Five of Pentacles Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes/No
Times may feel tough, but help is closer than you think. Do not be too proud to knock on the door.
| Arcana | Minor Arcana, suit of Pentacles |
|---|---|
| Element | Earth |
| Number | 5 |
| Astrology | Mercury in Taurus |
| Golden Dawn title | Lord of Material Trouble |
| Yes or no | No |
| Upright | hardship, feeling left out, worry, lack |
| Reversed | recovery, accepting help, improvement |
Five of Pentacles symbolism
Two figures struggle through the snow outside a church at night. One walks on crutches with a bandaged head and bare feet; the other shivers under a thin shawl. Above them, a lit stained-glass window shows five pentacles. Help and shelter are only a few steps away, yet they walk past without looking up.
The descriptions on this site refer to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (1909), illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith and designed with Arthur Edward Waite, which is the reference for most modern tarot. Other decks may show different imagery with a similar meaning.
Upright meaning
- hardship
- feeling left out
- worry
- lack
The Five of Pentacles describes hardship and the feeling of being left out in the cold. It can relate to money worries, job loss, a period of poor health or simply feeling excluded from a group or community.
The most important detail is the lit window. Help exists, and it is closer than it seems, but pride, shame or exhaustion can make it hard to see. The card asks you to look up and reach out: to friends, family, professionals or community services. Hardship shared becomes more bearable.
Reversed meaning
- recovery
- accepting help
- improvement
Reversed, the Five of Pentacles shows recovery, accepting help and improvement after a hard time. The worst of the winter is passing.
Keep accepting support and rebuild step by step.
New to reversals? Our guide to reading reversed tarot cards explains the different ways readers interpret an upside-down card.
Five of Pentacles in love and relationships
Upright in love
In love, the card can show feeling rejected or lonely, or going through financial hardship together as a couple. Solidarity matters now.
Reversed in love
Reversed in love, it shows reconnecting after isolation, or a couple coming through a difficult period together.
Five of Pentacles as feelings
As feelings, the Five of Pentacles means someone feels insecure, left out or unworthy, possibly afraid of being rejected.
Career and work
At work, it can show job loss, insecurity or feeling unsupported. Look for resources, networks and people who can help.
Money and finances
With money, it indicates financial difficulty. Seek advice from qualified services and do not let embarrassment stop you asking.
Is Five of Pentacles a yes or no card?
No
The Five of Pentacles is a no, at least until support is in place.
Want to ask your own question? Try our yes or no tarot, which uses the same yes, no and maybe values shown on this page.
Number, element and astrology
The Five of Pentacles belongs to the suit of Pentacles (also called Coins or Disks; Diamonds in playing-card terms), the earth suit that deals with money, work, the body, home and material security. In tarot numerology, 5 is the number of disruption, conflict and change. The Golden Dawn assigned this card to Mercury in Taurus and gave it the title Lord of Material Trouble.
Five disrupts, and material disruption means hardship. Mercury in Taurus, thought in the sign of security, can turn into constant worry about money. The Golden Dawn named it Material Trouble. The church window is a reminder that community and spirit are resources too.
Advice from Five of Pentacles
Look for the lit window. Ask for help: it is closer than you think.
Example reading
Illustrative example
Someone struggling to pay rent after losing hours at work draws the Five of Pentacles. The reading focuses on the window in the card: contacting local support services and talking to the landlord early.
This example is written by our editors to show how the card is read in context. It is not a real client's reading. See our tarot spreads for how positions change a card's meaning.
Related cards
Dream symbols linked to this card
Money. Our dream dictionary explains how the same symbolism appears in dreams.
Ask the cards about your situation
Draw three cards for your own question. Every card in your result links back to its meaning here.
Free tarot readingCard of the dayFrequently asked questions
What does Five of Pentacles mean in tarot?
Upright, Five of Pentacles means hardship, feeling left out, worry, lack. The Five of Pentacles describes hardship and the feeling of being left out in the cold.
What does Five of Pentacles reversed mean?
Reversed, the Five of Pentacles shows recovery, accepting help and improvement after a hard time. The worst of the winter is passing.
What does Five of Pentacles mean in love?
In love, the card can show feeling rejected or lonely, or going through financial hardship together as a couple. Solidarity matters now. Reversed in love, it shows reconnecting after isolation, or a couple coming through a difficult period together.
Is Five of Pentacles a yes or no card?
The Five of Pentacles is a no, at least until support is in place.
Is the Five of Pentacles about poverty?
It often represents financial hardship, but it can also describe exclusion, loneliness or feeling unsupported.