What does the Four of Pentacles card mean in a Tarot Reading?
The constructive work of the Three is consolidated in the Four, giving material wealth and power. In modern decks, it is primarily associated with the control and protection of resources, with stabilization and setting limits.
This card means achieving something with hard work. Minor Arcana Tarot card Four of Pentacles can indicate business, relationship with a partner, health, or some kind of project.
The meaning of the Tarot card Four of Pentacles is very multifaceted. It is impossible to tell for sure whether this is a good or bad Arcana. One way or another, like all Pentacles, it is associated with the material world.
Goal: Stability. Sure rate.
Element: Earth
Planet: Sun
Astrological sign: Capricorn
Depiction
A man sits on a ledge. He is dressed in a blue robe and a red dress. His head is crowned with a crown, and even higher above the crown is one of the four pentacles. The man jealously holds the second pentacle in his hands. The other two pentacles rest under his feet. Behind this man is a large, wealthy city. He looks so wary and suspicious, as if jealously guarding the fruits of his labor.
(For a detailed depiction, analysis of the Symbols and all Elements of the Four of Pentacles Tarot Card, click here)
The Main Meanings of the Card In an Upright Position
Key Words and Phrases
Enrichment. Possession. Paid hard work. Smart money management. Financial security. A solid financial foundation. Balanced budget. Ownership. Receiving the money. Material acquisitions and the ability to make them.
Reasonable business judgments. Hold on to your property with all your might. Requirement for guarantees. Buying a house. Conservative investments. Thorough study. Deeply rooted beliefs. Successful passing of the exam. Excessive precaution. Gift. Inheritance. You can’t be too careful.
The main meanings of the card in an upright position
“greedy” in terms of the expression of emotions;
refusal of a loan or credit;
concern about material success;
turn their backs to those who provided assistance;
concentration, decisiveness, prudence in business contracts;
excessive concern for the future;
greed, stinginess;
fear of any change;
one step to stagnation or collapse;
overly conservative attitude towards life;
closing the eyes to new opportunities;
ingrained prejudice;
fear of open relationships;
fear of being abandoned;
successful completion of cases;
excessive caution;
good intuition in business;
generosity, sacrifice, reward, service;
reliability, contentment;
confidence that is born of wealth, greed;
confidence in the future, stability, well-being;
satisfaction with the state of affairs, material wealth.
Situation and Advice
The Four of Pentacles stands for financial security. You may have a chance to get rich or increase your fortune. Sometimes this card indicates that you are too conservative or stingy because you are afraid to take risks. Are you clinging too much to your deeply rooted beliefs, trying your best to stick to the status quo? It seems that you are simply afraid of losing everything that has been acquired by your own labor. You must learn to shift some of the work to others, instead of trying to do everything yourself. Usually the Four of Pentacles indicates the so-called good “grip” in business and the desire to work hard for material gains. If your question was about the financial area, then the Four of Pentacles suggests that your money affairs will be in perfect order and some material acquisitions are possible in the near future. If the crux of the matter was an interest in a relationship with a certain person, the Four of Pentacles warns that in these relationships material interests prevail over emotional ones.
Persons designated by Upright Four of Pentacles Tarot Сard
Bankers. Financial workers. Wealthy people. Conservatives.
The Main Meanings of the Card In a Reversed Position
Key Words and Phrases
Greed. Uncontrollable fear of losing property. Budget problems. Lack of financial security. Negligence. Extravagance. Poor financial management. Loss of money. Inability to get rid of problems. Unsuccessful attempt to shift some of the responsibility to others. Inadequate payment for services rendered. Meager rewards. Delayed action. Obstacles. Envy. Fear of failure. Timidity. Suspicion. Justifying yourself. Selfishness. Counteraction. Lack of initiative. Unnecessary waste. Money problems. Unbalanced budget. Squandering. Failure to comply. Failed exam. Can’t get satisfaction. Possesive character.
The main meanings of the card in a reversed position
the values of the card are as in the upright position, only even worse;
major loss or major obstacle;
unreasonable spending, easy attitude to money;
suspicions;
failure;
greed;
quarrels over property / inheritance;
fence, limitation of outlines, rotation (circulation);
clutter, accumulation;
sentence, edge, end;
obstacles, barrage, slowdown;
opposition, distance from the goal, inability to control the situation;
stinginess;
loss of financial stability, impotence;
self-confidence, snobbery, obsession with money;
monetary losses, decrease in income;
indecision in business, loss of control over the situation;
dissatisfaction with their state of affairs, obstacles and failures in business.
