Eight of Pentacles Tarot Meanings

The card of mastery, dedication, and craftsmanship.

Last Updated: March 16, 2024.

The 8 of Pentacles is like being in the zone when you’re really focused on getting better at something you care about. Imagine you’re learning to cook, and you’re practicing the same recipe multiple times. Each time, you’re paying attention to small details, like how finely you chop the veggies or the exact temperature that’s needed to cook each ingredient, so your dish gets better and better.

This card is about putting in the work, bit by bit, to really get good at something. It’s like when you see someone doing something with ease and think, “Wow, they make it look so easy,” but what you don’t see are all the hours they spent practicing, and messing up, before they got it right. It’s about loving what you do enough to keep at it, even when it’s repetitive or tough, because you know each step is making you better.

If this resonates with you, keep on reading and I’ll share with you my own interpretations of what this card means for love, for your career and much more, in its upright or reversed position.

Illustrative Symbolism

Each card in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck is filled with symbols and imagery that are rooted in traditional tarot iconography, but they also incorporate elements from a variety of esoteric traditions, including Kabbalah, alchemy, and astrology.

This makes the deck particularly appealing to tarotists who look beyond the surface images to understand the deeper, more hidden meanings.

The Artisan at Work

The artisan pictured in this card illustration is deeply engrossed in his craft. This focused figure symbolizes dedication and the relentless pursuit of skill. It’s like when you’re so into a project that you lose track of time.

Pentacles on the Bench

Now, look at those pentacles lined up on his bench. They’re not just random objects; they represent accomplishments and the tangible results of hard work. Think about crossing things off your to-do list, each tick marking progress.

The Tools

Think of them as the skills and techniques we pick up along our journey. Just like a craftsman needs the right chisel or hammer for different aspects of his work, we need a variety of skills to tackle the challenges we face.

These tools on the workbench suggests that having the right resources and knowing when (and how) to use them can make all the difference in the quality of our work, and the efficiency of our process.

The Lone Artisan

Lastly, the solitary figure of the artisan teaches us about the personal nature of growth and self-improvement. It’s a reminder that, often, our most significant advancements are made in solitude, like those moments we get of clarity during a solo walk.

Important Associations

Upright keywords	Diligence, Knowledge, Detail, Hard Work
Reversed keywords	Hyperfocus, Isolation, Overworking
Yes or No	Yes
Numerology	8
Element	Earth
Ruling Planet	Mercury
Astrological Sign	Virgo

Interpreting the Eight of Pentacles in the upright position

The Eight of Pentacles is the eighth card in the suit of Pentacles (also known as the suit of coins, suit of disks, or suit of rings) and one of the fifty-six suit cards from the minor arcana. In divinatory tarot, the Suit of Pentacles represents the physical, material, financial and earthly aspects of our lives.

Depending on the spread you’re doing or the way you’re reading your cards, the 8 of Pentacles can mean several different, interrelated things. It can mean being diligent, working hard, or becoming completely absorbed in a project.

It can mean dedication, carefulness, or being methodical. It can also mean learning a new skill or increasing your expertise, honing your craft. So in what different contexts might the meaning of this card shift?

What it means for love

It’s not the sexiest or most romantic thing to think about, but let’s be honest here: relationships require work. So, if you see the 8 of Pentacles upright in a love reading, that means you’re going to have to put in some effort, do something for your partner, or pay more attention to your relationship.

Concentrate on the end goal of what you both want to accomplish together – what would make your love more successful for each other? The attention to detail is perfect for Virgo ruled 8 of Pentacles, so get together and dedicate time to prioritizing beneficial goal actions.

What it means for career

This is the area where the 8 of Pentacles really shines because the focus is on work. If this card turns up in the upright position in a career reading, it can mean you’re going to be working a lot, or you’re going to be learning something new in your role, possibly even expanding your responsibilities.

The Eight of Pentacles as feelings/emotions

If you’re asking the tarot how someone feels about you, pulling the 8 of Pentacles means they want to get to know you better or collaborate more with you. They see you as creative or hard working and want to share that with you.

They make others feel like they should put in the effort to overcome any limitations that have been blocking us to date.

The Eight of Pentacles as a person

As a personality archetype, the 8 of Pentacles represents someone who works very hard at everything they do. When this person gets to work on a task, the rest of the world falls away and they work until they’re satisfied with the result. They are detail-oriented, driven, and have a thirst for knowledge.

