Minor Arcana - Pentacles - Part 1
The Pentacle Suit in the Tarot deck corresponds to the Diamonds in the regular playing card deck. Pentacles represent material possessions, industry, business, commerce, trade, finances, and security. They deal with the external level of consciousness. Pentacles mirror the outer situations of your health, finances, work, and creativity.
Pentacles represent the Earth signs of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Earth covers the mundane material things of life, property, money, home and nature. Also manifestation, realization, proof and prosperity. Pentacle symbols include the bull, gnomes, black hair, and black eyes. Pentacles are indicative of Autumn, or "years" in "time" questions in tarot.
Ace of Pentacles
Meaning Upright:
The Ace of pentacles indicates great wealth and happiness. The happiness may be the result of the receipt of something long desired. The wealth, however, need not have a monetary value. Some of the greatest gifts of life cannot be bought.
The Ace of Pentacles, like the Aces of the other suits, is representative of new beginnings, fresh energy, and inspiration. In this case, the pentacles are analogous to the alchemical element of earth, and therefore symbolize the material world and things associated with matter and the body. Pentacles also represent money and the financial concerns which we may have at the time of our reading.
The Ace of Pentacles can suggest that we need to introduce something new into the equation. Rather than let things remain as they are, and hope they work themselves out, the Ace suggests we throw something new into the mix. What should that be? Well, take a few minutes to consider. If it were easy, you'd have already tried it. If it were safe and accepted, you'd have already tried it. Why not consider something out-of-character or something you'd normally never do. That doesn't mean dancing naked on Main Street, just something that you might not ordinarily do, or get around to doing.
The Ace of Pentacles indicates the beginning of new energy and revitalized interest in the material or financial areas of your life. This card may represent the beginning of new investments or the willingness to undertake a new business venture. There is also the possible indication of a legacy or influx of money from an unexpected source.
The Ace of Pentacles heralds a feeling of prosperity and abundance and should be accepted joyfully; it is a very positive card in general. The Ace of Pentacles is also a sign that you will be able to make your dreams real. Your ideas are ready to be turned into something tangible. Figure out what will work and make it a reality. You can now attract all the wealth you need to get your projects going. Tap into the material force of the Ace of Pentacles, you will prosper, and all your enterprises will flourish.
When we see the Ace of Pentacles we know that there will be financial change for the better. The financial changes include material comforts,, wealth, possessions and appreciation for the good things in life. This card also means good health. This represents the essence and riches of the earth element.
Prosperity, fertility, generosity, fruits of labor, material pleasures, new financial ventures, burst of energy for material creation, creative vision, crafts, ambition, craftsman, skills, success, material achievement, security, science, available money, productivity, foundation, physical delight, acquisition are all associated with the Ace of Pentacles. As are manifestation, protection, endurance, reproduction, stability, constant, perfection, contentment, beauty, helping hand, windfall, security, good fortune, comfort, recognition, promotion, reward for hard work, good health, pennies from heaven, bountiful, beneficial, profit, agreeable, wealth, possessions, property, new job, new baby, new life pattern, birth.
Wisdom, spiritual treasures, gemstones, fulfillment, sensation, instinct, contentment, happiness, news, worldliness, fortune, success, recognition, being at the apes, bliss, attainment, happy marriage, happy home, inheritance, ecstasy, freedom, confidence, beauty of nature, inauguration, spiritual riches, sovereignty, sustenance, earthy, optimistic, bright prospects, benign, beginning a venture, fresh start, charge of physical energy, financial breakthrough, beginning of time, flowering, wholeness, wellness, balanced truths, nurturing and wholesome are all heralded by this card.
It tells you that the end of a process is near. After the initial excitement of a new idea (wands), the inner turmoil of it all (cups), the struggle with it in the outside world (swords), now the time has come that your ideas will be materialized. There will be a lot of hard work involved (this is pentacles after all), but it is an exciting card that helps you manifest your ideas in the outside world.
