Five of Pentacles Tarot Card Meaning: Love, Health, Money & More

It is a bit difficult to shine a positive light on this Minor Arcana card. The Five of Pentacles is one that few people desire in a reading. Because it represents sickness, poverty, and general struggle, the only acceptable place for this pentacle is reversed or in the past position.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. If the Five of Pentacles has presented itself as a part of your reading, don’t worry too much. The key is learning and growing from the hardships you are having or are about to experience. Knowing what the future could bring makes it easier to tailor our behavior to avoid future heartache.

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Five of Pentacles Key Words

Before diving deeper into the upright- and reversed Five of Pentacles tarot card meaning, and its connection to love, career, and life, below you can find a quick overview of the most important words connected to this Pentacles card.

Upright: financial hardship, struggle, lack of faith, rejection, sickness
Reversed: luck, triumph, better health, improved finances, recovery

Five of Pentacles Tarot Card Description

The image on the Five of Pentacles is one you’ll never forget. Although many pentacles represent financial success, card number five of this suit paints a dire picture.

The scene is set in winter, the ground covered in snow. Icy flakes can be seen falling from above as two poor souls trudge through the snowy build-up. Their ragged clothing suggests that they are impoverished. Their lack of shoes depicts how dire their situation is.

Behind them is a colorful stained glass window. Etched into the pain are five golden pentacles. As beautiful as the window is, neither seems to notice. The man to the left is on crutches. As he hobbles along in the snow, he raises his head to the sky. The positioning and his expression suggest he is searching for answers from God.

The figure to the right is probably a woman. However, it is hard to tell since most of his or her face is covered with a shawl and pointing to the ground in defeat. Although they are walking together, it is obvious that the duo feels alone. The colors they wear are earth tones, suggesting that they are so involved in their physical problems, they can see nothing else.

Five of Pentacles Meaning

In a figurative sense, the word snow means to overwhelm, cover, or imprison. If you currently feel trapped or beaten down by life’s problems, then it is not surprising that this card has surfaced. It’s also possible that things are not as bad as they seem but clouded by negative thoughts.

The Five of Pentacles in the upright position represents a long journey with many obstacles along the way. However, we must keep in mind that although we may not have control of the difficulties we face, the power lies in our reactions.

Money and Career Meaning

The Five of Pentacles represents struggle and loss. Money, career, and material possessions are often the first to be affected during hard times. If you’ve recently lost or job, your home, or had some other tragedy, this card can be representative of that.

There might be little you can do to prevent this stroke of bad luck, there is a way to handle these situations with grace. Although staying positive can be difficult, remembering that the situation is only temporary is key.

If you are struggling financially, do not be afraid to reach out for help. This is a lesson the paupers from the Five of Pentacles needed to learn as well. After all, the lighting from the church window showed that help was nearby but the two were too immersed in their own self-pity to see the glow.

Are there resources nearby that you aren’t noticing that can help free you from your current situation? It could be that a hopeless mindset is stopping you from recovery. Put on an armor of adaptability and keep pushing.

Love and Relationships Meaning

The poor beggars depicted in the Five of Pentacles card are not alone, but they might as well be. Although they are traveling the same path, they are not walking side by side. These two seem worlds apart. Divorce, break-ups, ending friendships, and rejection is usually viewed as a bad thing. However, staying in a situation that is toxic and stunts personal growth can be just as damaging.

If you feel alone or abandoned (physically or emotionally) or rejected by someone you care about, now is the time for you to strengthen your connection to your inner self. Research ways to improve self-care. You will make it down this path and come out on the other side, but only if you make yourself a priority.

Health and Spirituality Meaning

They say that ‘stress kills’ and it is really true. If you are worrying yourself over things you cannot control, you are only weakening your immune system. Your overall mental state will suffer as well. If you are feeling lost, drained, or emotionally spent—stop where you are. To continue on the way that you are going will only deplete the energy you have left.

