Four of Pentacles
Clutch
“My precious.”
The Lord of the Rings
Four of Pentacles at a glance
Finbarre’s interpretation: The Four of Pentacles protects material security so tightly that preservation can become stagnation.
| Upright | saving, protecting resources, financial boundaries, consolidation, ownership |
|---|---|
| Reversed | hoarding, greed, fear of loss, financial rigidity, releasing control |
| Linked card | The Devil |
| Soundtrack | What You Waiting For? by Gwen Stefani Open the full Tarot Interviews playlist on Spotify |
Upright meanings
- Saving
- Protecting resources
- Financial boundaries
- Consolidation
- Ownership
- Caution
- Maintaining control
- Building a reserve
- Refusing waste
- Recognising what must be secured
Reversed meanings
- Hoarding
- Greed
- Fear of loss
- Financial rigidity
- Releasing control
- Money anxiety
- Possessiveness
- Blocked circulation
- Spending recklessly after restraint
- Security becoming isolation
Four of Pentacles in a reading
| Area | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Love | Practical support: Caution. Reversed: Money anxiety. |
| Career | Work: Maintaining control; building a reserve. Warning: Possessiveness. |
| Money | Financial theme: Refusing waste. Warning: Spending recklessly after restraint. |
| Feelings | Upright: Financial boundaries. Reversed: Fear of loss. |
| Advice | Prioritise: Recognising what must be secured. Watch for: Security becoming isolation. |
| Outcome | Potential: Ownership. Obstacle: Releasing control. |
| Yes or no | No unless control can loosen without destroying security. |
Symbols in Four of Pentacles
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The pentacle at the crown | Possession has entered thought and identity. |
| The held pentacle | The heart is physically shielded by material control. |
| The coins beneath the feet | Security prevents free movement. |
| The distant city | The figure remains outside community while guarding private wealth. |
A. E. Waite's original description
A crowned figure, having a pentacle over his crown, clasps another with hands and arms; two pentacles are under his feet. He holds to that which he has.
Waite's original divinatory meanings
Upright:
The surety of possessions, cleaving to that which one has, gift, legacy, inheritance.
Reversed:
Suspense, delay, opposition.
Source: A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, first published in 1910, with illustrations by Pamela Colman Smith.
Continue through the deck
- Previous card: Three of Pentacles
- Next card: Five of Pentacles
Written and interpreted by Finbarre Snarey, tarot researcher, founder of the British Tarot Archive and coordinator of the UK living heritage submission for Rider-Waite-Smith tarot reading practice.
These interpretations reflect Finbarre Snarey’s understanding of contemporary Rider-Waite-Smith tarot practice. They are provided for education, reflection and entertainment only and should not be treated as medical, legal, financial, psychological or relationship advice.
