Three of Pentacles (Agatha theory P2)

Welcome back, adventurers!

We are now in Week 2 of our deep dive into the tarot cards from Agatha All Along. Three of Pentacles. This was the first card that Lilia randomly called out in Episode 2, right before she wrote down the coven list.

The Three of Pentacles card represents a group working together to achieve success. This card highlights the importance of both teamwork and personal dedication in achieving a goal. It’s extremely close to the original card, but let’s identify the differences.

The Pillars

In the original card, we see a Doric column, one of the oldest and most standard styles of pillar. The Doric column is a sturdy, unadorned structure that symbolizes power and resilience. It’s also thicker and heavier than other column styles, like the Ionic and Corinthian. The plain, straightforward design is a symbol of discipline and practicality. It is considered a very masculine design, reflecting the Greeks’ values of strength and durability.

If you notice in the Agatha card, their pillar is a specific swirled style called “Solomonic.” Many have related this swirling pillar style to spiritual purification, representing the journey of enlightenment. The center of the spiral represents the consciousness traveling a labyrinth of trials resulting in growth. If that’s not an obvious nod to the purpose of the Road, then I don’t know what is. (Over the centuries, the Solomonic column shape was incorporated into Byzantine, Moorish, Islamic, Romanesque, Baroque, American Spanish Revival, and Spanish Mission styles.)

Also, Agatha and Rio seem almost to merge with the pillar, hinting at a history between them that binds them to the Road. (Nicholas) Their entwined forms suggest that their journey is deeply interconnected, as if they’re drawn together by fate or unfinished business. (Also Nicholas)

Circle of Witches

Obviously, there is a vast difference between the three men in the original card compared to the joined circle of Marvel’s card. On the original card, we see an apprentice in the process of building a cathedral, while a priest and a nobleman review his work. They’re intently focused on him, respecting his knowledge and taking in what he has to say. Even though the apprentice lacks the experience of the other two, they understand his input is crucial to the success of the entire project.

When you look at Marvel’s card, we see the coven standing in a circle around the pillar with their hands interlocked. As many have already said, this almost directly represents the moment in Episode 2 when they grab hands and start singing.

BUT there are some differences from that as well. Notice that Rio, not Mrs. Hart (who’s Sharon?) is standing with them in the circle.

There are a few theories floating around (including my own) that say Rio has been glamouring as Mrs. Hart the entire time. My theory is that Mrs. Hart passed away earlier, and Rio, as a servant of Death, was the one who reaped her soul. This would mean that Rio not only carries her memories but also plays Sharon’s role seamlessly in their trials. The hallucination during the Water trial would still have been Sharon’s memory, blending seamlessly with Rio’s new role.

Also, notice that Teen is standing in the circle with them. Before they began singing the Ballad, Agatha shooed him out of the room, and he had to face off with the Salem Seven. Is this card a vision of things yet to come? Perhaps Teen’s future initiation into their circle, which suggests a deeper connection between him and the coven, beyond just being a bystander.

Final mention: all of the other witches are wearing the colors of their trial, EXCEPT for Jen. She’s wearing pink, and Teen is actually wearing blue. This color choice could be intentional, emphasizing that Jen’s trial hinged on Teen’s involvement.

Without him, her trial might have failed, since they all drank the wine and he, being underage, was the only one who didn’t. It’s almost as if Teen was integral to the whole thing!

The Arch

This is an extremely subtle message, but I think it’s important to mention. In the original drawing, the arch is smooth, simple, and clean. The spiritual meaning for arches varies across cultures and time periods, but they most often represent a connection between the earthly and divine.

More specifically, in mythology, arches represent the door between time and space through which one passes to enter another world. In the original art, it makes complete sense to have an arch inside a cathedral. Why would they use this symbology for the Witches’ Road? Unless it’s an actual other realm disconnected from our own. (It’s not. It was Billy All Along!)

In the Marvel version, it’s a type of style called a “pointed arch,” which is a symbol of strength and stability. It’s also made of brick, which requires a very significant piece to maintain the architecture called the “keystone.” In architecture, the keystone is the wedge-shaped stone at the very top center of an arch that locks the other pieces in place. It’s the most important stone in the arch and without it, the entire structure would collapse.

Agatha and Rio are positioned directly beneath the keystone, hinting that their reconciliation was the core message of the show. The show seems to insist they confront this tension, as if the fate of the magical world rests on their ability to mend what’s broken.

Keep your mind open and I’ll see you next week!

Love to all of you,

– The Researcher –