Five of Pentacles Tarot Card Meaning

The Five of Pentacles card presents a bleak picture, where two poor and hunchbacked cripples trudge through a snowstorm. It's night, it's cold, the characters endure unimaginable sufferings, maintaining their sorrowful path to nowhere. In a brightly lit stained-glass window, five coins beckon them, but the benefits pass by, the destitute are wanted by no one - no friends or benefactors are around, there's no point in hoping for help.

Elsewhere, people live their beautiful and fulfilled lives, while they alone have been cast aside, rejected by society, lepers. This tarot card is like a deep-seated fear that lives within each of us. The fear of loss, the fear of illness, the fear of poverty...

The upright Five of Pentacles tarot card carries a negative meaning in divination. As a rule, this tarot Arcanum predicts money problems, deprivations, the shattering of plans, and the acquisition of life experience in return for material losses. This is a painful and unpleasant period in your life that you need to endure to become wiser and stronger, to gain motivation for further changes and improvements in your life.

Practically, when the Five of Pentacles card appears in a spread, you can expect all sorts of troubles - getting fired from work or losing it due to illness (incapacity), a demotion and degradation of living standards, bankruptcy, bad investments, a large sum of money being stolen, loss of property due to fraudulent actions, failure on an exam. Everything crumbles, the ground falls from beneath your feet, your soul is consumed by a sense of powerlessness and resentment...

However, the card suggests that it's too early to throw in the towel and wallow in ashes! Perhaps the solution to the problem is much simpler than you imagine. Don't close yourself off in your worries and problems, look around - there is likely someone nearby who will extend a helping hand in your time of need.

Key meanings of the upright Five of Pentacles card

• Unachieved goals, instability in affairs, financial losses, failure of plans, pauper's existence, loss, despair.
• Serious illness, weakness, fatigue, loss of self-belief, loss of spiritual support, depression, helplessness.
• Enforced economy, debts, help from those around you.

The inverted tarot card, the Five of Pentacles, takes on a more positive hue, yet the core essence of the arcana remains the same — difficulties, losses, deprivations, and failures lurk along life's path.

However, the appearance of the inverted Five of Pentacles tarot in the spread indicates that you have enough courage, strength, and self-confidence to honorably emerge from an unpleasant situation and withstand life's blows. Your victory is in your hands; exhibit resilience, and the world will bend to you!

Moreover, the inverted tarot card, the Five of Pentacles, can be a sign that all difficulties and privations are now behind, and a bright streak in life is starting, leading you to a new level of development. Ahead is a promising future where money troubles gradually resolve, physical and psychological well-being normalizes, businesses strengthen, and relationships with family and friends improve!

Key meanings of the inverted Five of Pentacles card

• A turn for the better, light at the end of the tunnel, glimmers of optimism in the soul.
• The end of unemployment and poverty, recovery after a lingering illness.
• Re-evaluation of values and one's place in life, strengthening self-belief.

In love readings, the upright Five of Pentacles card predicts a breakup and oppressive solitude. It's very unpleasant to feel abandoned and unwanted, and even worse is the inner fatigue and powerlessness to change anything.

However, the closer one gets to the point of despair, the more prepared one becomes for feats, and this carries an encouraging meaning. Therefore, a period is approaching when you will be able to break old patterns and let new desires, hopes, and love into your life. Also, the Five of Pentacles could signify a marriage of convenience, where the partners are bound not by feelings but by material interest.

In a reversed position, the card's meaning is much more positive and indicates the end of a "dark period" in personal life.

When divining for a suitor or lover

In divination for a suitor or partner, the upright card indicates that your chosen one is often burdened by material difficulties and problems. This poses a significant obstacle for him in love.

The reversed card suggests that even when your chosen one is experiencing financial difficulties, it does not affect his relationships with his loved one. He knows how to separate work and personal life.

In business readings, the Five of Pentacles predicts a very difficult situation in the professional sphere and finances – even to the extent of potential bankruptcy and job loss.

However, poverty is relative. What may be poverty to one person is merely a temporary stagnation in income and the need to cut back expenses for another. Nevertheless, in any case, one must be prepared for tough times and refrain from indulging in unnecessary extravagance. The Five of Pentacles also serves as a warning against frivolous and foolish spending, where money is simply thrown to the wind.

