Tarot Card Meanings - Pentacles Suit

Pentacles, also depicted as coins in tarot card imagery, represent security and practicality in in all earthy and material concerns. Pentacles can also represent prosperity and wealth ~ both financial and in less tangible ways.

Each of the tarot suits is linked to one of the 4 elements, Air, Water, Fire and Earth. The Pentacles suit is linked to the element 'Earth' and is very much about being grounded and getting on with the practical matters of life, but also deals with nature and the physical experiences of our world.

For the purposes of this meaning of the cards into the following way:

Numbers 2 - 10,

Court cards - Page, Knight, Queen and King

Ace of Pentacles

2 of Pentacles:

The image on this card shows a man holding a coin in each hand, with th sign of infinity wrapping around them. In the background is a ship riding waves. The feeling of the card is constant movement - and this is very much what the card represents.

The two of pentacles is about juggling your worldly concerns. It's about keeping all those plates in the air and being able to do it with grace and efficiency. It shows that if you are flexible in your approach you can meet any challenge and succeed. It's a card of action but can carry a warning depending on what other cards it falls with ~ there is a limit to how many plates any one person can keep in the air, so don't overdo it.

3 of Pentacles:

The three of pentacles show a group of 3 people coming together as if they are having a meeting. The 3 of pentacles is a natural progression from the 'coping on your own' of the 2 to a situation of working together and accepting help to get things done.

The 3 of pentacles is a practical card about planning and preparation and shows what can be accomplished with the help of others ~ it also shows you have the ability to get the job done.

It is a card which tells you not to rush into things without having worked through the details first.

4 of Pentacles:

The four of pentacles shows a seated man with a coin under each foot, one above his head and another being gripped in his hands ~ and he's not letting go of them for anyone ~ he wants to keep everything under his control ~ and it is this need for control that is at the centre of the four of Pentacles.

Sometimes control is needed ~ but not at the expense of creativity, don't lose out on solutions by being too rigid in your approach. This control can extend to both people as well as things and to ideas and thought processes. You or someone around you may be resisting the idea of change because of your or their desire to stick with the status quo. As hard as it can be it is important to recognise that sometimes it is only through change that things can move on.

5 of Pentacles:

The five of pentacles has a look of sadness about it. The card shows 2 figures in the snow and they are suffering ~ they lack the basic needs of life ~ and lack is the basis of the 5 of pentacles.

Lack can come in many forms , it may be material i.e. you have a change in your financial circumstances, or it may be physical ~ you may have pushed yourself too hard and be lacking in energy, or it can be spiritual lack i.e. you feel like life has no meaning for you. What the 5 of pentacles does is warn you that you are lacking in some part of your life and asks you to address this issue.

However it is not all bad news as the 5 of pentacles is not a permanent card ~ yes it shows lack but if you can identify the area of your life in which that lack appears - and address it, you can move on.

6 of Pentacles:

This card shows a man with 2 people kneeling in front of him. In one hand he holds a pair of scales and with the other he is tossing coins to one of those kneeling before him. The card shows the real distinction between having and not having and asks you to question what having or not having means to you.

The card can shows both sides and reminds us that whether is is with power, resources or knowledge the line between having and not having can be very thin. It is also quite often a turning point card, where the worst of the 5 of pentacles is over and a brighter future lies ahead ~ so long as you are clear about the situation you are in.

7 of Pentacles:

The figure on the seven of pentacles is resting and admiring his handiwork. He's put in the hours and is reaping the rewards.

The seven of pentacles is a complicated card, on the one hand it represents the reward that comes from hard work, but can also represent the need to take time out from that hard work to assess the situation and make sure you the goals you are working towards are still those that you want to be working towards.

The card is about taking time to make sure you are on the right path for you ~ and can indicate that a new direction may be better. Take a breath and think carefully about what you want to do before you carry on.

8 of Pentacles:

The figure on the eight of pentacles is hard at work, he has almost completed his tasks but is not letting up until he has finished.

This diligence is the cornerstone of the eight of pentacles ~ it is about knuckling do and doing it, completing the project and not getting distracted. It may be about learning a new skill, tying up loose ends or checking and re-checking all the details.

It is a card which shows that the key to success is in completing the task to the absolute best of your ability.

9 of Pentacles:

The woman on the nine of pentacles is graceful, assured and confident ~ she has achieved what she set out to do and now she is reaping the rewards and enjoying them ~ life is not all about work after all.

 She also represents discipline, self-control and self reliance. She trusts her own ability to handle a situation and is willing to take matters into her own hands to ensure things are done correctly.

The nine of pentacles is all about knowing what you need to do to achieve your goals ~ and if that involves short term sacrifice then so be it. The lady on the nine of pentacles looks so self assured because she has taken full responsibility for her actions and succeeded ~ so is now able to enjoy all life has to offer.

10 Pentacles:

The ten of pentacles is a sign that you have arrived. The card shows a busy market place, children play in the street and money is in the air.

This is the card you want to see if you are undertaking a new venture or enterprise as it is the indicator of success. It is also a card of material success and stability and can be an indication that now is the time to concentrate on the long term and put in place a lasting foundation.

 

 There are 4 court cards within every suit of the tarot deck:

Page of Pentacles:

The page is all about youth and opportunity ~ it is light-heartedness all the way. The page can be a messenger asking you to watch out for opportunities to gain wealth and success - or can be a child or youth whose relationship with you is based on material stability.

Either way the page is usually associate with fun and enjoyment and when this card appears you should take the opportunity to look at life in a light-hearted way. 

Knight of Pentacles:

Knights are like petulant teenagers and contain both the best and the worst aspects of each suit. The knight of pentacles can display determination, stamina and a compunction to get the job done, right down to the last detail ~ all this work hard can made him a bit of a stick in the mud.

The appearance of a knight is a suggestion to take a long hard long at your situation and decide which aspect of his personality is in play ~ do you need to lighten up a bit, or is it time to put your nose to the grindstone.

Queen of Pentacles:

Queens always have a inward focus ~ they like to look after themselves and others. The Queen of Pentacles likes to nurture, share her material goods and make sure everyone who comes to her is looked after.

Being of the Pentacles suit she is down to earth and practical and will always give you her honest advice.

When a queen appears she is asking you to act and behave as she does ~ are you being as kind and considerate as you can, are you being supportive when needed and generous with your time?

King of Pentacles:

In the tarot deck Kings are much more structured than Queens. The king of pentacles has a talent for succeeding at whatever he sets him mind too ~ and he does this through hard work and determination.

He takes responsibility for his actions and is always willing to share his knowledge and resources as he knows that by giving you also receive.

When the king appears he asks you to act in the same manner as he would ~ to be reliable, supportive and responsible ~ and through that acheive success.

 The Ace of any suit is a special card and the Ace of Pentacles is no exception.

Here the ace is about possibilities and potential in areas of wealth and abundance in all areas of life. It is a sign that things are happening and you need to be ready when they do.

It is a reminder that you need to stay grounded, use you common sense, plan, build a foundation and then you can turn your dreams into reality.

A more in depth look at the meaning of the Ace of Pentacles and the other Aces in the pack please see the Meaning of Tarot Cards - Aces hub.

 Tarot cards have fascinated people for centuries and if you want to take your interest further, either personally or professionally you may be interested using a good tarot card book such as Learning the Tarot - A Tarot Book for Beginners, and also which are the Best Tarot Card Spreads for beginners.

Or maybe you've wondered about free tarot card readings online and whether online tarot card readings can be accurate.