Tarot card meanings are not always clear at first. Like humans, they have a duality, and their many layers mean that we can get many different messages at once. Among the Minor Arcana cards, the Suit of Pentacles Five meaning is no different.
The Five of Pentacles can be a daunting card in a tarot reading because it’s commonly associated with hardships like financial loss. However, the card reminds us that, even in our darkest hours, hope and help are within reach.
Like many of our tarot guides, we will dive into both the illustration of the card, its symbolism, and its upright and reversed meanings.
Five of Pentacles Keywords
Upright card (keywords)
Hardship, loss, isolation, feeling abandoned, adversity, struggle, unemployment, alienation, disgrace
Reversed card (keywords)
Positive changes, recovery from loss, overcoming adversity, forgiveness, feeling welcomed
The Five of Pentacles Tarot Card Description
Within the Rider-Waite tarot deck, the Five of Tarot cards stands out with two destitute figures—old and young—trudging through a punishing snowstorm. They’re downtrodden and appear to be enduring life’s harshness.
Behind them is a church’s stained glass window that illuminates a formation of five pentacles. The importance of the building is that it’s associated with aid, yet the figures walk on past oblivious. There is a juxtaposition here, showing an inability to recognize the support that’s available because they’re preoccupied with suffering. The bell around the neck confirms this, as it alludes to social exclusion.
The snowstorm is of course a symbol of adversity, but the light shining from the church window nevertheless represents hope and faith. While the image appears to be suffocating in despair, there is always external guidance, be it spiritual or material, resting in the background.
The Five of Pentacles Upright Meaning
The Five of Pentacles tarot card meaning is a symbol of hardship. Perhaps you’re struggling to make ends meet or you’re grieving the loss of a loved one—the feeling is one of being left out in the cold. The upright position reflects feelings of exclusion and scarcity. But, this isn’t a pessimistic card, it’s one of thinly veiled hope. Resources and support are available to help with financial hardship, addiction, or problems with your mental health. It applauds your resilience.
Love Meaning
In the upright position, this card suggests you’re struggling with feelings of rejection in your love life. This may be neglect from your partner, a lonely long-distance relationship, or fears of abandonment. There is a subtle encouragement here of your vulnerability and to seek support from a loved one—someone you trust to help weather the difficult times.
If you’re feeling emotionally isolated, there may be support groups, religious communities, and local community get-togethers that can help create a support system.
Career Meaning
The meaning of this card in a career spread is to warn against self-pity when it comes to your professional life, such as starting a difficult new job. You may feel undervalued or have a lack of support due to a new environment, but this card is a reminder to seek assistance and start networking. Finding a mentor can help with being overwhelmed in hard times.
Finances Meaning
You are likely facing financial difficulties. The Five of Pentacles’ upright position signifies hardship—bad luck, health issues, or a loss of material possessions. Despite its bleakness, the card signals a positive light by seeking expert assistance. Ultimately, financial stability isn’t defined by your current situation, but your ability to be resilient and seek help.
The Five of Pentacles Reversed Card Meaning
In a reversed position, the Five of Pentacles symbolizes hope and recovery after a difficult period of hardship. Perhaps your financial security is beginning to take shape after a large setback, or you’re getting job interviews after being made redundant. Job loss and health problems can be improved, and the reversed meaning of this card is a renewed faith and recognition of support systems—be it a treatment plan or food bank—that have been previously overlooked.
Love Meaning
In your love life, the worst case scenario is likely behind you now. The reversed position of this card indicates that you’ve been feeling distant from your partner or dating experiences, but the gap is being bridged through mutual effort. For singles, it means moving past the trauma of previously difficult situations and taking a new leap of faith towards healthier relationships. The card also points out the importance of self-love in all of this; how you can only seek help once you recognize that you deserve it.
Career Meaning
You may have experienced professional setbacks or struggled with being a single parent while working. Feelings of being inadequate in the workplace or experiencing imposture syndrome should subside, as skill acquisition and new opportunities are on the horizon. This is a time to be proactive in finding a mentor and becoming an autodidact. In the long run, there will be positive aspects to come from your previous career or financial difficulties.
Finances Meaning
The reversed Five of Pentacles meaning is a symbol of financial relief after a period of financial loss. It suggests that debts may be resolved or perhaps you’ve had a pay rise. The card encourages you to continue being resilient, as this is the foundation of resourcefulness, and to appreciate how far you’ve come. Positive change isn’t only material, but spiritual too.
Other Cards With The Five of Pentacles
The tough times that radiate from the Five of Pentacles are an interesting story to pair another card with. Its meaning can shift slightly depending on the combination, and below are five stand-out pairings that connect with themes of hope, hardship, and guidance.
The Five of Pentacles and The Star
The key meanings of the upright Five of Pentacles are fascinating to match with the Star, which shines bright and symbolizes renewal and spiritual guidance. Together, the pairing shows that even in the darkest moments, there is a guiding light so long as you have faith in the universe.
The Five of Pentacles and The Hermit
The Hermit, being a symbol of inner wisdom but solitude, is an interesting combination with the Five of Pentacles’ solemn struggle. In truth, the Hermit’s solitude can be a benefit here, as it helps you find a path to recovery using its wisdom, as opposed to suffering in solitude. This resistance through mindfulness, rather than pain, promotes personal growth so that values and lessons can emerge from your experience.
The Five of Pentacles and The Ten of Cups
These seemingly disconnected cards make a powerful pairing. The Ten of Cups creates a contrast of emotional fulfillment, as the Ten symbolizes love, family, and harmony. This combination signals that even though you’re enduring tough times, emotional connections can give you strength. Leaning on loved ones doesn’t make you a burden, but helps overcome challenges, and this can be reciprocated in the future due to strong family values.
The Five of Pentacles and The Tower
This daunting pairing amplifies the themes of loss, as the Tower represents sudden and shocking change. This may be a dismantling of old structures, like your worldview or family support structure. Together, they indicate a period of disruption but hold onto the hope that this chaos can pave the way for some transformation—see it as an opportunity for growth.
The Five of Pentacles and The Wheel of Fortune
The Wheel of Fortune pairing helps highlight the cyclical nature of life—its highs and lows. Within this, the Five of Pentacles is the low period, where you’re approaching rock bottom. But the Wheel of Fortune rightly points out that difficult situations are temporary, and fortune will turn in your favor. It wants you to remain adaptive and optimistic, and to some extent, accept the lows—ridding yourself of self-pity—because that is all part of the cycle.
The Five of Pentacles Card and Its Astrological Sign
The Five of Pentacles is primarily connected to Mercury in Taurus. This blending of planets—the communicative energy of Mercury with the slow and steady nature of Taurus—creates a fascinating tension that can be seen in the Five of Pentacle’s imagery. Taurus is ruled by Venus, and this represents material security, while Mercury is all about communication and adaptability.
Mercury’s dynamism clashes with Taurus’s deliberate steadiness. This restriction of Mercury symbolizes a sense of being stuck, much like the two figures trudging through snow. But, Taurus’s patience will pay off, while Mercury’s communication will help solve the problem at hand.
Conclusion
Tarot readings aren’t always straightforward, and the layered nature of the Five of Pentacles is a good example of that. Much like ourselves, there is more to the story, and the Five’s persistence, in the end, will pay off—and it’s on you to seek guidance.
By learning the meaning of these Minor Arcana cards, you can get some answers to the important questions in life. But to really understand the answers, it’s important to read carefully about their hidden messages.
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