Element: Earth
Suit of Pentacles
Five of Pentacles Meaning
Two ragged figures trudge through snow past a stained-glass church window glowing with warmth. The Five of Pentacles speaks of financial hardship, poverty of spirit, isolation in suffering, and the painful feeling of being left out in the cold — yet the lit window suggests that help and sanctuary are closer than the suffering figures realize.
↑ Upright
↓ Reversed
Quick Meaning
What does Five of Pentacles mean?
Five of Pentacles represents two ragged figures trudge through snow past a stained-glass church window glowing with warmth. The Five of Pentacles speaks of financial hardship, poverty of spirit, isolation in suffering, and the painful feeling of being left out in the cold — yet the lit window suggests that help and sanctuary are closer than the suffering figures realize.
Upright meaning
Temporary financial hardship, Negative change in circumstances, Feeling left out in the cold, Financial loss
Reversed meaning
Improvement in finances/luck, End of hardship, Positive change, Becoming financially secure
Love
In a love Tarot reading, the Five of Pentacles is not a good omen to get.
Career and money
In a career Tarot spread, the Five of Pentacles is not a good omen as it can represent unemployment, job losses or going out of business.
Spiritual lesson
In a spiritual context, the Five of Pentacles indicates that you may be going through a tough time spiritually and feeling like the world is against you or that you have bad luck.
Five of Pentacles as Advice, Feelings, and a Yes or No
Yes or No
In a yes or no tarot reading, Five of Pentacles is best read through its condition. Upright, it points toward Temporary financial hardship, Negative change in circumstances, Feeling left out in the cold, Financial loss. Reversed, it suggests Improvement in finances/luck, End of hardship, Positive change, Becoming financially secure. The answer depends on whether the situation is moving with the upright lesson or stuck in the reversed pattern.
As Advice
As advice, Five of Pentacles asks you to work with the card's main lesson rather than react from fear. Start with the upright meaning: In a general context, the Five of Pentacles is not a great card to get as it represents hardship, rejection or a negative change in circumstances.
As Feelings
As feelings, Five of Pentacles can describe someone experiencing the card's emotional tone. In love readings, its upright energy is: In a love Tarot reading, the Five of Pentacles is not a good omen to get.
Reversed Advice
Reversed, Five of Pentacles points to what may be blocked, avoided, or expressed in a harder way. Use the reversed meaning as a prompt to slow down and address Improvement in finances/luck, End of hardship, Positive change, Becoming financially secure.
Upright Five of Pentacles Meaning
In a general context, the Five of Pentacles is not a great card to get as it represents hardship, rejection or a negative change in circumstances. You may be feeling like the world is against you and nothing is going your way when it appears. It can signify bad luck, struggles or adversity. Homelessness, unemployment, alienation and poverty are all represented by this Minor Arcana card and it can signify illness, divorce, breakups or scandals causing turmoil in your life. If you are feeling left out the cold, firstly, remember that this situation is only temporary and then ask yourself if you are reaching out for any help or support that is available. There is help out there for you. It may be in the form of moral support from friends or family, financial assistance from social welfare, or even the kindness of strangers but whatever it is, take it. Nothing lasts forever and this hardship too shall pass.
Love & Relationships
Upright
In a love Tarot reading, the Five of Pentacles is not a good omen to get. If you are in a relationship, it can indicate that you may be struggling with feeling abandoned, ignored or unloved within the relationship. You may be rejected or left out in the cold by your partner and in its extreme negative it can signify breakups, separations or divorce. It can also represent scandal, illegitimate children or being in a relationship that is considered improper or disgraceful by those around you. However, it can simply indicate that you and your partner could be struggling with financial issues or health problems and this may be causing a strain on your relationship. If you love each other you will have to make a decision to pull together instead of apart. If you are single, the Five of Pentacles can be an indication that you are feeling rejected or have been given the cold shoulder by someone you’re interested in. You may be feeling lonely, isolated or like an outcast. It can also simply represent being a single parent and the struggles that can bring.
