Tarot for the Modern Reader
The Suit of Pentacles
The Suit of Pentacles corresponds to the element of Earth. This is the designation given to it by the Order of the Golden Dawn. It is associated with all things physical, material, financial and tangible. Because we live in physical bodies, it can also relate to health. When Pentacles appear, they are typically about our resources. They represent the things we physically have, including money itself, property and possessions.
As a matter of timing, the Pentacles cards represent many months to a year or more. So we are talking a long time. This suit represents the slowest energy in the deck, which makes sense, if you think about the weight of Earth energy. Unlike fire that burns fast, and water that flows freely, earth is solid, and physical and as such, takes a while to move. The Suit of Pentacles corresponds then naturally to the cold season of winter, and this reminds me of molasses, the colder it is, the slower it moves. It is associated with the Earth signs, and as the fourth suit, corresponds nicely with the fourth and final Cardinal sign, Capricorn, where we have the Winter Solstice. Other Earth signs associated with this suit are Taurus and Virgo.
Characteristics for the Suit of Pentacles include security, stability, possessions, health, material goods, hard work, perseverance and tangible rewards. On the negative side this suit can show materialism, greed, selfishness, illness, lack of effort, laziness and lost possessions or property.
In a deck of playing cards, the Suit of Pentacles corresponds beautifully with the luxurious suit of Diamonds. In other Tarot decks, you may see this suit under the name of Coins, Disks, or Deniers. The Tarot has been around for a very long time, and over the years the name has been adapted by different Tarot scholars; however these are the ones you will most commonly see. This does not change the meaning of the cards by any means. As it relates to people, the Pentacles Court Cards are usually used to depict those who have their Sun in the Earth signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.
Major Arcana cards that correlate to the Suit of Pentacles are as follows: The Empress, The Hierophant, The Hermit, The Devil and The World. In each of these cards you will find the Earth elements present.
Ace of Pentacles
Keywords: Financial or business opportunity, windfall luck, resources available, creating systemsReverse Keywords: Dropping the ball, missed or lost opportunity, lack of systems, financial difficulty
Two of Pentacles
Keywords: Juggling, balance, time management, prioritizing, decisions, money coming and goingReverse Keywords: Red tape, mismanaged time or money, lack of prioritizing well, can't keep up
Three of Pentacles
Keywords: Collaboration, teamwork, attention to details, meaningful work, structured creativityReverse Keywords: Lack of teamwork, sloppy or unfulfilling work, criticism of work, no input taken
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Four of Pentacles
Keywords: Conservation, restriction, control and security, protecting resources, stabilityReverse Keywords: Greed, miserly, lack of stability, hoarding, losing money or resources
Five of Pentacles
Keywords: Hopelessness, destitute, poverty, loss, material trouble, hardship, isolationReverse Keywords: Financial upswing, recovering from difficulty, finding help or sanctuary
Six of Pentacles
Keywords: Unequal partnerships, generosity, giving and receiving, balance, stability, dominanceReverse Keywords: Financial instability, unpaid/denied loan or debt, get rich quick scheme, dominance
Seven of Pentacles
Keywords: Contemplation, hard work beginning to payoff, pruning, pressing on, refining plansReverse Keywords: Letting go, moving on too quickly, no long-range vision, little yield for work
Eight of Pentacles
Keywords: Prudence, repetition, apprentice work, specialist, commitment, vocational workReverse Keywords: Unfulfilling work, dead-end job, lack of skills necessary, career change
Nine of Pentacles
Keywords: Abundance, luxury, affluence, independence, discipline, fruition, prosperity, solidarityReverse Keywords: Lack of discipline, goals not met, desire for freedom, feeling trapped, overwork
Ten of Pentacles
Keywords: Legacy, inheritance, family name, values and traditions, wealth, prosperity, propertyReverse Keywords: Financial loss, poor investments, lost property, rejecting traditions, gambling
Page of Pentacles
Keywords: Financial news, student, learning, study, earth sign children, starting something newReverse Keywords: Lack of focus, difficulty with studies, difficulty with children, undesirable news
Knight of Pentacles
Keywords: Dependable, practical, fastidious, reliable, hard worker, slow moving, detailedReverse Keywords: Stubborn, stuck-in-the-mud, no movement, laziness, boring, stagnation
Queen of Pentacles
Keywords: Motherly, caretaker, gardener, practical, provider, nurturing, cook, warm homeReverse Keywords: Messy home, disorganized, lack of care given, does not cook or provide well
King of Pentacles
Keywords: Excellent provider, affluent, benevolent, generous, abundance, financial stabilityReverse Keywords: Greedy, financially controlling, miserly, corrupt/failing in business, poor provider
Card Meanings Overview
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Cups Overview
Swords Overview