When reversed, the card's meaning is more positive, indicating the ability to withstand the blows of fate and adversity resiliently.

When reading for a person, an upright card is interpreted as a proud individual going through challenging financial times, but at the same time, they are not inclined to accept the help offered to them – they hope to overcome their problems on their own.

In the reversed position, this card represents a person who has experienced significant financial difficulties that have either already been left behind or will soon be left behind.

In the upright position, the card advises you not to lose hope and to direct all your efforts towards fighting financial difficulties.

When appearing in a reversed position in the spread, the card advises you to be more careful and responsible with money. Avoid burying your head in the sand when facing problems – they need to be addressed.

If the card appears upright, the forecast for your situation is not very favorable. It indicates potential losses and other financial difficulties that may hinder you.

When appearing in a reversed position, the forecast for your situation is ambiguous. You have the potential to achieve your goals, but only if you learn to handle money responsibly and address your financial matters promptly.

With card 0, the Fool - False hopes, a path to poverty, envy.

With card 1, the Magician - Unprofitable business, loss of property, unsuccessful marriage.

With card 2, the High Priestess - Showing off, hiding poverty, stalling for time with promises.

In combination with card 3, the Empress - Going bankrupt, losing a source of income, accumulating debts.

With card 4, the Emperor - Unprofitable enterprise, bankruptcy, state subsidies.

With card 5, the Hierophant - An unstable or office romance, a destitute fanatic, a nag.

With card 6, the Lovers - A romance immersed in domestic troubles, holes in the family budget, lack of prospects.

With card 7, the Chariot - Penalty sanctions, overdue credit, arrogant self-confidence.

With card 8, Strength - Political struggle, government competition, taxes.

With card 9, the Hermit - Envy of someone else's capital or property, inequality, including emotional, incompatible social circle.

With card 10, Wheel of Fortune - Living happily with a loved one even in a humble dwelling, renouncing materialism in favor of spirituality, true convictions.

With card 11, Justice - Official divorce, search or confiscation of property.

With card 12, the Hanged Man - Low reputation, gossip, a streak of failures or bad luck.

With card 13, Death - Confiscation of assets, bankruptcy, karmic setbacks.

With card 14, Temperance - The investment will be unsuccessful, losing some finances, a small risky bet.

With card 15, the Devil - Playing on pity, engaging in extortion or blackmail.

With card 16, the Tower - Poverty, losing housing or the means to afford it, an increase in rent.

With card 17, the Star - Feeling torn between wanting and being envious of others' savings, craving for easy money.

With card 18, the Moon - Losing support, difficult relationships with parents or partners, disputes over money.

With card 19, the Sun - Mortgage, credit payments, making ends meet, for a young mother - returning to work.

With card 20, Judgment - Uncertainty about the future, lack of savings, a failed family life.

With card 21, the World - Panic attack, unfounded fears, fear of change or pessimism.

With the Ace of Wands — Good intentions with a bad outcome, ineffective management, swift bankruptcy.

With the Two of Wands — A failed idea, the onset of a crisis, overwhelming debts, disappointment.

With the Three of Wands — Betrayal, difficult circumstances, the path to bankruptcy, or the arrival of "poor relatives".

With the Four of Wands — Unable to afford a mortgage, ending up on the street, relying on relatives for support.

With the Five of Wands — Dealing with authorities, seeking allowances or extra payments, making ends meet.

With the Six of Wands — A populist or self-proclaimed leader, informal organization, political movement, or advocacy for the oppressed, a human rights defender.

With the Seven of Wands — A losing position, the danger of bankruptcy, a crisis situation.

With the Eight of Wands — Deteriorating living conditions, an unsuccessful job change or forced relocation, natural envy.

With the Nine of Wands — Solving problems independently, a challenging situation, unpleasant life experience.

With the Ten of Wands — Problems with property, an overwhelming mortgage, loss of property.

With the Page of Wands — Restricted housing, living in a dormitory or communal apartment, lack of important news.

With the Knight of Wands — When actions have no effect, helplessness, unfounded optimism.

With the Queen of Wands — An unsuccessful investment, unpaid credit, overestimating one's abilities.

With the King of Wands — Doubt in one's abilities, defeat or miscalculation, loss of savings, accustomed to a low standard of living.

With the Ace of Swords — A hasty or foolish idea, a venture leading to ruin, a project that could result in significant losses.

