Four of Pentacles Meanings (Upright & Reversed)
Last Updated: October 29, 2022
The Four of Pentacles is the fourth 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.
Divination practices such as cartomancy can help us make decisions, offer guidance, and help us tune into our intuition when we are at a crossroads in our lives. Understanding the meanings of each tarot card can help you sharpen your interpretative skills so you can get the most out of your readings.
In this article, we will explore the different meanings of the Four of Pentacles in various tarot reading contexts.
Table of content
- Traditional depiction
- Key correspondences
- The upright Four of Pentacles meaning
- Upright meaning for love
- Upright meaning for career
- Upright meaning for health
- The Four of Pentacles as feelings
- The Four of Pentacles as a person
- The Four of Pentacles as advice
- The Four of Pentacles Zodiac sign
- Is the Four of Pentacles a yes or no card?
- The reversed Four of Pentacles meaning
- Reverse meaning for love
- Reverse meaning for career
- Reverse meaning for health
Pictorial Symbolism in the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck
The artworks from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck contain deeper esoteric meanings that tarotists love to decipher. The Four of Pentacles depicts a man wearing a crown and red cloak sitting on a stone seat. The lack of a throne causes questioning of his position of royalty.
He is in possession of four coins – one is resting above his head, one is held tightly to his chest with both arms and one is under each foot. You can see a town behind the man but he is alone where he is, focused only on his possessions and making sure he keeps hold of them.
His expression is neutral but focused, he knows what his priorities are and he is ready to stick to them. He is so scared of losing his coins, or having them taken from him, that he is doing everything in his power to keep them close to him.
The Four of Pentacles key correspondences
Upright keywords | Possessiveness, security, material possessions, scarcity |
Reversed keywords | Release, control, materialistic |
| Yes or No | Yes |
| Numerology | 4 |
| Element | Earth |
Ruling Planet | Saturn |
| Astrological Sign | Capricorn |
What does the upright Four of Pentacles mean in the Tarot?
The Four of Pentacles encourages you to examine your relationship with money and material objects. Are you holding on too tightly because you’re worried it will disappear or worried there isn’t enough to go around? Or maybe you’re spending money as quickly as you can make it because you don’t know how to look after it properly.
The tighter we hold onto something, and the more we obsess about it, the harder it becomes to get it and keep it, and the more negative our experience feels. Money and material possessions can bring joy and positive experiences to your life and others, but it’s not the most important thing about you, so try not to spend all your energy worrying about them.
When pulled in the upright position, the Four of Coins is linked with possessiveness, security, material possessions, and scarcity.
What does the upright Four of Pentacles mean in a love reading?
When you hold too tightly onto a person because you’re afraid of losing them, it can have the opposite effect and push them away. The lesson here is to love without attachment or dependency and to know that each party in a relationship is a whole person with or without the relationship.
Look at control and restrictions within your relationship, are you letting your insecurities and fear of loss determine your actions? If you are, practice communication, trust and compromise to lessen your need for control and obsession.
What does the upright Four of Pentacles mean in a career reading?
You’ve been working hard and focused on your goals, keeping track of your finances and moving forward to better your position, and it is paying off. Your hard work has got you to a place of financial stability and stable success.
Take this opportunity to be grateful for everything you have achieved and all the things you have. Be careful not to get so swept up in making more that you forget to enjoy what you have. The money you have earnt is meant to be enjoyed, so allow yourself to spend some money, enjoy your life and take breaks knowing that your position is not at risk.
Keeping track of your finances and having a safety net will help you feel more secure and able to take a few more risks in your career.
What does the upright Four of Pentacles mean in a health reading?
The Four of Pentacles in a health reading is advising you to listen to your body and what it is trying to tell you – ignoring problems won’t make them go away. You might be holding onto stress and tension that is showing up in your body in different ways or causing problems for your mental health. This card in a health reading isn’t necessarily a bad sign, but a sign to pay attention to.
You can’t always control what your body does and sometimes it won’t act the way you want it to, so make sure you give yourself what you need and get support where you need it.
The Four of Pentacles as feelings/emotions
If you are asking the tarot how someone feels about you, pulling the Four of Pentacles means they are scared of losing you. They might be letting their insecurities get the better of them and acting in a controlling or possessive way. There might be feelings of jealousy from this person they may not like the parts of you that they can’t predict or control.
Open communication and boundary setting is important in this situation – issues of control may be dealt with by addressing insecurities but watch out for them getting out of hand.
