Three of Pentacles Tarot Meanings

The card of collaboration, skill, and achievement.

Last Updated: March 16, 2024.

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The Three of Pentacles is like the universe’s way of giving you a high five for teamwork and collaboration! The card shows craftsmen coming together, each bringing their unique skills to the table. It’s as if the card is whispering, “Hey, when you join forces with others, magick happens. Together, you’re building something incredible.”

This card is your cheerleader for cooperation, acknowledging the beauty of blending different talents and perspectives. If you’ve been pondering a group project, a community effort, or even just seeking some advice, the Three of Pentacles is popping up to say, “Yes! Bring those minds together, watch the masterpiece unfold.”

It’s about linking arms with others, ready to co-create. That’s the spirit of the Three of Pentacles. It’s an encouraging nudge, reminding you that when you pool resources and expertise, you’re not just working on a project—you’re crafting a legacy.

Keep reading to understand that card throughout various tarot reading contexts: love, career… upright and reversed… and much more! By the time you’re done with this piece, you’ll know the Three of Pentacles inside and out. Let’s have it!

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.

Three Pentacles

So, the pentacles themselves? They’re pretty much the heart of the card, touching on all the real-world stuff like jobs, money, and getting things done. The trio of coins is a big deal because it’s like the universe’s way of giving a thumbs up to getting a project off the ground, turning those daydreams into something you can actually touch and see, and getting people together to make it all happen.

Arch or Cathedral

Ever noticed how many of these cards have an arch or a cathedral vibe going on? That’s not just for show. It’s all about the solid foundation and the wow factor of what we can achieve when we join forces. Plus, it hints at a deeper, almost sacred, side to our efforts, blending the practical with the spiritual.

Artisans or Workers

And then there are the folks in the card, working together like a well-oiled machine. This is a shout-out to how crucial teamwork is, sharing the same vision, and bringing a mix of talents to the table. Everyone’s got something unique to contribute, showing that pulling something off often means joining hands with others.

Tools

Notice the tools they’re holding? That’s a nudge about the skills and resources we all have up our sleeves to build our dreams into reality. It’s a reminder that it takes more than just a good idea to make things happen—you’ve got to put in the elbow grease too.

Clothing and Attire

The way these characters are dressed isn’t just for fashion—it tells a story. Their outfits reflect their roles and backgrounds, underscoring that everyone, no matter where they’re from, has something valuable to bring to the table. It’s all about celebrating diversity, and the strength it brings to any endeavor.

Collaborative Discussion

Often, you’ll see these characters caught up in a discussion, maybe hashing out the next steps or checking in on progress. This is all about the power of talking things out, sharing ideas, and staying connected. It’s a gentle push to remember that great things are born from bouncing ideas around and working through challenges together.

Important Associations

Upright keywords	Teamwork, collaboration, mastery
Reversed keywords	Selfishness, close-mindedness, misaligned team
Yes or No	Yes
Numerology	Three (3)
Element	Earth
Ruling Planet	Saturn
Astrological Sign	Capricorn

Interpreting the Three of Pentacles in the upright position

The Three of Pentacles is the third 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.

The threes in tarot are full of energy, representing creativity and growth, and the Three of Pentacles is all about growth in collaboration with others. Everyone has a role to play and it’s all vital to making great things happen.

One person cannot achieve everything all by themselves, we are stronger, smarter and more capable when we combine our skills and ideas. It is important to know your strengths and weaknesses in order to know your place in the bigger picture.

The Three of Pentacles encourages you to learn from those around you and seek out your team – the people who will support you and work towards a common goal.

Now is a great time to get creative and move forward with your ideas, have confidence in yourself and your skills, even if you don’t have the experience yet.

What it means for love

In a love reading, this card upright indicates that there is a deep mutual respect between you and your partner. You appreciate what each of you brings to the table and can celebrate your differences while knowing how to work together to work through any disagreements.

Communication is vital, so make sure you’re able to listen to your partner’s perspective and understand that they might see the world differently, but both of your unique experiences and feelings are valid.