Reversed:
Taking what one hasn't earned, corruption, greed, money can't buy happiness, stubborn, confused, carried away by passion, materialism, clinging to the past, fear of death, inability or refusal to understand cause and effect, overlooked for promotion, extravagance are all implied when we see this card reversed. When we see the Ace of Pentacles reversed in a spread its telling us about greed, the person in the spread depends on physical pleasures for happiness, avarice, the person in the spread is miserly and it talks of materialism. This person lacks imagination and someone fears death.
II of Pentacles
Meaning:
The II of Pentacles indicate there are problems and difficulties in the future. There may be obstacles erected which hinder the attainment of what you wish to pursue or obtain in life. The situation may cause undue worry or social embarrassment. Like the picture of the person is trying to juggle the different aspects of their life to make it work. This card follows upon the initial energy of the Ace of Pentacles in which we are psychologically prepared to embrace success and prosperity.
The twos of any suit typically represent the conflicts inherent in the opposites, and any pending decisions which must be made. In the Two of Pentacles, we find an individual whose consciousness, represented by the waters, is tossed by ostensibly conflicting interests. For example, if the Ace of Pentacles represents the beginnings of a new business or financial venture, the Two represents the need to balance that venture with other important areas of life such as family, friends, and even our own physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. This card indicates the necessity for balance between opposing desires and interests. Though it is necessary to take such circumstances seriously, the Two of Pentacles nevertheless indicates that our psychological health may ultimately be better served if we are able to temper our seriousness and drive for success with a sense of humor and the childlike ability to enjoy ourselves despite our outward condition. The sea of our lives will always be uncertain, yet if we can produce balance and harmony among all the demands upon us we will ultimately live happily and in prosperity.
When we see this card we know there are vast change and fluctuations for the person in question. This person has to balance their skills when they plan for the future. This card is also a warning not to use your credit card, do not buy things on it. The changes and movement this card talks about are things in the form of news, journeys, communication, money and material preoccupation. When we see this card pop up its telling us we have to use our knowledge skillfully to affect continued success and to be able to manipulate life's rules to our benefit. An established business has to be handled with care now.
Reversed:
The II of Pentacles reversed is an indicator that you are struggling to juggle all of your commitments. To overcome this, you need to do is prioritize and manage your time carefully. Invest your time only in those activities that have the most value to your life. Additionally, the II of Pentacles reversed indicates that you are finding it hard to manage your finances and your cash flow may be quite unpredictable. Now is the time to start a budget and stick to it. When we see this card reversed its telling us there is fickleness around us or that we ourselves are fickle. It warns of reckless elation and discounting the warning at the expense of impending trouble. Reversed this card tells of dept, and over indulgence in physical pleasures it can indicate drunkenness as well. There is an inability to complete a project.
III of Pentacles
Meaning Upright
The III of Pentacles, like the Threes in the other suits, represents the initial completion of a goal or plan. In this case, the Three seems to imply the fulfillment and manifestation of a creative venture, business, or building project. The inspiration of the one is beginning to be concreted in the material world, and the decisions of the two have been made successfully. An initial satisfaction is now being enjoyed and the project is well underway. However, the Three does not indicate the final completion of any project or venture but rather just the beginning.
The Number Three signifies the first manifestation of a creative union. Just as a child is born to the union of two lovers, the creative idea is finally born when the conflicting desires of the heart are in equilibrium and when fear of failure is balanced with enthusiasm for potential success. The message of the Three of Pentacles, therefore, is primarily one of encouragement. Work. You need to do work that is satisfying to you. Skill. Work with others. Satisfaction. Practicality. Clear on priorities and commitments. Make most of talents, increase success through continuation of craft or educational pursuit. Promotion or increase. Use of skills to make profit. High achievement. Rising above friends and opponents equally. Being a subject of envy. Perhaps a move of house. Intellectual property. Practical work, done consciously and with commitment may serve as the vehicle for self-development. Plans.
