Three of Pentacles: Modern RWS Tarot Card Meanings
‘The Three of Pentacles’, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
RWS Three of Pentacles: Upright Meanings
Keywords
Teamwork, Collaboration, Mastery, Skill, Apprenticeship, Recognition
Generally
The Three of Pentacles signifies the initial rewards and recognition that come from skilful work and successful collaboration. It is a card of teamwork, apprenticeship, and the mastery of a craft through dedicated effort. This represents a point where your skills are being noticed and appreciated by others, often in a group or team setting. This can manifest as receiving positive feedback on a project, a successful first phase of a new venture, or the simple satisfaction of being a valued member of a team.
In a Love Context
In matters of love, this card often points to a relationship that is being built on a solid foundation of teamwork and shared goals. It can represent a couple successfully navigating a project together, like renovating a house or planning a future. It signifies a partnership where both individuals contribute their unique skills to create something stronger together. It is the energy of a relationship as a successful, collaborative project.
In a Money/Career Context
This card is a very positive omen for work and finance, representing the successful application of your skills and the power of teamwork. It might be a successful team project at work that receives praise from a superior, an apprenticeship where you are learning a valuable craft, or a business partnership that is beginning to show signs of success. It suggests that your hard work and dedication are being recognised and will lead to tangible results.
In a Spiritual Context
This can signify a successful collaboration in a spiritual group or the initial mastery of a spiritual practice. It may represent a study group where members learn from each other, the successful completion of an initial phase of spiritual training, or finding a mentor who recognises your potential. It is the energy of spiritual apprenticeship and the rewards that come from dedicated group work.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Collaborate with others. Seek out a team. Focus on mastering your craft. Share your skills.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
Successful teamwork. Recognition for your skills. A solid foundation for future success.
As Obstacles
A lack of teamwork is hindering progress. A team member is not pulling their weight. A need to be the "lone wolf".
As Hidden Energy
An unacknowledged talent. A potential for successful collaboration is being missed.
As Resources/Alliances
A skilled team. An expert mentor. A well-planned project.
‘The Three of Pentacles’ Reversed
‘The Three of Pentacles’ Reversed, Rider Waite Smith tarot deck.
Keywords
Poor Teamwork, Lack of Skill, No Recognition, Shoddy Work, Competition
Generally
Reversed, the Three of Pentacles can point to a lack of collaboration or a project that is suffering from poor quality work. It signifies a situation where there is no teamwork, skills are not being recognised, or the final product is shoddy and unprofessional. This can manifest as a group project where no one communicates, a feeling of being unappreciated for your efforts, or the frustration of working with people who lack the necessary skills.
In a Love Context
This card often signifies a relationship where the partners are not working together as a team. It can represent a lack of shared goals, a feeling that one person is doing all the work, or a general sense of disharmony and a lack of collaboration. It is the energy of a partnership where the foundations are weak due to a failure to work together.
In a Money/Career Context
This can mean a team project at work that is failing due to poor communication and a lack of collaboration. It might represent a feeling that your skills are being ignored or unappreciated by your boss, a business partnership that is falling apart, or simply producing work that is of a low standard. It is the energy of a dysfunctional team.
In a Spiritual Context
This can mean a spiritual group that is plagued by ego and competition rather than collaboration. It may represent a feeling of being out of sync with your spiritual community, or a personal practice that is suffering from a lack of discipline and focused effort. It is the energy of a spiritual path that lacks a solid foundation.
In Common Spread Positions
As Advice
Re-evaluate your team. Avoid working with incompetent people. Focus on improving your own skills.
As (Ultimate) Outcome
A project will fail due to poor teamwork. Your skills will not be recognised. A shoddy final product.
As Obstacles
A dysfunctional team is the primary hindrance. A lack of recognition is causing demotivation. Competition instead of collaboration.
As Hidden Energy
A secret resentment within a team. An unacknowledged lack of skill is sabotaging a project.
As Resources/Alliances
Help comes from leaving a bad team. The decision to work alone. A necessary critique of your own work.
Additional Notes on The RWS ‘Three of Pentacles’
Waite’s Divinatory Meanings of The Three of Pentacles
"Métier, trade, skilled labour; usually, however, regarded as a card of nobility, aristocracy, renown, glory. Reversed: Mediocrity, in work and otherwise, puerility, pettiness, weakness." (The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, 1911)
A.E. Waite’s Three of Pentacles Card Symbolism
A.E. Waite’s Three of Pentacles depicts a young artisan or stonemason standing on a bench, working on a stone archway within a church or cathedral. He is showing his work to two other figures, a monk and a noble, who appear to be the clergy and the patron who commissioned the work. The scene is one of collaboration and the recognition of skilled craftsmanship. The artisan is demonstrating his mastery, and the other figures are inspecting the work, signifying that his skill is being acknowledged and approved by those in authority.
Meditations On The Three of Pentacles Card
Am I working well with others, or am I trying to do everything myself?
Are my skills being recognised and valued in my work and life?
What is the next step I need to take to master my chosen craft?
Continue Reading About The Minor Arcana
Next Card: The Four of Pentacles
Previous Card: The Two of Pentacles