Situation and Advice
You may be struggling with how to spend your money wisely, set aside savings, or balance your budget. Your thoughts are on security, finance, or some other area. You are holding onto something with all your strength instead of letting go. The point is that you are too timid or constantly making excuses, and this prevents you from succeeding. Delays in business are possible.
Persons designated by the Reversed Four of Pentacles Tarot Сard
The misers. Greedy people. Spenders. People who do not know how to manage money. Powerless people. Angry and envious people. Curmudgeons. Ultraconservatives. Those who care too much about money.
In the Spreads
The general meaning of the card is difficult to describe in one phrase. In a good way, it means the protection of honestly acquired property, money, the desire to maintain stability. In the bad meaning: greed, unwillingness to move on, “stuck” on what is, pettiness. What information the card carries for you depends on the question and the current situation.
Although its meaning has a general essence, it differs in the details of the interpretation, depending on the position in the spread and the topic of the question.
In an Upright Position
Four of Pentacles predicts a period of financial and material reliability based on the receipt of a solid gift or inheritance, as well as on the successful commercial activity of the querent. His hard work and business acumen have led to increased status, power and material rewards. All material and emotional needs of the querent are met.
Four of Pentacles in an upright position symbolizes over-caution, the desire to retain values, unwillingness to share, greed. This attitude is inherently hostile to life, because any attempts to “stop the moment”, to keep everything as it is, are not only in vain, but also contrary to the natural course of things. Thus, this card usually indicates that there is only one step left before stagnation. If the Four of Pentacles finds itself in a position that requires just such behavior, then this means that at the moment it is necessary to concentrate, limit yourself in something, retreat, or, having got down to business, no longer let it out of your hands. If the question in fortune telling concerns something new (idea, plan, business, etc.), then in this case the card advises to focus on the need for a comprehensive approach and attentiveness in order to understand the details, get the right idea and assess the limits of the possibilities of the conceived project.
The interpretation of the Four of Pentacles largely depends on the area of interest. The card can manifest itself in the sense of maintaining stability, in the sense of greed and stagnation.
Four of Pentacles means property, talent, gift. Preserving what belongs to you. Satisfaction with personal status. In addition, the established situation in business or in personal life with no worries. Good feelings about the future.
Four of Pentacles in the spread can mean that you feel that you are mired in material worries.
It warns of the danger of excessive stinginess in material means or in the manifestation of your feelings – you must share what you have, otherwise you will suffocate in the musty air of your limited life.
Pulling out this card shows that you are too concerned about material success and physical possessions. Plus, you’ve probably turned your back on a society that has provided you with opportunities to amass your wealth. Holding on to what you have accumulated gives you a sense of calm, but at the same time, there is a risk of becoming an unhappy, mean person. Nevertheless, you are focused, determined, and also prudent in your business agreements. You have clear goals.
The person has stability, but the fear of losing everything makes him defend his boundaries and rights, sometimes very aggressively, which repels others. Blocking and stagnation occurs. Selfishness, greed, the desire to save what you have acquired in any possible way.
Income growth is possible, but very slow and difficult. The person is in the past, fixated on past achievements. There is no desire to move on, there is no development. The result is stagnation which can lead to sad consequences and the loss of what he has now.
The person has achieved his goals and no longer wants to do anything. He is content with what he received, with what he has, content with little. He has no desire and energy for new achievements, there is no energy or very little of it.
The person needs to overcome his laziness, apathy, and then he will achieve more than now. The success achieved is the result of effort. Man has taken his place in this world and is trying to stay there and gain a foothold.
The card symbolizes security, but at the same time the person feels a lot of anxiety, as he is afraid of losing everything acquired by hard work. Therefore, a lot of energy is spent on protection and safety. Man does not allow accidents. There is no flexibility of thinking and the ability to accept reality. Tight control.
Four of Pentacles gives energy to get out of difficult and confusing situations. It helps to keep the borders, strengthen its position, and protect it from external threats. But the person feels that he is in a vicious circle. Whatever he does, everywhere he stumbles upon some reservations and unexpected little troubles. The card indicates court cases, clashes with the bureaucratic system, red tape in business.
