Tarot Card Meanings: Minor Arcana - Pentacles

The Pentacle cards are usually a positive sign in a reading, often signaling good luck with money and business.

They represent the material world, opposite the Swords, which represent air signs and intellect. Instead of intellect, the Pentacles (also sometimes called Coins) represent the pleasures and sensations of the material world, and often signify material success.

These cards are also associated with the Earth signs: Capricorn, Virgo, and Taurus. If the sitter is not an Earth sign themselves, it may represent their Earth-like traits, or someone in their life who exhibits these traits. For example, the Queen of Pentacles may represent their mother.

What the Earth signs share is a connection to practical, material matters.

• Tauruses bask in the sensations of material pleasure, and love beauty, being ruled by the planet Venus.
• Capricorns are the most business-like and workaholic signs, but that means they're always reliable and helpful.
• Virgos are intellectual and make ideal scientists, wanting to gather all the information they can about whatever stirs their curiosity.

If you want to get things done, and done right, call up an Earth sign friend. That is the energy we see with the Pentacles suit - the ability to manifest desires using practical action.

Aces tend to represent new ideas, inspiration, and new beginnings. Like the Pages, they often represent the excitement of a flash of inspiration for a new idea, an idea for which no action has been taken yet. The advice is to continue to roll with this idea. If it's good, you'll be stirred by passion and see it through to fruition. If it fails, you will reach a future point where it is beneficial to drop it and walk away. But in order to find out, you need to take action, take the first steps towards that materialization of the idea.

As for the Ace of Pentacles, there is more emphasis on a new opportunity, which will help the querent materialize that flash of inspiration big idea that has recently entered their life. It is likely that they will receive the initial investment necessary to see their idea through to a bountiful harvest. It just needs time.

The Two of Pentacles

Taking forward the idea represented by the Ace becomes complicated, as numbers increasing adds complexity to any situation. Going from the single-minded focus from the number one to the number two takes away the simplicity. The possibility of a decision now must be weighed, slowing progress. The advice is to decide what to do and take action quickly. Push through the period where you're distracted by indecision.

The Two of Pentacles usually means a busy period of time for the sitter. If in the Past, it may be that they were busy in the near past, resulting in positive gains in the present. They are juggling multiple responsibilities and doing a variety of tasks that keep them on their feet. Though this period offers no rest, it does have an end in sight, and there is a promised payout. The other cards in this reading will determine what the fruit of this busy period will look like. For example, the Sun means positive wins, while the 9 of Swords would suggest a burnout from which rest will be necessary to recover.

Try not to juggle too many things at once, as there is some risk of wearing oneself out. But this is generally a joyful period, where the term eustress (positive stress, because it moves one's life forward in a positive direction) is the prevailing mood.

Three of Pentacles

Don't we love it when help arrives?

I think of this card as representing how we learn to walk at the age of three, by receiving help and encouragement.

Similarly, this represents a time when the querent is thankful for a boost of extra support. Their relationships with others are improving at this time, generating success as they plow forward towards their goals.

This may also mean a boost from the spirit world. A promotion, new project, or other work opportunity may come.

The querent will likely find a way to take their career to the next level, possibly through a new team or collaborative partnership.

Four of Pentacles

This represents the person's worry over losing money, or fear of losing their possessions. This may lead to trust issues they need to get over. They have spent a long time, perhaps years, of dedicated hard work, which has lead to their prosperity and abundance. But they're having difficulty with the concept of sharing that abundance. While this fear is understandable (who wants to suddenly lose something they've worked hard for?), a lack mindset is unhelpful, and a growth mindset is better. That is, through helping the person asking for it, the querent might also benefit themselves.

And the less you worry about money, the better sleep you can have. A lack mindset is self-defeating because you deplete your energy with too much worrying. Do whatever it takes for your peace of mind. And don't be afraid of that big purchase, helping a neighbor or relative, or spending on something you've wanted for yourself. Money was made to be spent and life is short.