Money & Career
Upright
In a career Tarot spread, the Five of Pentacles is not a good omen as it can represent unemployment, job losses or going out of business. If you have lost a job or business you may be reliant on social welfare and this may be negatively affecting your confidence or causing you stress. Alternately, you may be finding your job a struggle but not see another option or you may be feeling like an outcast or isolated in your workplace. Whatever the case, the situation will not last forever so try to stay positive and work on finding alternatives. In a financial context, the Five of Pentacles can represent temporary financial hardships so expect money to be tight when it appears. In its extreme negative, it can also represent significant financial losses, poverty, homelessness, bankruptcy or financial ruin. Be very careful with money when it appears. If it appears in a future position it is a warning to putting financial safeguards in place to protect your financial security.
Health
Upright
In a health Tarot spread, the Five of Pentacles can indicate a period of illness or health issues. These health issues may be brought on by other factors in your life. For example, if you are having a tough time financially you may find yourself getting stress related illnesses or just getting run down with the worry of it. If you are struggling with adversity in your life, it is important to try and take care of yourself in terms of your health. So try taking a few moments each day to meditate and ground yourself.
Spirituality
Upright
In a spiritual context, the Five of Pentacles indicates that you may be going through a tough time spiritually and feeling like the world is against you or that you have bad luck. Reach out to those around you and accept the help that is available, to get you through this time. Remember it is often our hardships that show us our strengths, so embrace any lessons there are to learn and know that this period of your life will not last forever!
Reversed Five of Pentacles Meaning
In a general context, the Five of Pentacles reversed is a good omen especially if you have been going through a tough time as it represents hardship coming to an end, overcoming adversity or a positive change in circumstances. You have struggled through the hard times. When everything seemed hopeless, you held on and now you can see the light at the end of the tunnel! It can also signify improvement in relationships, finances or luck. This Minor Arcana card can also represent illnesses improving, recovering from problems and being accepted or welcomed back after a period of alienation or isolation. You should be in a much more positive frame of mind, beginning to rebuild your feeling of security and stability and making progress. You may also be finding forgiveness for anyone who may have caused you issues in the past. The Five of Pentacles reversed can also indicate letting go of people or relationships that were toxic for you as you focus on the future.
Love & Relationships
Reversed
In a love Tarot reading, the Five of Pentacles reversed is a good omen to get. If you are in a relationship, it can indicate that you are overcoming previous struggles. That can take the form of improving the relationship at a steady pace and making positive changes. It can also mean making a decision, to free yourself from a relationship that’s no longer good for you. If your relationship initially caused a scandal, this card indicates that you should find people around you becoming more accepting of the relationship. If you are single, the Five of Pentacles reversed is a positive card to get in a love Tarot spread as it indicates that you are coming out the other side of a period of loneliness or feeling rejected. You will be making positive changes in your life and feeling much more open to the romantic possibilities all around you. You are ready to embrace a new relationship and take a chance on love. This positive energy will attract others to you.
Money & Career
Reversed
In a career Tarot spread, the Five of Pentacles reversed is a much better omen as it can represent recovery for a struggling business or a return to employment. If you have been feeling stuck in a career rut due to a lack of opportunities, this card would indicate that the struggle is over and opportunities will soon present themselves. In a financial context, the Five of Pentacles reversed can represent recovering from financial hardship or losses, paying off debts and becoming financially secure after a period of instability. You’ve come through the worst of it now!
Health
Reversed
In a health Tarot spread, if you have been experiencing health problems or illnesses, the Five of Pentacles reversed can represent diagnosis or treatments. This diagnosis or treatment plan should, if not leading to health improvements right away, at least give you peace of mind that you know what you are dealing with and have a plan to tackle it. However, this Minor Arcana card when in a reversed position can also indicate recovery or improvements in health or well-being. It’s usually a positive card to get in a health reading.
Spirituality
Reversed
In a spiritual context, the Five of Pentacles reversed indicates that you have come through a tough time spiritually and feeling like your luck is improving. You can see light at the end of the tunnel and your faith in the universe’s love for you is being restored. Think about how you can use the strength and wisdom you have learned from your struggles to help those who need it.
Five of Pentacles Tarot Card Combinations
Five of Pentacles and Ace of Pentacles
Together, Five of Pentacles and Ace of Pentacles blend the lesson of five of pentacles with the energy of ace of pentacles. This pairing asks you to read the cards as a relationship between the central theme and a hand emerges from a cloud offering a golden pentacle above a lush garden with an archway of roses and a path beyond.