What it means for career

In a career reading, this card upright is advising you to learn from those around you. Be confident to share your experience and take your spot as an expert in your field, but remember that other people will play an important role in getting the job done.

The key right now is teamwork, so be ready to get stuck into working collaboratively and sharing the load, it is only when you can work together that things will start moving forward. People are coming to you for advice and asking you to share your expertise.

You might feel inexperienced but know that your role and your ideas are as important as anyone else’s.

The Three of Pentacles as feelings/emotions

If you are asking the tarot how someone feels about you, pulling the Three of Pentacles means they respect you and are impressed by you. They care about your opinion and see you as a whole individual person, appreciating everything you bring to the table.

There is mutual love and respect from this person as you both see the benefits of working together and bringing value to each other’s lives.

The Three of Pentacles as a person

As a personality archetype, the Three of Pentacles represents someone who is an apprentice of life. They are learning in conventional and unconventional ways, taking in the world around them and learning from others.

They are growing their confidence and finding their place in the world. They are creative and full of ideas, but also prepared for hard work and ready to get stuck in, taking pride in their work and perfecting their craft.

The Three of Pentacles as advice

If you are asking the tarot for advice regarding a specific situation in your life, pulling the Three of Pentacles means that collaboration is key.

Learn from more experienced people and embrace working as a team towards a common goal. Put your ego aside and prepare to accept help and work collaboratively.

Astrological Association

The zodiac sign associated with the Three of Pentacles is Capricorn. It is the 10th sign in the zodiac, an earth sign and a cardinal sign. Capricorn energy is ambitious, determined and ready to get the job done. It is very work-focused, just like the Three of Pentacles.

Is the Three of Pentacles a yes or no card?

The Three of Pentacles is a strong yes card in the tarot, especially in relation to career and creativity. It is generally a very positive card to pull in any reading. The outcome is not without hard work but this is a good sign for a positive outcome. Below are some of my interpretations based on different types of questions:

Question: Will I get the job?

Card Interpretation: Yes – prepare to be part of the team, this is not an isolated role.

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

Card Interpretation: Yes – you bring out the best in each other with your different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

Question: Will I achieve my current goals?

Card Interpretation: Yes – if you set your mind to it and put the work in.

Question: Should I start my own business?

Card Interpretation: Don’t go it alone – so if you’re starting a new project make sure you’ve got a good supporting team around you!

Three 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 3 of Pentacles to be from December 31 to January 9.

Interpreting the Three of Pentacles in the reverse position

The Three of Pentacles reversed suggests a lack of communication and collaboration. You might feel like you’re walking against the current or that everyone around you is pulling in different directions for their own gain.

You might feel frustrated and be inclined to put everything on your own shoulders, unable to ask for help. You might find yourself or others being selfish and unable to open up to other ideas and perspectives.

What it means for love

You are struggling to see things from your partner’s perspective. You each have your own ideas and focuses and you’re not aligned with the vision of your relationship.

You will struggle to move forward in this relationship if you can’t work together and begin to value one another’s unique experiences.

You are both individuals and that’s what makes the relationship interesting and unique, so be sure to make communication and collaboration a priority.

What it means for career

Pulling the Three of Pentacles in the reversed position indicates that you might be feeling the frustration of everyone’s ideas and opinions right now, and like you can’t move forward because everyone has different opinions of the right way to do things.

It might also feel difficult for you to contribute your own ideas because you’re not confident in them or you think they won’t be heard. Try to really listen to what others are saying and find a common ground.

Don’t get too attached to your own ideas that you miss out on what others can bring. The best things happen when you’re able to work together and bring the best bits from everyone’s ideas.

Conclusion

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 3 of Pentacles tarot card is a powerful symbol of teamwork, collaboration, and mastery. When this card appears in your reading, it is often a sign that you are working towards a common goal with others, and that your combined efforts will lead to success. It can also be a reminder that it is important to recognize when we need help from others and to be willing to ask for it when needed.

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 🙂 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.