself a good income :-) There is no one really who can support her, unless her husband starts to spend his savings and get a job immediately.

When you say complete restart followed by educational pursuit - we live in the capital of the country, so the better/most jobs are in the government, and people's lives consist of taking (expensive preparatory courses) and studying a lot to pass the entrance examinations of different careers, most of them are a written test (or several phases of tests). And when they pass and start working, they start studying to a higher paying one ! :-) Perhaps this could be considered the advice of the Hierophant ?

**editing - Just to clarify, she is back in our home country. My mother and I live in the capital. She came back one month before the baby was born, to have the baby in the city where we live, as she realized it was not going to be possible to deliver the baby there. The husband was trying to be transfered by the job he got there, to their office in our country - but in another city. Recently she told us even though he was transferred, the company planned a big staff cut and he was in the list. But until a couple of days ago she said they had not formalized it yet (it seemes the company is disorganized). Anyway, withouth that job, it seems to make more sense for them to live here. THey were supposed to borrow an apartment from his family there, and this did not work out as well.

posted January 21, 2013 08:35 PM            

As a government employee depending on the institution she can do her phd and earn a salary (this is what a couple of people I know are doing). Now that she is sleeping a bit more I hope she will be able to organize her mind and take the necessary steps.

We do have reservations concerning her husband, as he has shown himself to be selfish and not treat her well (nor my mother, not me the only time I met him in the past), he has self-affirmation issues, and other things.

Sometimes my mother says she overcompensates for something - anxiety ? insecurity ? But not by spending money, but by eating. I think she eats because she is hungry ! :-) while she was abroad, from everything she told, I think she spent her money paying tuition and living expenses. She did not buy clothes, things, travel or went out, just a little. And now she doesn't spend on anything but on living expenses of course. But they didnt even want to buy the baby a cradle, to save money. She bought it when he was becoming too big for the baby stroller.... After the first days he slept in the cradle she realized the new born baby had been unconfortable in the stroller for more than a month maybe two. My mother gave her a plastic table because she did not have one and was not going to buy any. She said her husband has just a few clothes and that he spends his money only on books. I have the impression he doesnt like to go out. It seems to me a spartan life is ok to him and he doesnt like to spend any money in general.