In ancient interpretations, the Four of Pentacles symbolizes an expensive gift, inheritance, benefits, rewards, mercy from an influential person or life, profitable transactions with property. Order, lack of anxiety and sorrow. In modern times, it means a meeting with a stingy person from whom you do not expect any good.
In a Reversed Position:
The reversed position of the card is as ambiguous as the upright one. It can symbolize material losses, loss of stability, but also a forced movement forward, leaving the comfort zone.
In the reversed orientation, the Four of Pentacles Tarot card points to the problems of excessive commitment to material wealth and property: greed, avarice and stinginess. The fear of losing power or wealth is the main concern of the querent’s life, which prevents him from making urgently needed changes (the surrounding cards will show in which areas of life).
Once in a reversed position, the Four of Pentacles symbolizes disorganization, excessive workload, very rigid framework of restrictions. If the question concerns money and material wealth, then Arcana means stinginess or, on the contrary, wastefulness – those extremes that do not allow a person to have a consistently satisfactory material security.
The reversed Tarot card Four of Pentacles means opposition, uncertainty, delays, obstacles. Possible loss. Possible quarrels, especially with people close to the questioner (for example, quarrels over property or inheritance).
You are facing a major loss or major obstacle. Another meaning of the reversed card: you are too free with your money, you need to stop unnecessary spending.
The reversed Four of Pentacles indicates monetary losses, discord in the family. Property disputes, questions. Loss of stable income. Inability to organize, laxity, lack of a clear plan in action. Obstacles, delayed money. Blockage in life from all sides. Failure in exams. Refusal of a loan or it is taken at high interest rates.
At the same time, the card indicates new discoveries. The person learns to live anew, overcome his fears, barriers, clear blockages and stagnation in life. Manage your fears and panic. The man comes out of his shell. This is a rejection of security, stability. The possibility of a successful risk in good deeds. But don’t gamble with life and destiny. The person learns to express his feelings, release blockages and clamps.
In the Spreads for Different situation
In an Upright Position:
In the spreads for a specific situation, it has a good meaning. It symbolizes that everything is going according to plan, the result will be obtained within the calculated time frame. The success may not be as deafening, but it will be, as will be the benefit. However, try not to dwell only on the material sphere of the question that interests you.
In a Reversed Position:
The reversed Four of Pentacles in questions on the situation means some difficulties affecting stability. Perhaps this is external interference or your wrong actions. Stop, analyze the circumstances. If you don’t fix everything now, it can lead to serious losses.
In the Spreads for Relationship
In an Upright Position:
It is probably already clear that the Tarot card Four of Pentacles in spreads for relationships and love means a sense of possessiveness.
From this follows jealousy, unwillingness to give the partner at least some kind of freedom associated with going out. It can also mean a desire to only take without giving anything in return, selfishness, unwillingness to work on oneself and relationships. Another meaning of the card in love is stagnation. This is the typical everyday life, when one day repeats another, everything is boring and monotonous.
The Four of Pentacles indicates that the person is afraid of open, natural relationships, and is trying to replace them with given patterns of behavior. He “clings” to his partner, which is caused by his subconscious fear of being abandoned. Sometimes the Four of Pentacles indicates a relationship based on submission by one partner to another and imposed strict rules, the material dependence of one partner on another.
In a Reversed Position:
The reversed Arcana Four of Pentacles in love is a symbol of movement or opposition. Tired of being property, the partner revolts, tries to defend his rights, to break out of the cage. Quarrels, conflicts are possible, leading either to new rules of the game, where the two partners are equal, or to the end of the relationship. Often also indicates quarrels over money.
Sometimes it informs about the material interest of the partner in the relationship.
In the Spreads for Dates
In an Upright Position:
When dating someone, don’t stifle your partner with jealousy. They will want to break away from you – and they will be right.
In a Reversed Position:
Don’t try to control everyone. This will not bring people closer to you, on the contrary, it will alienate them.
In the Spreads for Family
In an Upright Position:
Everything in your family is safe and secure. There is no reason to be unsure. Everything will be fine.
In a Reversed Position:
There is too little involvement and compromise at home. All are busy with themselves, do not listen to each other and do not make concessions.
In the Spreads for Friendship
In an Upright Position:
You help your friends overcome difficulties. Don’t forget about your own problems.
In a Reversed Position:
You are not too generous with your friends, and they notice it.
