Four of Pentacles Tarot Card Meaning

The Four of Pentacles tarot card description is an interesting tarot card in that its upright position signifies mostly negative attributes, while the reverse position is somewhat of a mixed bag. As a Minor Arcana card, it also represents the details of our daily lives rather than major archetypes. With this in mind, let’s look at the Four of Pentacles meaning and see what it could tell you if it is drawn in a tarot reading.

Four of Pentacles Overview

This tarot card can be depicted in a variety of ways, but in most cases, it will show a man and four pentacles/coins. Sometimes he will have one coin in his hand, one under each foot, and one on the head. In other cases, he may have a coin in each hand, one under his feet, and one on his head. In either case, the picture is meant to represent an unhealthy attachment to wealth and materialism. That said, it can also represent other unhealthy attachments as well.

Situational Meanings

As with all tarot cards, both Minor and Major, the Four of Pentacles can mean different things depending on the supporting cards. It can also mean different things in different areas of your life. The major theme with this card is unhealthy possessiveness and learning to let go of things that aren’t good for you. This being the case, let’s see how this relates to love, health, success, and more.

Four of Pentacles Upright

Four of Pentacles Tarot Card Meanings (Upright): As previously mentioned, when it appears upright the Four of Pentacles in a tarot reading is loaded with negative qualities. In most cases, it means that you are holding onto things that would best be let go. This can be wealth, material possessions, feelings, or even relationships. In this way, it represents the fear of loss and the anxiety that goes with it.

Love & Relationships – Upright

If you’re in a relationship, the Four of Pentacles suggests that you’re holding on too tightly either out of jealousy or possessiveness. In either case, you’re strangling the relationship and may push your partner away.

If you’re not in a relationship, in a love tarot reading the upright Four of Pentacles card can indicate that you’re not open to opportunities that you should be. This could be because you’re holding onto feelings for an ex or that you’re dealing with emotional baggage that’s holding you back.

Job & Career – Upright

The upright Four of Pentacles meaning in a tarot spread carries somewhat of a mixed meaning when it comes to your career. While it does indicate that you’re in a stable position, it also means that you may be overly worried about maintaining that position. This can manifest as fear of conflict with coworkers, being demoted/fired by your boss, or just the fear of failure in general.

Money & Finances – Upright

The Four of Pentacles is very closely associated with money and finances making this a very powerful indicator of your financial fate. However, the upright meaning isn’t necessarily positive. While it can mean financial security, financial stability, or that you’re gaining wealth and saving money, it can also mean that you’re becoming obsessed with material wealth in an unhealthy way. In either case, it means that you need to reevaluate your spending/saving habits and finances.

Four of Pentacles Reversed

Four of Pentacles Tarot Card Meanings (Reversed): Unlike many tarot cards, the Four of Pentacles reversed is a mix of good and bad traits. It can mean that you’re ready to let go of toxic things in your life or that you are embracing a mindset of generosity. However, it can also mean that you have lost something through underhanded means such as theft, or that you’re losing things through gambling. Overall though, this is typically a sign that you’re no longer under the control of whatever it was you were holding on to.

Love & Relationships – Reverse

The Four of Pentacles reversed in a love tarot spread means letting go of emotional baggage in a relationship so that you can move forward and take things to the next level. It can also mean that you’re giving your partner the right amount of space, and not smothering them with excessive attention.

This card is also a good sign if you’re not in a relationship. It can mean that you’ve let go of the past and are ready to move on or that you have escaped the grasp of an overly clingy/possessive ex-lover. This can be helpful when you’re looking for new relationships and are open to new possibilities.

Job & Career – Reversed

Once again, the meaning of the Four of Pentacles reversed is mixed in this case. It can mean that you’re free of fear and anxiety because you’ve let go of your negative feelings concerning your own business, career or it can mean that you’ve lost your job, missed out on a promotion, missed a job opportunity, or suffered some other form of negativity at work. In any case, it is cause for deep introspection to determine its true meaning.

Money & Finances – Reversed

In the reverse what the Four of Pentacles means in a financial tarot spread is that you’re becoming more generous with your wealth. However, it can also signify financial insecurity or being taken advantage of which you should guard against. For example, if you have an abundance of wealth, you may be tempted to purchase things that are more expensive even though they aren’t necessarily of better quality.

Conclusion

Having a strong affinity with the Four of Pentacles can mean a variety of things but in most cases, this tarot card has to do with your mindset regarding your possessions. This doesn’t just mean material possession though, since it can apply to relationships, your position at work, and much more.

Overall, this card is a sign of caution that you must have the right mindset in dealing with your possessions or you could lose them. It also cautions against being too greedy/possessive and being too generous/excessive.

To embrace the positive aspects of this card, you need to strike a balance between these opposing mindsets. This will allow you to maintain the emotional balance necessary to manage your wealth, relationships, and career wisely. This requires a healthy amount of caution but also the self-awareness to realize when you’re being too clingy or obsessive over things.