Instead, put yourself, your healing, and spiritual desire front and center. No one is more important to you than you. Like on the airplane when they tell us to take care of our own oxygen mask first before helping others. The message is the same for your health and spiritual wellbeing.

Five of Pentacles Reversed

If the Five of Pentacles presented itself in the reversed position, you’re in luck. Instead of representing disappointment and loss, this flipped Minor Arcana signals that recovery is in full force. If you have been going through a hard time at work or at home, expect the tides to shift.

The same is true with your physical or emotional well-being. Now is a good time to try new things, say ‘yes’ instead of ‘no’, and focus on what you want and not what you lack. A season of triumph is being ushered through the door.

Five of Pentacles: Yes or No 

The answer in a yes or no reading is an unfortunate, no. The Five of Pentacles predicts a period of bad luck with financial or emotional troubles. Before you make any major decisions, you’ll need to prepare yourself for the times ahead.

What resources do you have available? Are there solutions right in front of you that fear or doubt are stopping you from seeing? Although the overall tone is negative, don’t give up. You must have faith that things will work out for best. 

Important Card Combinations

Financial hardship, struggle, lack of faith, rejection, sickness. The Five of Pentacles is not all puppies and rainbows. Yet, when combined with other cards, this meaning can change. Especially when major Arcana cards like Strength or Temperance show up together with the Five of Pentacles.

Five of Pentacles and Strength

Although things might be really difficult at the present time, hard times are only for a season. When this positive Major Arcana card (Strength) attaches itself to the Five of Pentacles, it brings a much brighter outlook. Your circumstances may not change right away, but you have the power to push through anything that you’re facing presently or in the future.

Five of Pentacles and Temperance

If you have been dealing with an illness of any kind, Temperance brings good news. Although the Five of Pentacles represents poor health, Temperance predicts that things are about to balance out for the better. Just remember to take advantage of any resources you have available such as treatments and support services.

Five of Pentacles the Six of Cups

Deep childhood wounds may be causing problems in your adult life. Contrary to popular belief, time doesn’t heal all wounds. If you had a bad childhood or struggled to get your needs met when you were younger, this past hurt can easily spill over into present relationships. This duo with the Six of Cups advises you to spend some time on self-care and exploring how your past can be overcome for total healing.

Five of Pentacles and the Five of Cups

Have you been feeling rejected by others? Lack of support can cause some very difficult and painful emotions, regardless of how strong a person you are. Although you may feel alone right now, things are bound to improve. By practicing gratitude (even when it is tough) and focusing what we do have instead of lack, situations like the ones predicted by the Five of Pentacles and the Five of Cups can flip.

Five of Pentacles and the Ten of Wands

The Five of Pentacles and the Ten of Wands together predict a situation, possibly in the present, where you are working very hard for little pay. You may feel as if you are underappreciated on top of being underpaid. This can lead to frustration and a dip in overall happiness. The good thing about this situation is that there is always the possibility of change–if you take the reigns. Take some time to think about what resources are available and to formulate a plan for improvement.

Five of Pentacles Card Art

The description of the Five of Pentacles in this article is based on the Rider-Waite Tarot deck. This doesn’t mean that I use other decks too. And there are so many stunning decks out there! Therefore, I added some of my favorite Five of Pentacles cards to this article.

Five of Pentacles FAQ’s

As a summary, you’ll find the answers to the most frequently asked tarot questions about the Five of Pentacles card meaning. If your question isn’t answered after reading this article, just send a message or leave a comment below.

Five of Pentacles in a Reading

That’s all for this pentacles card. Although it’s not really a “don’t worry be happy” card, don’t worry too much. Just remember that you will learn and grow from the hardships you are having or are about to experience. And keep in mind that as Bob Marley said: “every little thing is gonna be alright”.

If the Five of Pentacles appeared in your tarot reading, did the meaning made sense to you? Write down your comments and questions below. I would love to hear from you!