The Eight of Pentacles as advice

If you are asking the tarot for advice regarding a specific situation in your life, pulling the 8 of Pentacles means you might need to take a closer look at the situation in question or seek out additional information.

Do your research and due diligence and take your time. Anything you work on, whether it’s needing a solution or whether it needs some vision, this card shows you can accomplish it.

Astrological Association

The Zodiac Sign most associated with the 8 of Pentacles is Virgo. Virgos are known to be extremely dedicated and have an eye for details. They can even be controlling, obsessive, or too focused at times, which this card can certainly represent in both the upright and reversed positions.

Is the Eight of Pentacles a yes or no card?

The 8 of Pentacles is a generally positive card, and can certainly be seen as a ‘Yes’ card.

Below are some of my interpretations based on different types of questions:

Question: Will I get the job?

Card Interpretation: This card is all about work, so if you’re looking for a job, the 8 of Pentacles is a good sign you’re going to get it! If you currently have a job and are looking to move up, the 8 of Pentacles says if you showcase your skills, that promotion will likely come your way.

Question: Is this new person in my life good for me?

Card Interpretation: This person may push you in ways you’re not used to, but overall they can be a very good influence on you to keep your eyes on the prize.

Question: Will I achieve my current goals?

Card Interpretation: You’re going to have to work for it, but as long as you’re willing to do that, you should achieve your goals without issue.

Question: Should I start my own business?

Card Interpretation: You have the ability to get things done and do them well, so if starting your own business is something you really want, this card says “go for it!”

Eight of Pentacles as Timings / Timeframes

Tarot timing involves assigning precise timeframes or durations to the events and transitions indicated by the tarot cards in a reading. Personally, I use the tarot decan wheel, an astrologically-based method that aligns each Minor Arcana card with a distinct segment of the zodiac calendar.

Based on that, I determined the timing of the 8 of Pentacles to be from August 23rd to September 1st.

Interpreting the Eight of Pentacles in the reverse position

In a reversed position, the 8 of Pentacles takes all of the hardworking associations and takes them to an unhealthy extreme. It can mean overworking or being a workaholic, being nitpicky or obsessive, or even controlling. It reminds you to scale things back and bring some balance back to your life.

What it means for love

The inverted 8 of Pentacles definitely advises you to work on your relationship, but in a reversed position it can mean if you don’t start putting in some effort, you’re going to lose that relationship. It can also mean you need to take a step back and re-evaluate the balance of work being put in by both parties. Are you putting in way more effort than they are? It might be time to scale back.

What it means for career

When it comes to career, the 8 of Pentacles upside down is telling you either to stop overworking yourself or to buckle down and stop slacking off. You’ll probably know which, but if you need more clarification, take a look at the other cards accompanying the 8 of Pentacles to see which way you need to go.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the 8 of Pentacles tarot card is a powerful symbol of diligence, knowledge, detail, and hard work. When this card appears in your reading, it is often a sign that you are on the right track and that your hard work is about to pay off. However, the 8 of Pentacles can also be a reminder to take a break from time to time, as too much focus on work can lead to burnout.

Despite its association with mysticism and occultism, the tarot has grown to become much more than a simple “fortune-telling” tool. For many tarot practitioners, it is a complex system made of symbolic imagery and psychological considerations (Tarot archetypes for example) that can be used for self-exploration, meditation, and personal transformation.

The 56 lesser arcana cards relate to the day-to-day events of our lives, the more mundane aspects of our existence. Even though that part of the tarot is about the “smaller picture”, it symbolizes the constant choices we make that shape our lives, our characters, and ultimately our destinies.

Have you ever had a reading where the Eight Of Pentacles appeared? What was the outcome? What does that card mean to you personally? How do you interpret this card in your own tarot practice?

Share your thoughts and experiences with me in the comments below. Additionally, If you want to know more about the different tarot cards, feel free to check out my complete list of all 78 tarot cards and their meanings.

Written by Jamie Kieltyka

Jamie is an eclectic witch, spiritual mentor, and tarot reader who is passionate about educating others and dedicated to helping people trust themselves. Born in Chicago, she has lived on both coasts and has worked in Education for 8 years. As a child she recognized the magic in everything, especially writing. She has been on a dedicated spiritual journey for five years and has learned so much that she wants to share. In her spare time, she likes to read, write, and get out to enjoy the beauty of nature. You can often find her baking cookies and dancing/singing to 90s music. A homebody at heart, she loves anything to do with making the home more magical. She currently resides in central California with her handsome ginger tabby, Tabasco.