There's a saying that I believe is attributed to Will Rogers:

There are three kinds of men. The ones that learn by readin'. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.

The latter is the Page of Pentacles. This one needs to put theories to the test, check out the results, and get his hands dirty in the process. He wants results from his efforts and he doesn't much care how long or arduous the process is to get them. He's got time, he's not in a rush, his motto is "Anything worth doing is worth doing well." As a result, this Page has garnered the reputation of The Student.

The image to the right is from the Hudes Tarot Deck. He is dressed not unlike a university student of days past, cap and gown. In this deck, Hudes used marbelized and florentine paper patterns such as found in the end leafs of books to distinguish the different suits. In this image she used the pattern of the pentacles suit on the Page's cap to, I believe, symbolize his quest for knowledge. He has a firm grasp on the marbelized pentacle, which guides his direction to things known. In order for him to learn, he must be able to grasp it in his hands, see it with his eyes. Knowledge is tangible to him and without proof, he is unlikely to believe or even understand it very well. To him, the end result is what is most important, to work towards a solid goal, to see the reward. His focus is on the practical, the earthly rather than the esoteric.

You can depend on this one. He will get the job done. It might take him a really long time, though, because he will have to do every step just so. He'll have to learn as he goes, too, and that will take some more time. He's not about to skip a step or take an untried shortcut. And he probably won't take someone else's word for it, either. If he hasn't already done something, he's going to meticulously research it first, compare prices, look up reports, check out the competition, watch trends. He was probably the one who came up with the rule: "Measure twice, cut once." He is most unlike the Page of Wands who acts first, then thinks. That's because being a Page his element is earth and being pentacles, which is also earth, he is "earth of earth." Good grief, this one is as slow as molasses.

As one who is always regretting she didn't use a level first and mark the placement on the wall before hanging a framed picture, I have an appreciation for this Page. I should be so thorough. I am also a perennial student. In fact, after a twenty-year hiatus, I recently began attending college again last year. After that long a break, it all seemed new again and I was definitely in the seat of The Student once again. While this Page's meticulousness is not my overall style, I can definitely see his usefulness once in a while, especially where certain projects are concerned. So when he appears in a reading he may be advising you to slow down, take notes, research and learn more about what you want to do before you do it. Understand that if you want something worthwhile, it's going to take some time and diligent effort. Good things come to those who patiently attend to the task and don't skip any steps. Conversely, if you tend to always play the student, he might be asking you if you aren't feeling a bit inferior to someone else, not allowing your own ideas and skill to come to the fore.

As a messenger, this Page brings actual, tangible messages. Real mail in your mailbox. A bouquet of roses at your office or tickets to a concert or other event. He brings news of money matters, both increase and loss. A dear friend of mine, concerned about me being down in the dumps, once played the Page of Pentacles with a delivery of gingerbread scones with maple butter and a sweet card deposited at my door early one morning. The message was kind and uplifting, but oh, were those scones delicious! She certainly did brighten my day in a very real and tangible way. So, you see, the Page of Pentacles often brings something you need, or want, or need to know, and what's great about his messages is they come with a gift you can taste, feel, hold, or use.

Hudes Tarot Deck by Susan Hudes Published by US Games Copyright 1995