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Five of Pentacles Meaning - Tarot Card Meanings

By Tina Gong

Published

Five of Pentacles Keywords

Upright Keywords Reversed Keywords
hardship, loss, isolation, feeling abandoned, adversity, struggle, unemployment, alienation, disgrace positive changes, recovery from loss, overcoming adversity, forgiveness, feeling welcomed
Skip to Upright Meaning Skip to Reversed Meaning
Five of Pentacles Meaning - Original Rider Waite Tarot Depiction

Five of Pentacles Tarot Card Description

Just like the fives of the other suits in the tarot, the Five of Pentacles symbolizes adversity. It shows two individuals walking outside while it is snowing. Not only are they cold, they are also sick, poor, tired, and hungry. It looks as if they are lacking the basic necessities of life. A lot of people can relate to the two individuals in more ways than one.

One of the individuals in the card has crutches, while the other figure has a shawl covering her head. She is walking barefoot in the snow. There is a black wall in the background with a stained glass window featuring the five pentacles, suggesting a church of some kind.

More often than not, the Five of Pentacles is a bad omen. However, do not fret, as it can change depending on where it is placed in the reading.

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Upright Five of Pentacles Meaning

Whenever the Five of Pentacles shows up in a reading, it suggests a time of hardship and insecurity. The meaning of this card can be deep loneliness, illness, poverty or loss. Your status might take a turn for the worse in the near future. There is a chance that you will lose something significant, whether it is financial wealth or an important item. Deterioration of your health might be already ongoing or be very sudden.

There is a chance that you will lose something significant, whether it is financial wealth or an important item.

The person with crutches has a lot of symbolism. This person may be feeling cursed - that their bad luck is something that they can’t shake off easily. The Five of Pentacles symbolism can also be that of old debts, high credit card balances, or unpaid loans. It is a reminder that you should consider sorting out your finances. Mistakes you have made in the past might also haunt you.

The Five of Pentacles is not a good sign when it comes to questions relating to love. It can be an indicator that the person you love is not feeling the same way. And just like the figures on the card, you might feel like you were left out in the cold.

Upright Love Meaning Upright Career Meaning Upright Finances Meaning
isolation, loneliness, feeling distant, depression work hardships, isolation from colleagues, outcast poverty, debt, bankruptcy, tight finances

Tarot Love Meaning - Upright 5 of Pentacles 

It may seem right now that you’ll never find the love you are searching for with the 5 of Pentacles tarot love meaning. Singles may be in a period of despair, ready to give up their long search for the right partner and give into their loneliness. Unfortunately, this attitude can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Feelings of isolation or scarcity can appear in existing relationships as well, whether it comes from within one’s partnership or outside of it. Lovers may find it difficult to communicate honestly, or be emotionally close to their partners, creating a wall between one another. Depression may be an issue as well. Sometimes this card can signal a lack of financial security, creating strain in your romantic relationships. This may be a difficult time, but it is more important than ever to draw close together, instead of pulling apart.

Career Meaning - Upright 5 of Pentacles

The 5 of Pentacles appearing in a career or work context can spell trouble. You may be going through a period of hardship at work, perhaps through losing a job, or feeling alone and abandoned at work by colleagues or bosses. Others may treat you like an outcast, and you may struggle with office politics and being social. If you’re a business owner, you may also be struggling. All these issues may be severely affecting your mental health, and it can be a downward spiral. If you believe that this situation won’t change, you may want to start looking for another job. 

Finances Meaning - Upright 5 of Pentacles

Financial hardship is represented by the 5 of Pentacles. You’ll need to pinch pennies and stretch your dollars right now, since money feels very tight. Sometimes, in the worst case, this card can also suggest material loss, so you may also be dealing with debt, bankruptcy or evictions.  so expect money to be tight when it appears. Whatever the situation, don’t let your pride stop you from asking for help. Look into soup kitchens and charities if you need to; there should be no shame in doing so, we all go through tough times financially. If you can, you may want to start putting together an emergency fund.

Reversed Five of Pentacles Meaning

Unlike the upright version, the Five of Pentacles reversal meaning can be a positive one. The snow is now on top, which represents brightness coming into your life. The stained glass now symbolizes a passageway with the Pentacles serving as the light at the end of the tunnel. The reversed Five of Pentacles means change is coming.

When drawing this card, it can mean that the worst is now over, but don’t expect changes to happen overnight. It will take some time before you can recover, and find strength once again. This means you will be able to regain stability in terms of property, health, relationships, business, or finances.

Slow recovery from illness can be indicated by the Five of Pentacles reversed as well. You will be able to find a treatment that can lead to recovery. If you are caring for someone, then it can mean that help will be made available, whether it is financial or practical assistance.

Tarot Love Meaning - Reversed 5 of Pentacles 

A period of isolation, rejection and despair may be coming to an end. The reversed 5 of Pentacles tarot love meaning can suggest that your relationship or your dating prospects are improving again, as you have worked to prevail over difficult circumstances. As struggles are lightening, you can make steady progress in rekindling your relationship, or opening yourself up to new people.

Reversed Love Meaning Reversed Career Meaning Reversed Finances Meaning
improved love life, opening yourself to others friendship at work, end of work hardships recovery from loss, saving, paying debts

Career Meaning - Reversed 5 of Pentacles

If your career or business has been going through problems, the reversed 5 of Pentacles can suggest that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Things are likely to return back to normal. Difficult situations can now be healed, or you may have found another job that values you for what you do. Look out for any opportunities.

Finances Meaning - Reversed 5 of Pentacles

Slowly, bit by bit, you may be recovering from a financial loss. You may be paying back debts, or rebuilding an emergency fund after a big loss. Keep up the effort, and you’ll likely find yourself in a place of financial stability again. The worst is over.

Five of Pentacles Meaning Tarot Cheat Sheet

Five of Pentacles Meaning - Tarot Card Meanings Cheat Sheet. Art from Golden Thread Tarot.



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