The III of Pentacles has all the skill necessary to accomplish your goals in life. You will have the ability to succeed in all your ventures. Want to get things accomplished and to improve the quality of your life or your work. You will have to revamp, redirect or make some alteration in your current work or plans. When we see this card in a spread it means success through hard work and one's hard efforts. It can also mean a gain of material and finances. This is a card implying that educating one's self will take them far, as well as upgrading the knowledge and skills they already have. III of Pentacles also represents the craftsmen or merchant. This card tells you that if you apply your skills in work you will be successful, it will be both awarded and appreciated. When we see this card it is saying to us that this is a good time to start a project or that you will receive help in a business.
Reversed
The III of Pentacles reversed signifies that you are seeking more respect in the workplace. You have had to be polite and listen to the opinions and feedback of your superiors, but now you seem to be growing restless with always taking the advice, rather than giving it.
In a career reading, you want to work in an environment where you have the chance to voice your own opinion and be heard, where you are seen as the expert or the leader. You may also be seeking new colleagues who bring with them new knowledge, so as to create a more synergistic team environment.
The reversed III of Pentacles can also indicate a lack of teamwork, whereby people are acting in competition with each other, trying to appear the most knowledgeable. It also indicates that your skills are not up to par and you need to learn more to succeed. When this card appears reversed it is telling us of a miserly person, one who has fear of loss so as a result they miss opportunities. This person is obstinate, conceited and or prejudice and because of that, they will not heed advice given to them. This card in reverse is also saying that the efforts one puts into something will not be rewarded; the yields are disappointing .
IV of Pentacles
Meaning Upright
The IV of pentacles represents a person who will not share anything in his life with other people. When assistance is needed, he will turn his back on the situation. Four of Pentacles indicates one of the dangers of prosperity: the temptation to value money far above its real worth. If wealth and financial success lead to a miserly or ungenerous attitude, then our psychological energy is in a closed or "contracted" state wherein nothing is perceived to have value other than money. This attitude is of course an expression of extreme attachment to the things of this world and is unhealthy in the long run simply because it is such an extreme point of view.
The IV of Pentacles indicates a person who is financially stable and secure with solid investments. This person is very conservative about money and is not inclined to gamble in financial matters. He is very protective of what he has and slowly and steadily increases his net worth through saving money and safe investments. He is self-sufficient both financially and emotionally, for he often equates money with emotional security. The Four is the card of the miser. His material possessions are on his head, representing that his thoughts are all about his "stuff". They are in his arms, indicating that they are not free to do anything else with his life. He can't go anywhere because his feet are busy holding the coins down. In other words, this man is so tied up with his possessions, that he can't do anything else. His possessions ARE his life. This is sad. Depending on where this card falls in a spread, it could be telling you to let go a little bit, and enjoy the other side of life (this is the card of the workaholic), or it could be telling you to tighten up a bit and not throw your money away.
It could indicate a need to tighten your belt a little bit. Look at where it falls and the cards that surround it to get the true meaning here. Possessiveness. You need to hold on to what you have. Manage and guard it carefully. Things must be put in order and in proper perspective. Reflect on your self-worth and what is valuable to you. It is time to think like an executive. On the other hand this card represents awareness of personal value and worth. Stability, comfort and practical security. Set and know limits.
Depending on the spread this card can signal that you could get good news from a woman, or "feminine" source. Possessions. Material stability. Financial problems will be overcome.. Money in bank. ownership. Structure, either through material things, or by turning emotional and mental energy inwards. Selfishness (which might be precisely what is needed). Dependence on material comforts and security. Need for personal security. Blockage. Along with material and financial security this card indicates an increase of power and authority in relation to business, influence and wealth.
Overcoming financial and business obstacles is portended if this card appears. Depending on the spread it can mean a promotion. This card is telling someone that they do not need to use force to achieve the law and order they seek. It can actually be done through negotiation.
