Three of Pentacles
The "Three of Pentacles" is near and dear to my own heart. As a fiber artist, I personally KNOW the feeling of joy regarding a job-well-done that the artist in this card is displaying. Such pride of accomplishment is felt after, and most importantly during the journey of, years of hard work and study...not from a flippant nod to a subject, but from instead in-depth research requiring discipline and perseverance. I have always felt blessed to have discovered and been allowed to work on what I'm impassioned about, knowing full well that not everyone, even after a lifetime, finds their passion(s)...or even if they do find their passions, aren't in a position to act on them.
Unlike the gentleman depicted in this card, I've not become particularly wealthy from a material standpoint (as Robin points out in her book, the rich clothing this artist wears). But I have been gifted with that which goes beyond the material and feel that wealth can be much more than monetary...including piece of mind that I am working at what's best for me and my situation in life.
If this card comes up in a reading (of course, depending on where it falls in whatever spread and whether it's reversed or not), I ponder the following questions among others: Is the querent joyful in their present work or would something else make them happier?; Is the querent getting proper recognition for their work?; Has the querent done their job well or could they try harder, albeit even to the point of redoing something?; Might an attitude change at work be necessary?; Should further study be in order to insure happiness in work?; etc.
It's so beautiful that Robin drew on the artist's head a scarf from Russia that holds sentimental value to her personally. I have found that artists, in general, are often lovingly romantic and sentimental...finding beauty beyond that which the mass public holds near and dear. Sometimes this card showing up in a reading reminds me that what's truly important in life is not what's obvious to others, it's what's in one's own heart.