With the Two of Swords — Suffering losses due to incompetence or lack of knowledge, poor administration, unqualified assistance.

With the Three of Swords — Harassment from banks or collectors, higher interest rates on loans, inability to repay debts.

With the Four of Swords — Hospital conditions, public housing or deteriorating living conditions, worsening health, deep depression, and isolation.

With the Five of Swords — Losing a lawsuit, property confiscation, wasting time and energy on futile resistance.

With the Six of Swords — Choosing the wrong course, deprivation or self-restriction, the danger of losing property.

With the Seven of Swords — Illegal property schemes, unscrupulous realtors, dishonest deals.

With the Eight of Swords — Losing property due to a loan, legalized fraud, fear of being financially incapable of handling important matters.

With the Nine of Swords — Pity for oneself and one's dire situation, suffering due to lack of means or housing, mourning the loss of property.

With the Ten of Swords — Losing health, being left with nothing, a dire situation, losing the means of subsistence.

With the Page of Swords — Destroying one's own prosperity, reckless behavior leading to dismissal or heavy loss, dangerous overconfidence.

With the Knight of Swords — A failed business, the wrong course of action, a risky young man, legal problems.

With the Queen of Swords — Poverty, rigid ideals that interfere with peaceful living, severity and abstinence.

With the King of Swords — A wrong decision, experiencing financial losses due to someone's bad influence or interference, a bad development path.

With the Ace of Cups — A plea for help, hurt feelings, a good person in difficult circumstances, the ability to see injustice.

With the Two of Cups — Lack of emotional attachment, intimacy for pleasure without considering the future of the relationship.

With the Three of Cups — Becoming a victim of an organized group of scammers, investing in a foolish project, poor organization of affairs.

With the Four of Cups — Finding oneself in constrained conditions, underestimating the problem, ignoring what is happening.

With the Five of Cups — Financial failure, being financially incapable, sorrow and deprivation.

With the Six of Cups — Having a poor spirit, lack of prospects, incorrect or superficial conclusions.

With the Seven of Cups — Becoming bankrupt due to foolishness, not noticing inevitable problems, immaturity and unpreparedness to live in the real world.

With the Eight of Cups — Preparing for the worst, extreme pessimism, loneliness.

With the Nine of Cups — Maintaining one's composure in difficult circumstances, unfavorable conditions, a cunning maneuver involving property.

With the Ten of Cups — Sudden bankruptcy, an illusion of a favorable outcome, extreme poverty.

With the Page of Cups — Going bankrupt due to gullibility, making a bad decision, hasty conclusions.

With the Knight of Cups — A bad business decision, going in the wrong direction, losing savings or property.

With the Queen of Cups — A restless period, needing to tighten one's belt, emotional instability.

With the King of Cups — An unsuitable environment, people who pull you down, experiencing difficult times.

With the Ace of Pentacles — Financial assistance, a charitable fund, work in the social sphere.

With the Two of Pentacles — Bankruptcy due to one's own foolishness, overdue credits, accumulating debts, financial insolvency.

With the Three of Pentacles — Overworking at the job, becoming disillusioned with one's profession, manipulations in the workplace, delays in salary payments.

With the Four of Pentacles — Being miserly leads to paying twice, missing opportunities, losing health, being restricted in mobility, destructive stubbornness.

With the Six of Pentacles — Receiving subsidies, finding caring people, experiencing need, envying more successful individuals.

With the Seven of Pentacles — Waiting for what was promised, living in constrained conditions, relying on a pension or allowance.

With the Eight of Pentacles — Striving for something greater, working diligently to acquire an apartment, renting accommodation or paying off a mortgage.

With the Nine of Pentacles — Improving the life situation, finding unexpected support, having hope in seemingly hopeless situations.

With the Ten of Pentacles — Settling in with wealthy relatives, receiving help from parents, returning to the family.

With the Page of Pentacles — Landing a job, receiving the first paycheck in a long time, taking the first steps towards improving the situation, the end of a dark period.

With the Knight of Pentacles — Working and living on-site, making a down payment for real estate, social housing.

With the Queen of Pentacles — Profiting from others' misfortune, lack of moral principles, mercenary behavior, a cruel woman.

With the King of Pentacles — A man with a rich life experience, a difficult past, pragmatism, and lack of principles.