The Four of Pentacles as a person
As a personality archetype, the Four of Pentacles represents someone who is focused, determined and likes to be in control. They have worked hard and sacrificed to get where they are and they’re not about to let go of what they’ve worked for.
They might be perceived as selfish or materialistic, but really they are just looking for security. They are not big risk-takers and don’t like feeling out of control. They might have a scarcity mindset and struggle to see the great things they already have, but they are very determined and focused when it comes to growing their income and achieving their goals.
The Four of Pentacles as advice
If you are asking the tarot for advice regarding a specific situation in your life, pulling the Four of Pentacles means that you need to address your relationship with control and material possessions. Be careful not to put too much weight and emphasis on money and don’t be afraid to enjoy the things you’ve worked for.
Don’t let your fear of losing something cause you to hold so tightly onto it that it becomes suffocating.
What is the zodiac or astrological sign associated with the Four of Pentacles?
The Four of Pentacles is associated with the astrological sign Capricorn. Capricorn is a practical and logical sign, linking to themes of financial stability from the Four of Pentacles. There is a determination and resourcefulness of Capricorn that is reflected in the Four of Pentacles, but it also comes with a risk of being limited by stubbornness and rigidity.
Is the Four of Pentacles a yes or no card?
The Four of Pentacles is generally a ‘yes’ card, but it’s all about balance. It is often a sign that you need to let go of control and trust in the things you have. Trust that you are safe, trust that you have everything you need and that it isn’t going to be taken away from you. Below are some of my interpretations based on different types of questions:
- Will I get the job? Yes
- Is this new person in my life good for me? No – there may be issues of control and jealousy
- Will I achieve my current goals? Yes
- Should I make that investment? Yes
- Should I start my own business? Yes, but you’ll need to address your relationship with money first
What does the reversed Four of Pentacles mean in the Tarot?
Pulling the Four of Pentacles in reverse is a sign you need to let go. You’re holding too tightly and putting too much emphasis on money and material possessions. It can mean that you’re at risk of going too far with money as a driving force, causing your thoughts and actions to become stingy and obsessive.
These behaviours aren’t serving you, they won’t make the money come any quicker and they will cause other areas of your life to suffer. It’s time to let these obsessive and controlling behaviours go.
When pulled in the reversed position, the Four of Coins is linked with release, control, and materialistic tendencies.
What does the reversed Four of Pentacles mean in a love reading?
Let go of toxic relationships and be aware of power imbalances. There is no benefit in holding onto something that is ready to fall apart. Look honestly at what you’re holding onto and ask yourself why.
The fear of losing someone can sometimes take over and cloud your relationship, it may be putting a strain on the relationship, or it may be covering deeper problems that need addressing.
What does the inverted Four of Pentacles mean in a career reading?
Money isn’t everything and when it becomes the sole force for decision making you can end up somewhere that makes you miserable. Career success and financial stability are important to you, but make sure your career progression isn’t at the expense of everything else.
Ask yourself if your career and the money you make is genuinely making you happy. It might be time to cultivate more balance in your life, letting go of the need to always make more and protect your success in order to enjoy your life and spend more time with your loved ones.
What does the upside-down Four of Pentacles mean in a health reading?
The things you hold onto can show up in your body and health in unexpected ways. Stress, tension and emotion can build up and affect your health if you’re not making a conscious effort to release it. Ask yourself what is no longer serving you, and work to heal it so you can let it go.
Where are you holding stress and tension in your body? Acknowledging the build-up can help you address it and move forward.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 4 of Pentacles tarot card is a powerful symbol of possessiveness, security, material possessions, and scarcity. When this card appears in your reading, it is often a sign that you are clinging to something (or someone) too tightly. It is time to let go and trust that the universe will provide for you.
Despite its association with mysticism and occultism, the tarot has grown to become much more than a simple “fortune-telling” tool. For many tarot readers, it is a complex system made of symbolic imagery and psychological considerations (Jungian 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 Four 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 Charlotte Hamilton
Charlotte Hamilton is an artist, tarot reader and founder of Sugar Storm Studio, a creative studio that empowers weirdos, rebels and outsiders through alternative fashion, creative workshops and tarot. Find out more at www.sugarstormstudio.com and follow on Instagram @sugarstormstudio.
Learn more about the Suit of Pentacles
This page is part of our comprehensive list of the 56 minor arcana tarot cards & their meanings. If you enjoyed the read, then you’ll love the following articles.