Reversed
Here, the conservatism of the IV of Pentacles has turned to greed and stinginess. The client is haunted by a fear of poverty which impels him to be grasping and materialistic. He is extremely defensive and self-protective materially and emotionally, fearful of opening up and trusting other people. This card relates to poverty conscientiousness, no matter how much money that person has. There is a lack of ability to delegate work and the bureaucracy is destroying the individual incentive and effort. Greed is indicated when this card is reversed. This person has a fear of losing what is familiar to them as well as what they established so as a result they are in opposition to any change now.
V of Pentacles
Meaning Upright
The V of Pentacles may literally augur a time of financial strife and this possibility must be considered. However, other meanings of this card arise in connection to your psychological state at the time of the reading and your attitudes and expectations about money. Just as the IV of Pentacles indicated a psychological attachment to money and a tendency to over-value this means of exchange, the V of Pentacles is also likely to indicate an inner difficulty with your relationship to money and material things. This card may therefore indicate a lack of confidence which is reflected in your self-judgment.
If money becomes the primary motivating force in life and the gauge by which we judge our worth, the lack of its abundance may produce anxiety and a sense of being excluded from the good things money can provide. In addition, if we encounter financial difficulties such as the loss of employment or an investment gone sour, we may fall into the trap of losing faith in our ability to recreate a positive financial situation for ourselves.
The V of Pentacles indicates failure and loss. This is applied more with regard to material loss than personal losses. You will experience troubles, dissension and possible loss in your work or career, as well as difficult dealings with others; and/or a heated debate over papers or contractual agreements. Someone in your family will be unhappy about their finances, partner or an infidelity. The trouble is that you will be too emotionally exhausted to help or lend any comfort.
This cad in reverse signals anxiety. You need to learn to cope with stress and anxiety. Worries can paralyze your actions until you face their source, focus on the present and do what you can with what you have now. Stress management is a vital concern. This card depending on the spread can also mean a divorce. There us a redundancy with the person. In any case this card is a definite warning of impending money troubles. But, depending on the spread it can mean a restriction in one area may actually open doors in another. Also depending on the spread this card can mean legal difficulties.
Reversed
The V of Pentacles reversed is about an end to difficult times. As the V of Pentacles in the upright position is about loneliness, despair, loss, rejection, hardship and abandonment, the reversed V of Pentacles signifies that this difficult period is coming to an end. You may be starting to feel as if life is worth living again and starting to regain your self-confidence. If you have experienced severe monetary problems or illness, these situations, too, are easing.
Reversed this card signals a time for relief and breathing easier are at hand. When we see the V of Pentacles reversed in a spread on of the first things it is telling us of is this person may have been unemployed for a long time and there is no success in this person's life. This card indicates poverty and destitution. When we see this card reversed depending on the surrounding cards it is saying that part of the reason the person is in this predicament is because of their stubbornness and lack of imagination.
VI of Pentacles
Meaning
The VI of Pentacles means balance and giving with regard to money and security. The giving of gifts and possessions. If describing a person it is someone who is generous and gives to charity. The six of pentacles is the money in-money out card. It is often giving someone a loan, or a gift of money, you get some you give it away and it comes back to you. it can also be an act of charity, money is not stagnant with the card, it is moving. But be careful not to deplete your resources here. This can also be giving of yourself, a volunteer position or something like that. Also you could be on the receiving end of a gift like this with this card. The VI of Pentacles will provide generosity and kindness to your situation resulting in gain for you.
This card signals another person will contribute to your efforts resulting in your success. Material gain may be indicated. Want what's rightfully or legally yours to be given back or to be reinstated in your profession or status. There ARE answers available and the key to solving problems is to stop thinking about them. This card follows appropriately upon the difficulties expressed in the V of Pentacles.
