Five of Pentacles: Modern RWS tarot Card Meanings
‘The 5 of Pentacles’, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
Upright Five of Pentacles Meanings
Keywords
Hardship, Poverty, Isolation, Loss, Rejection, Scarcity
Generally
The Five of Pentacles is a card of hardship, adversity, and feeling left out in the cold. It points to a period of significant material or financial loss, leading to feelings of insecurity, isolation, and rejection. The figures in the card are struggling through the snow, passing by a warm, well-lit church window, signifying that help and sanctuary may be nearby but they are unable or unwilling to see it or ask for it. This card represents a difficult time, a crisis of faith, and the profound psychological impact of scarcity.
In a Love Context
In a love reading, this card points to feelings of emotional abandonment and neglect within a relationship. You or your partner may feel unloved, unsupported, and isolated. It can also signify that external hardships, particularly financial stress, are causing a major rift in the partnership. For single people, it can represent a period of profound loneliness and a fear of rejection based on your difficult financial circumstances.
In a Money/Career Context
This is one of the most direct cards for financial hardship. It can signify job loss, a significant financial downturn, a failed business, or a period of unemployment. You are experiencing a real sense of lack and insecurity. It highlights a time when you feel rejected by the system and are struggling to make ends meet.
In a Spiritual Context
Spiritually, the Five of Pentacles represents a crisis of faith. You may feel abandoned by the universe, God, or your spiritual guides. The hardships you are facing have led you to question your beliefs and feel completely alone on your spiritual path. It is a "dark night of the soul" where spiritual sanctuary feels inaccessible.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Acknowledge the hardship, but look for the help that is available. Do not let pride stop you from seeking support.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A period of significant struggle and loss is unavoidable. You will feel isolated and insecure.
As Obstacles
A victim mentality or an unwillingness to see available help is the primary block. You are focusing only on what you lack.
As Hidden Energy
A deep-seated, unspoken fear of poverty and abandonment is driving the situation.
As Resources/Alliances
The resilience you gain from enduring hardship. The support that is available if you are willing to humble yourself and ask for it.
‘The Five of Pentacles’ Reversed
Keywords
Recovery, Hope, Finding Help, End of Hardship, Forgiveness
Generally
Reversed, the Five of Pentacles signals the beginning of the end of a difficult period. It is a card of recovery, hope, and finding sanctuary after a time of struggle. The snow is beginning to melt, and you are finding the help and support you need. This can manifest as financial recovery, finding a new job, or simply a shift in mindset from scarcity to hope. The isolation is ending as you begin to reconnect with others and with your faith.
In a Love Context
In a love reading, this card reversed indicates recovery within a relationship. You and your partner are beginning to overcome the hardships that have plagued you, finding renewed connection and support. It can signify forgiveness and healing after a period of neglect. If you are single, it means the period of loneliness is ending, and you are becoming more open to connection.
In a Money/Career Context
This card reversed brings good news for finances and career. It signifies the end of a financial struggle. You may find a new job after a period of unemployment, receive financial assistance, or see your business begin to recover. It is a slow but steady improvement in your material circumstances.
In a Spiritual Context
Spiritually, this card reversed represents a renewed sense of faith. After a period of feeling abandoned, you are beginning to feel spiritual support and guidance once again. You have found your way back to the light, and your crisis of faith is ending. It is a time of spiritual healing and finding sanctuary within.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Accept the help that is being offered. Let go of the past hardships and look toward the future with hope.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
You will recover from your recent losses. The period of hardship is coming to an end.
As Obstacles
A refusal to let go of past suffering is preventing you from moving forward. You are resisting help and forgiveness.
As Hidden Energy
The first signs of recovery are emerging, though they may not be obvious yet. A hidden source of support.
As Resources/Alliances
Help from an unexpected source. Your own resilience and newfound hope. A welcoming community.
Additional Notes on The RWS ‘Five of Pentacles’
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings of The Five of Pentacles
"The card foretells material trouble above all... For some cartomancists, it is a card of love and lovers--wife, husband, friend, mistress; also concordance, affinities. These alternatives cannot be harmonized. Reversed: Disorder, chaos, ruin, discord, profligacy." (The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, 1911)
RWS Five of Pentacles Symbolism
A.E. Waite’s Five of Pentacles depicts two impoverished figures, one on crutches and with a bell (often associated with lepers), struggling through a blizzard. They pass by the warm, glowing stained-glass window of a church, seemingly oblivious to the sanctuary it offers. The scene is a stark allegory for hardship, rejection, and spiritual crisis. It highlights the state of feeling excluded from warmth, community, and spiritual comfort.
Meditations On The Five of Pentacles
Can I get help in this situation?
What can I do to keep faith during hard times?
How can I build resilience from this situation?
Continue Reading About The Minor Arcana
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Previous Card: The Four of Pentacles