Five of Pentacles

This is the dark extreme that lack mindset or excessive worry over money gets us; feeling depleted. This can mean financial loss, but I often see it come about as meaning a time of stress where the sitter's energy is depleted. It can mean the client is completely at a loss and feels powerless over their situation. There is a deep sadness on a level they don't normally feel.

This card traditionally depicts people down and out in front of a glowing church window. The implication is that they are too tired and sad from their poverty to look up and see the solution. Similarly, this may be a time when someone is blocked or temporarily blinded to the fact that there are people trying to help them.

Ultimately, it means a warning to not let one's stress get the better of them and cause them more pain, as they try to shut out the world, including those who want to help.

The Six of Pentacles is moving past the darkness brought on by that lack mindset towards the growth of character associated with giving and charity. The sitter may become either a generous giver, or a person who receives great charity, in the near future. It may mean the sitter is going to overcome their stinginess. This fearful mindset is no longer holding them back, and they embrace optimism.

Whether receiving or giving it, it's one of the most joyful moments in life, receiving help when in greatest need. Generosity creates a warmth, a glow between people. This card signifies basking in that glow. Appreciating the miracle of human kindness.

Seven of Pentacles

This card represents accumulating what one desires after putting in the work, it means someone is reaching their long-term goals. This can be the querent or a person in their immediate circle. It usually means the attainment of something long-worked for, often a graduation. It could also mean finally marrying the person they've been dating for years. Or it could mean a financial reward blessing them after many years of struggle and hardship.

Whatever it is, the querent is akin to a farmer, who has put in hours of hard work, and is now ready to harvest the results. This is a good time to rest, relax, celebrate, and enjoy these fruits of your labor.

Eight of Pentacles

This card is about getting back in the groove after the celebration of a milestone or achievement represented by the 7 of Pentacles. This is about the day after the party, going back to work, back to the grind of mundane life.

But this isn't a bad time, if less showwy. It's a time when work comes and gets completed in a flow state, that is, things come quickly and competence is natural, without much effort.

This represents the latter stage of a successful career, in which you are applauded for your mastery of a subject and asked to share that expertise with the next generation, perhaps as a speaker or mentor. It can represent the culmination of a higher degree, such as a master's or doctorate. It can also represent finally obtaining the sense of mastery over one's craft that brings true happiness, a sense of completion. It means the end of the journey, but it is a happy ending, where the purpose of one life is fulfilled and ready to move on to another.

This card also come up at moments where an immediate ancestor's soul (usually a same-sex grandparent) is watching over the querent and happy to have witnessed their journey. Or similarly, it can be about the querent in older age or retirement, looking fondly back at their greatest accomplishments, and the end of their career journey.

Nine of Pentacles

The sitter will finally reap a just reward. They will be content with their home life and feel like their success is "leveling up". There was a period of struggle and hard work through which they have now earned a happy ending.

Ten of Pentacles

This card represents the completion of a journey in life, the culmination of a search for success and material comfort. Something has been obtained that is worthy of being celebrated. A perfect point where nothing can get better, at least for now, has been reached. Thus, it's a time to relax, celebrate, and appreciate one's blessings.

The Page of Pentacles represents a hard-working new student; the sitter or someone they know who is just beginning some new job, career plan, or educational path.

Pages, who were messengers in the medieval courts, not only represent communication, but ideas we have that we're charged about, but that have not yet manifested. The Page of Pentacles, the suit of manifestation, can act as a bridge between the ideas we're excited to learn about and the practical work we also need to complete our learning.

It usually means success is around the corner and that things will go well, but the path might be a bit of a dull grind at times. The message is to focus on the enjoyment of the process of learning for its own sake.

Knight of Pentacles

The Knight of Pentacles, like the Earth signs, signals "slow and steady wins the race". This card represents the sitter taking a slow, methodical approach towards a career or educational goal. They will be successful, but it will not be without some period of consistent effort. This card preaches the need for discipline, in terms of having an ordered daily routine and clear, measurable goals in life. It can represent someone who the person knows who is steadfast, faithful, and true.