As in the VI of Pentacles, you as the questioner may be represented either by the rich merchant or by the beggars at his feet. In any case, there is a sense of peace and happiness about this card because it indicates the ending of the tribulation expressed by the five. The merchant represents not only the attainment of prosperity and financial stability, but also the experience of psychological peace in your relationship to money. This card signals Prosperity. Success. Physical attainment/accomplishment. Charitable attitude, sensitivity to others needs, sharing resources. Generosity. Money put to good use. Help from someone. Sharing, generosity and charity. Domination/submission, hierarchy. A force that holds together or reconciles the opposites in life.
When we see this card in a spread it is telling us about solvency in material affairs. It indicates a clearance of debts as well as using one's good fortune to benefit others. Depending on the cards position it indicates repaying a debt or a favor returned. This card also symbolizes charity, patronage, sympathy and a kind heart.
Reversed
Reversed, the VI of Pentacles can indicate theft, stealing of possessions or being unfair in financial affairs. Being cheated or used. In a relationship reading it can mean that one person is dominate over the other. There is a lack of real closeness. In reverse this card indicates recklessness and carless behavior with money. It also signifies loss of money through recklessness, theft or a deception as in being conned. Depending where it is in the spread it can also imply extravagance.
VII of Pentacles
Meaning Upright
The VII of Pentacles indicates success in all endeavors which require much time and effort. Despite the difficulty, your efforts will result in forthcoming rewards. You'll be dissatisfied with your progress and will experience anxiety about your business or financial state, and will want to be much more successful or solvent. You may be spending some somber times at home. Frustration. You need to cope with frustration. If hard work has not paid off as you planned, remember that expectations are almost always unreasonable. There are no guarantees. Be grateful, focus on the present and do what you can with what you have. The VII of Pentacles portrays a young man taking a rest from the difficult work of harvesting his abundant crop. He gazes meditatively at the pentacles hanging from the rich greenery of the thicket in which he works and seems to be contemplating the value of his efforts. If this card follows upon the VI of Pentacles it indicates the ending of a difficult period of financial or material difficulty.
In the VII of Pentacles, the situation is completely reversed and we now experience the rewards of hard work and effort. However, there is a decision looming in the air and this choice is at the root of the young man's contemplative expression. The question at hand is simply whether the rewards of hard work are in fact worth the effort to acquire them. It is often at the time of our greatest success that we realize what we desired so strongly is in fact somewhat disappointing.
This card indicates frustration. You need to cope with frustration. If hard work has not paid off as you planned, remember that expectations are almost always unreasonable. There are no guarantees. Be grateful, focus on the present and do what you can with what you have. Profit, re-evaluation, re-direction, business enterprise - period of growth, consider possibilities. Fear of failure/success. Planning, slow growth. Long term plans will reach fruition, but patience is needed.
In a reading, this card may mean fear of failure; delays; assessing past mistakes in order to learn from them; frustration, definitely, but learning a lesson from it; impotence, yes, from fear. When we see this card depending on the spread it can imply that current projects could fail. This card warns that you should not rest on the laurels now for you to have success you have to put in hard work at this time. Success is possible but you have to grab on to it first. The effort that you put in the past is now wasted because you are being inert. If you are doing charitable work at the moment there will be no rewards for doing so.
Reversed
The VII of Pentacles reversed indicates that even though you may continue to invest a lot of energy into a specific situation, you may not reap the rewards you are looking for. The VII of Pentacles reversed calls on you to prioritize your activities very carefully. You need to do a cost-benefit analysis on the major tasks involved to bring your project to fruition as there are certainly a number of tasks that are currently taking a lot of your time and energy but are not bearing the rewards you are seeking. Take stock of what you still need to do and focus only on those things that will get you to where you want to be.
When we see this card reversed it is telling us we induce our own worries over money. The reversed VII of Pentacles in a spread can mean bankruptcy, a person who gambles and talks of promising circumstances that end in failure. Reversed this is a card of financial insecurity.