Four of Pentacles Tarot Card Meaning

Tarot, like astrology, has long been one of our favorite divination systems. Interpreting either takes practice. As you learn, we wanted to help you to quickly connect to the cards and use them in ways that are actionable and practical in every area of life. xoxo, Tali & Ophira

Co-authored by James Kerti

What does the Four of Pentacles tarot card mean?

The Four of Pentacles highlights what can happen when you hold on too tightly, especially when it comes to finances and material possessions.

This card has mixed interpretations. First and foremost, it’s concerned with your relationship with the material world: money and belongings.

It can be viewed as a lesson on the importance of saving and looking out for material needs. But in many contexts, it comes across as a cautionary tale about the dangers of operating with a scarcity mindset. This minor arcana card is often associated with a Scrooge McDuck mentality of hoarding wealth.

More than anything, the Four of Pentacles is an invitation to examine your relationship with money and possessions. Are you merely taking care of your own needs? Or are you perhaps overvaluing the material realm at the expense of your relationships with the people around you?

What is the Four of Pentacles zodiac sign?

The zodiac sign of the Four of Pentacles is Capricorn

Four of Pentacles Tarot Guide

Keywords for the Four of Pentacles: Possessiveness, materialism, scarcity, control, stinginess, being guarded

Yes or No: Yes

Planet of the Four of Pentacles: Saturn

Element of the Four of Pentacles: Earth

What does the Four of Pentacles card mean in a love reading?

As the Four of Pentacles is commonly associated with a high need for control and possessiveness. Its appearance in a love reading may indicate a relationship characterized by those themes.

Is it possible that your relationship is hampered by jealousy, insecurity or controlling behavior? If this card might be about you, it is a warning to work on those issues. Left unchecked, they will continue to plague your connections and prevent you from having the fulfilling (or lasting) relationships.

If the Four of Pentacles is talking about your partner, however, you might consider it a wakeup call about whether or not to stay in the relationship.

This card is often associated with deep-seated issues. If there are any past relationships, trauma, or patterns that you’re holding on to, the Four of Pentacles is an invitation to do the inner work necessary to let go. Working with a trained mental health professional might be valuable in this case.

What does the Four of Pentacles tarot card mean for career, money and finance?

The Four of Pentacles is concerned with finding stability. When it shows up in a career reading, it can mean you’re reaching a place in your work where you feel secure and able to consistently meet your needs.

This card is also a call to pause and consider how your career and finances (and your feelings about them) relate to your ability to connect to those around you. Sometimes we can become overly driven by our identity at work, or consumed by accumulating material wealth. When that happens, it’s not necessarily coming from a bad place. Childhood lack or insecurity can be carried into adulthood and shape beliefs and patterns.

Still, the Four of Pentacles presents an opportunity to explore those relationships and to work on any old wounds that are inhibiting connection.

What does the Four of Pentacles tarot card mean for health?

With the Four of Pentacles often pointing to old patterns and deep issues, in a health reading this tarot card calls attention to what you might be holding onto. What is having negative consequences for your health?

Childhood wounds are “kid stuff” and can be all too easy to ignore or bury over the years. If you feel like you’re holding on to old patterns or pains that are causing you ongoing stress, anxiety, or depression, the Four of Pentacles gently encourages you to seek support. This can include working with a mental health professional.

Four of Pentacles Tarot Card in Reverse Meaning

The Four of Pentacles in a reversed position can mean that after holding on to old pains or issues, you’ve finally come into a place of acceptance, of being able to let go at last. This could refer simply to old beliefs, or it could include letting go of possessions or relationships. If this is something that you’ve been working hard to do, the Four of Pentacles in reverse validates your efforts.

This card in reverse can also be associated with its upright position’s opposite: a lack of stability. If you’ve been on a spending spree recently, for instance, the Four of Pentacles reversed could act as a warning against continuing that behavior. It also may simply be a signal of a recent financial loss or missed opportunity that is continuing to affect your situation. Either way, it encourages you to take sound care of your finances moving forward.

Is the Four of Pentacles tarot card a yes or no?

The Four of Pentacles leans toward being a yes, so long as a yes involves keeping in this card’s spirit of proceeding conservatively and with frugality in mind. This card is about stability, not risk taking, so take that message to heart.

What does the Suit of Pentacles mean?

Pentacles are associated with earth signs, which help you plant the deep roots needed for long-term growth. Earth energy is very physical, tangible, and sensual, and people with earth signs like to have a steady foundation and are the steadiest and most grounded bunch of signs.

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Feature art by Diana Hlevnja