Just like the fives of the other suits in the tarot, the Five of Pentacles symbolizes adversity. It shows two individuals walking outside while it is snowing. Not only are they cold, but they are also sick, poor, tired, and hungry. It looks as if they are lacking the basic necessities of life. A lot of people can relate to the two individuals in more ways than one.
One of the individuals in the card has crutches, while the other figure has a shawl covering her head. She is walking barefoot in the snow. There is a black wall in the background with a stained glass window featuring the five pentacles, suggesting a church of some kind.
More often than not, the Five of Pentacles is a bad omen. However, do not fret, as it can change depending on where it is placed in the reading.
Upright Meaning Guide
Temporary financial hardship, negative change in circumstances, feeling left out in the cold, financial loss, recession, feeling the world is against you, adversity, struggle, hardship, bad luck, homelessness, poverty, unemployment, financial ruin, bankruptcy, outcast, alienation, illness, divorce, breakups, scandal, disgrace
General Meaning and Interpretation (Upright)
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 Meaning Guide
Five of Pentacles Reversed Tarot Card Key Meanings:
Improvement in finances/luck, end of hardship, positive change, becoming financially secure, recovery from losses, making progress, overcoming adversity, paying off debts, forgiveness, health improvement/ treatment, being welcomed/accepted, becoming employed, improving/letting go of relationships
General meaning and interpretation (Reversed)
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 an 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.