The 7 of Pentacles

Representing reinvention; the 7 of Pentacles represents the return of opportunity to transform and renew wealth. There is a particular focus here on turning existing forms of wealth into new forms that are more beneficial, either by exchanging commodities and resources for financial gain, or by putting financial assets to work through further investment and redistribution.

Where the Ace of Pentacles represented renewal with novelty or stagnation as its foundation depending on the orientation, the 7 of Pentacles in contrast represents transformation of existing wealth and the familiarity of well-travelled ground.

In the upright state the 7 of Pentacles portends a change in focus or perspective. This could mean that our goals for our wealth and material journey change and with that change our commitments shift, of it could mean that our goals remain the same but the path we had foreseen will fundamentally change with an entirely new route opening up to us.

In the inverted state the 7 of Pentacles represents frustration and the inability to create movement because of our adherence to ideology and commitment to approaches that have proven to be unsuccessful, weighing us down rather than empowering us. We cannot expect different results by repeating our past failures, until we recognise the barriers that we create within ourselves to our own growth we will not be able to overcome those barriers.

The 6 of Pentacles

Representing transience and movement; the 6 of Pentacles represents a return to balance, a recognition within those who can, that they have an obligation to those who cannot. The 6 of Pentacles reinforces the connected nature of wealth and the limit of that abundance. You can only take so much before you can take no more, you can’t get blood from a stone. When all sacrifices have been made, those who depend upon the sacrifice of others face destruction and destitution.

Whilst this relationship and inevitable destruction is often focused upon the poor, the risk of destruction does not truly lie with them but with the rich. Poverty poses no threat to those who are already poor; those who horde wealth and plan growth of their wealth on the premise of continued sacrifice will face their downfall when the limit of that sacrifice is met.

In the upright state the 6 of Pentacles represents the movement of wealth and the correction of imbalance. Those who have horded their wealth will experience loss, and those who have gone without will be repaid. This repayment will come by force, as the material realm tends towards balance and equilibrium, those who create imbalance are not above its ire.

In the inverted state the 6 of Pentacles represents the stagnation of wealth as a means to restore balance. Here growth will be disproportionate and favour those with less, punishing those with more.

The 5 of Pentacles

Representing conflict; the 5 of Pentacles represents poverty and austerity, our dependence on others for charity is emphasised here whether that be reliance upon the income and financial support we receive through payment for work, or the physical shelter and sustenance provided to us by another, ultimately our lack of independence is underlined.

In the upright state the 5 of Pentacles represents the conflict caused by this dependence. How much of a financial burden we pose, or how much obligation we create within others is the focus here, our attitude to this relationship will be amplified. Short term sacrifice for long term gain needs to be the guiding principle here, and to understand this dependence can be changed in time.

In the inverted state the 5 of Pentacles represents the reversal of this relationship, with the emphasis placed on the obligations that others have created within us; this could portend financial commitments made on our behalf by another, increased prices for example or the withdrawal or restriction of credit, or financial loss incurred through no fault of our own, for example damage and theft.

The 4 of Pentacles

Representing stability; the 4 of Pentacles represents a period of relative calm and reflection within the wealth and material realm. Where the Ace of Pentacles represented the opportunity for new commitments to be made, here the 4 of Pentacles places its focus on the existing commitments we have made and the effort required to maintain these commitments.

In the upright state the 4 of Pentacles represents an opportunity to plan ahead for the future, to make repairs, invest disposable income, relieve austerity, and make the most of an unchanging landscape whilst we have respite.

In the inverted state the 4 of Pentacles represents an opportunity to correct past mistakes, whether they be our own or the mistakes of others, and to revise commitments by reconsidering our obligations. Once again, the moment of respite is emphasised with the opportunity it offers, complacency is shunned here as this respite will not last forever.

The 3 of Pentacles

Representing connection; the 3 of Pentacles represents the connection between creation and destruction through causality and the awareness of the element of sacrifice being raised. The 3 of Pentacles represents our understanding of the interconnectedness of wealth, in rudimentary terms the adage “You have to spend money to make money” is encapsulated here.

In the upright state the 3 of Pentacles represents our connection to our community, our environment, and the material world around us. The emphasis here is placed on raising our awareness of how much or how little we contribute first to that physical world before we ask of it, or how much disturbance we cause within it. Here the emphasis is to recognise that world is the source of the substance we draw from in order to transform.

In the inverted state the 3 of Pentacles is a warning not to shun the communities that invite us to join them, nor to neglect the environment that attempts to nurture us. Do not bite the hand that feeds you as it were. Here we are warned that our capacity to create wealth of our own is limited by our connection to the material realm, the act of creating wealth for ourselves in reality is the act of taking ownership of the wealth of others. The emphasis here is placed on our charitable nature, and the sacrifices we make considered as investments needed before returns can be paid.

The 2 of Pentacles

Representing balance; the 2 of Pentacles is associated with the balance between creation and destruction, here in the material realm this is conceptualised as gain and loss of wealth. The 2 of Pentacles relates to the ebb and flow of life.

In the upright state the 2 of Pentacles represents loss and gain equally matched resulting in stasis despite the presence of movement and volatility. Here the 2 of Pentacles acts as a warning not to expect momentum to emerge from the frenetic nature of this transformation. Your foundations may be changing but your overall structure at least for now remains constant.

In the inverted state the 2 of Pentacles represents an imbalance between loss and gain; although often seen as a negative outlook or bad omen, this imbalance can be in our favour or against it, ultimately the context in which this card appears in this state needs to be considered. For a time either our income or our expenditure will be higher than the other but this imbalance will not be maintained indefinitely.

The Ace of Pentacles

Representing beginnings; the Ace of Pentacles is associated with opportunity, new beginnings and change. It can also represent the arrival of something new that will come under your responsibility.

In the upright state the Ace of Pentacles pertains to novelty, that which has not been seen before or which is entirely new to us. The emphasis here is placed on opportunity and potential, a journey of discovery, a blank canvas, or an acquisition. This card in this orientation is generally favourable, in this state it portends something of benefit.

In the inverted state the Ace of Pentacles as with the other Aces pertains to renewal; here again opportunity and potential frame the material wealth we have already acquired. This could be an opportunity to sell something we have held onto for some time, or an opportunity to transform something we already own into something else, for example you may find a use for a book that you had long abandoned or suddenly have need of clothes you have not worn for some time.