Five of Pentacles and Two of Pentacles
Together, Five of Pentacles and Two of Pentacles blend the lesson of five of pentacles with the energy of two of pentacles. This pairing asks you to read the cards as a relationship between the central theme and a young man juggles two pentacles linked in an infinity loop while ships bob on choppy waves behind him.
Five of Pentacles and Three of Pentacles
Together, Five of Pentacles and Three of Pentacles blend the lesson of five of pentacles with the energy of three of pentacles. This pairing asks you to read the cards as a relationship between the central theme and a mason works on a cathedral while an architect and a monk review the plans beside him.
Common Questions
What does the Five of Pentacles tarot card mean?
In a general context, the Five of Pentacles is not a great card to get as it represents hardship, rejection or a negative change in circumstances. You may be feeling like the world is against you and nothing is going your way when it appears. It can signify bad luck, struggles or adversity. Homelessness, unemployment, alienation and poverty are all represented by this Minor Arcana card and it can signify illness, divorce, breakups or scandals causing turmoil in your life. If you are feeling left out the cold, firstly, remember that this situation is only temporary and then ask yourself if you are reaching out for any help or support that is available. There is help out there for you. It may be in the form of moral support from friends or family, financial assistance from social welfare, or even the kindness of strangers but whatever it is, take it. Nothing lasts forever and this hardship too shall pass.
What does the Five of Pentacles reversed mean?
In a general context, the Five of Pentacles reversed is a good omen especially if you have been going through a tough time as it represents hardship coming to an end, overcoming adversity or a positive change in circumstances. You have struggled through the hard times. When everything seemed hopeless, you held on and now you can see the light at the end of the tunnel! It can also signify improvement in relationships, finances or luck. This Minor Arcana card can also represent illnesses improving, recovering from problems and being accepted or welcomed back after a period of alienation or isolation. You should be in a much more positive frame of mind, beginning to rebuild your feeling of security and stability and making progress. You may also be finding forgiveness for anyone who may have caused you issues in the past. The Five of Pentacles reversed can also indicate letting go of people or relationships that were toxic for you as you focus on the future.
What does the Five of Pentacles mean in love?
In a love Tarot reading, the Five of Pentacles is not a good omen to get. If you are in a relationship, it can indicate that you may be struggling with feeling abandoned, ignored or unloved within the relationship. You may be rejected or left out in the cold by your partner and in its extreme negative it can signify breakups, separations or divorce. It can also represent scandal, illegitimate children or being in a relationship that is considered improper or disgraceful by those around you. However, it can simply indicate that you and your partner could be struggling with financial issues or health problems and this may be causing a strain on your relationship. If you love each other you will have to make a decision to pull together instead of apart. If you are single, the Five of Pentacles can be an indication that you are feeling rejected or have been given the cold shoulder by someone you’re interested in. You may be feeling lonely, isolated or like an outcast. It can also simply represent being a single parent and the struggles that can bring.
What does the Five of Pentacles mean for career and money?
In a career Tarot spread, the Five of Pentacles is not a good omen as it can represent unemployment, job losses or going out of business. If you have lost a job or business you may be reliant on social welfare and this may be negatively affecting your confidence or causing you stress. Alternately, you may be finding your job a struggle but not see another option or you may be feeling like an outcast or isolated in your workplace. Whatever the case, the situation will not last forever so try to stay positive and work on finding alternatives. In a financial context, the Five of Pentacles can represent temporary financial hardships so expect money to be tight when it appears. In its extreme negative, it can also represent significant financial losses, poverty, homelessness, bankruptcy or financial ruin. Be very careful with money when it appears. If it appears in a future position it is a warning to putting financial safeguards in place to protect your financial security.
Is the Five of Pentacles a yes or no card?
The Five of Pentacles is best read by context in yes or no questions. Upright, it points toward Temporary financial hardship, Negative change in circumstances, Feeling left out in the cold, Financial loss. Reversed, it suggests Improvement in finances/luck, End of hardship, Positive change, Becoming financially secure.
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