In the Spreads for Money
In an Upright Position:
Stable, but little money. They are and are being received regularly, but there are no opportunities for profit growth.
In a Reversed Position:
It’s the same with finance. Unexpected expenses, financial losses, decline, bankruptcy.
In the Spreads for Education
In an Upright Position:
Focusing on your studies is good, but remember to give yourself a break.
In a Reversed Position:
Exam fraud is not a way to become a leader. Don’t even think about it.
In the Spreads for Career
In an Upright Position:
In work, it symbolizes routine, boring monotonous activity. There is stability, but there is no further development. The card can also indicate a person’s unwillingness to change an uninteresting job for a more profitable one just because he is used to it, or at least expects that it guarantees a stable income and well-being. The card predicts that many problems will soon be resolved, order will be restored and business (work) will return to normal.
In a Reversed Position:
Change, coups, loss of stability. Some negative circumstances associated with losses and the need to leave the comfort zone.
The Tarot card of the Four of Pentacles, appearing in a reversed position, indicates improper organization of activities, overexertion, excessive physical effort, which may arise from the inability to organize oneself or subordinates. Anything planned can go to waste due to stress or apathy. Sometimes the reversed Four of Pentacles speaks of external factors that can have, if not fatal, but still tangible and rather unpleasant influence on the professional activity of the querent.
In the Spreads for Health
In an Upright Position:
When asked about the health and Four of Pentacles is drawn, it often falls on hypochondriacs, when a person worries too much about his body, constantly comes up with more and more new sores. Although in fact everything is in order with health. Also, the card may indicate the need to cleanse the body of toxins.
Health is stable, but requires adherence to the regime.
In a Reversed Position:
The reversed Tarot Arcana Four of Pentacles on health issues most often indicates an exacerbation of chronic diseases, a violation of emotional or physical stability. It is necessary to conserve strength.
Answer to Yes / No Tarot Spreads
In an Upright Position:
No
In a Reversed Position:
No
Self-Development Lesson
Pulling out this card may mean that you have turned your back on your friends and colleagues and closed yourself off to new ideas and creative thoughts. You need to open your heart and mind and listen to the advice of those who can help you.
Type of person in an upright position:
The card means a practical, conservative person. He prefers the proven old to everything new. His motto is “Better a bird in the hands than a pie in the sky”. He knows how to count and save money, is stingy. He is characterized by emotional chivalry, indifference to the troubles of others.
Type of person in a reversed position:
The card means a very selfish, stubborn, pathologically greedy person. Personality with a “double bottom”. Allows himself to scoff at other people’s poverty, calling all the poor lazy and rascals, while he himself is not averse to living at someone else’s expense, if there was such an opportunity.
Arcana’s warning
There is a likelihood of manifestations of greed and pettiness. An excessive sense of possessiveness can alienate people from you.
Final Advice of Arcana
Protect your property, interests. Maintaining stability is very important. But don’t overdo it.
In an Upright Position:
Leave the plan, it will not bring the desired results, as well as losses. Remember that greed has not yet brought anyone to good.
In a Reversed Position:
To live here and now, in life, by and large, there is nothing guaranteed. Prepare for serious spending and austerity.
Conclusion
Tarot card Four of Pentacles is a card of possession and preservation of what belongs to you. The property is yours by right you have earned or inherited it. (Note that “inherited” assets include skill and talent).
The Four of Pentacles also suggests that the questioner feels the need to defend or protect his property. Other cards in the spread will indicate whether this feeling is justified or not. This card also warns that resting on your laurels may be nice, but it gets in the way of moving forward and preparing yourself for the future.
It is up to you to decide what lessons to learn from the interpretation of the Four of Pentacles. This controversial Arcana is a good motivation to ask yourself – do you know how to save what you have and to what extent do you do it? Does this lead you to greed or possessiveness?
Discover other Minor Arcana:
Suit of Swords
Ace of Swords
Two of Swords
Three of Swords
Four of Swords
Five of Swords
Six of Swords
Seven of Swords
Eight of Swords
Nine of Swords
Ten of Swords
Page of Swords
Knight of Swords
Queen of Swords
King of Swords
Suit of Wands
Ace of Wands
Two of Wands
Three of Wands
Four of Wands
Five of Wands
Six of Wands
Seven of Wands
Eight of Wands
Nine of Wands
Ten of Wands
Page of Wands
Knight of Wands
Queen of Wands
King of Wands