Queen of Pentacles

The queen of pentacles stands for nurturing, a woman who is closely connected with nature and who gives with a generous spirit. She represents abundance and prosperity.

It suggests a kind person who is good with animals and children. If in an advice position in a reading, the advice is to act loving, patient, and nurturing. A lot of times a little kindness and patience pay off big, helping us get what we want or making us more comfortable.

Kindness is also naturally returned, and this card may represent a time when the sitter's past kindness will be repaid.

The culmination of the Minor Arcana and final king, the King of Pentacles represents someone who has grown in wisdom, is mature, who makes sensible decisions. This person likely acts as a mentor or father figure. He is reliable and likes to help others unselfishly. He represents the sign of Taurus, and probably a man or masculine figure with the qualities of that sign in the sitter's life. This will be someone with an uncanny ability to work hard. They will always manage to manifest abundance through practical skill. They are quick learners, especially with practical concepts. They like experimenting, testing concepts. They are good at business and science and related subjects. Furthermore, Taurus being ruled by the love planet Venus is a sensual sign, who likes cooking, touch, relaxation, and taking it slow.

The King therefore represents a person who is in touch with his sensual side, and a bit romantic, but who also has learned to balance that inclination with a practical mind. He may represent the balance the querent will arrive at between seeking the pleasures of the flesh and concern for higher ideals.

While their other name "coins" suggests that when you see pentacles come up un a reading, you should think "cha-ching!", there's more to the Pentacles suit than just their association with money. Money itself is something of a hollow symbol; the Pentacles represent the value money can sometimes be used to also represent.

That means it governs prosperity and fincancial stability, but also fundamentally what we value. That is, what we see as good or noble or true. A lot of people like to blow hot air about "having good values" but it means very little if they don't walk the walk. What one claims to value must be backed up with practical action in the real world. This is what the Pentacles suit, symbolically linked to the element of Earth, represents. These cards are about the tangible and material manifestation of our passions (Wands), thoughts (Swords), and emotions (Cups).

The King of Pentacles is the culmination of this manifestation. He's like an exalted version of the Magician; while the Magician is a new student, the King of Pentacles is a seasoned master of his practical crafts.

The suit of Pentacles can also represent kindness, generosity, and sharing. A powerful card to get in many different types of readings is the 4 of Pentacles, reminding us to let go of our fears of losing, or lack mindset. The 5 can represent how we relate to charity and expressing need, another important value expressed in the suit of Pentacles.

While not every Pentacle card is positive, I like getting them in a reading because I often have anxieties about material problems or career-related questions. Pentacles are often cards letting you know what will happen within that realm of your life. The more positive ones, like the 9 and 10, are encouraging.

Pentacle cards challenge us to ask about:

• How do I relate to material goods?
• What does true abundance look like to me?
• How will I pull off the practical work needed to manifest what I want in life?
• What is my calling that will also make money?

While the Pentacles cards represent the Earth element, as the last suit, they also represent the culmination of the Tarot's journey, or at least that of the minor Arcana, and show the synthesis of all four classical elements combined with the fifth, spirit or ether. This represents an awakening of one's own ability to realize their spiritual power. It means realizing one's ability to align energies from conflict into harmony, and through such a process, channel one's thoughts and feelings into a tangible effect in the real world. The King of Pentacles represents enjoying this delight in one's domain after having mastered their craft or perfected their art - art and beauty being associated with Venus and the Earth element also. The Queen of Pentacles represents abundant generosity and endless kindness. Love that is compassionate and, not naively but wisely, trusting. She also represents an older female mentor figure or motherly figure of an Earth sign.

The suit of Pentacles is essentially about giving and receiving. Doing for others and having works done for you in return. And it's about making dreams come true in this life.

Which is something I wish for all of you! Blessed be.