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Five of Pentacles Tarot Meaning – A Card of Hardship and Growth

03.02.2025

By Stefanie Caponi

Tarot

The Five of Pentacles tarot card carries profound significance about struggle, loss, and hardship. While this card can signify a tough phase. It also brings with it a deeper lesson about resilience, growth, and recovery. Grasping the meaning and the nuances of this card can offer guidance, especially when you’re facing personal or financial challenges. Whether in love, career, or spiritual growth, this minor arcan speaks to the difficulties we face and the strength we gain by overcoming them.

Symbolism and Key Themes of the Five of Pentacles

The Five of Pentacles tarot card is commonly portrayed with two persons walking in the snow, clearly in a state of despair. One figure struggles to walk, dragging an injured leg through the snow. Beside them, another man trudges forward. Both of them are shivering in the cold. They stand near a chapel.

This imagery strongly connects the card to themes of hardship, isolation, and struggle. The pentacles themselves, often shown as part of the window, represent material wealth or financial stability. The cold, bleak environment emphasizes feelings of scarcity, loss, or exclusion.

Key themes of the Five of Pentacles tarot include:

  • Financial struggles.

Often, this card points to financial instability or material loss. It can indicate feelings of being unsupported or lacking resources.

  • Emotional isolation.

The figures outside the church represent a sense of exclusion or loneliness, signaling emotional or social disconnect.

  • Hardship and adversity.

The coldness of the environment and the limp of the figures emphasize the challenges we face during difficult times.

Despite the gloomy imagery, the Five of Pentacles tarot meaning also suggests that even in the darkest times, hope and support can be found. The church behind the figures symbolizes the potential for healing and spiritual guidance if one reaches out.

Upright Five of Pentacles – Meaning and Interpretation

When appearing upright, the Five of Pentacles tarot card frequently signifies a challenging period. For example, with money, personal connections, emotional struggles, or personal wellbeing. This card brings attention to the struggle you’re currently facing.  It signifies transition, not permanence. It acts as a reminder that even in the darkest times. Hope remains for a better future.

Key Interpretations of the Upright Five of Pentacles:

1. Financial woes.

If you’re experiencing financial difficulty or loss, the upright Five of Pentacles tarot card draws focus to these difficulties. You might sense that you’re on the brink of losing everything or facing severe financial downfall.

2. Health concerns.

In some readings, the tarot five of pentacles sometimes represents poor health or difficulties related to physical well-being. You may be dealing with illness, injury, or feeling particularly vulnerable.

3. Isolation and loneliness.

This arcan can point to feelings of emotional isolation. You may be facing obstacles by friends or family or facing challenges that make your burdens even heavier.

4. Insecurity and fear.

This minor arcan often brings up feelings of insecurity or fear of loss. Doubt about what’s ahead can lead to anxiety and concern about your current circumstances.

Even if the Five of Pentacles tarot card meaning may carry a sense of difficulty, it often reflects a temporary setback. It encourages you to reflect on ways to improve your situation, whether that requires reaching out for support or adapting to new essential modifications.

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Reversed Five of Pentacles – Recovery and New Opportunities

When the Five of Pentacles tarot card appears in reverse, it points to the fact that the tough times are almost over. While the upright position highlights struggle, the reversed Five of Pentacles tarot brings messages of recovery, hope, and renewal.

Key Interpretations of the Reversed Five of Pentacles:

1. Emerging from financial difficulty.

If you have been dealing with financial hardships, the Five of Pentacles tarot card in reverse is a positive sign that relief is on the horizon. This card may indicate that your financial situation is improving or that help is available if you seek it.

2. Healing from emotional isolation.

The reversed card can suggest healing from emotional detachment or loneliness. You may begin to reconnect with others, establish new connections for support, or discover that you’re not as alone as you thought.

3. Overcoming health challenges.

If you’ve been struggling with health issues, the reversed Five of Pentacles tarot can indicate a recovery phase. It suggests that you are on the mend and that better health is ahead.

4. New opportunities.

In general, the reversed Five of Pentacles tarot card introduces fresh possibilities. It may signal the start of a fresh chapter where you can begin to rebuild and move forward.

The reversal of the Five of Pentacles tarot card encourages a sense of hope and encouragement. While it acknowledges that difficulties are real. It also affirms that recovery is possible, and new opportunities for growth are approaching.

Five of Pentacles in Love, Career, and Spiritual Growth

The Five of Pentacles tarot card has specific implications in romantic, career, and spiritual growth. In each area, it shows the challenges you’re up against and offers advice on how to manage these difficult times.

Five of Pentacles in Love:

In lovestories, the Five of Pentacles tarot card can demonstrate feelings of abandonment, neglect, or loneliness within a relationship. You may feel emotionally disconnected from your partner or that your relationship is in a state of financial strain. However, this card urges you to recognize that love requires effort, and even though times may be tough, support is available if you open up to it.

Five of Pentacles in Career:

In your career, the Five of Pentacles tarot can point out a financial instability or a lack of support from colleagues or management. It may indicate that you are facing setbacks or feeling undervalued in your job. If you want to find a new opportunity, this arcan minor reminds you to persevere, as help may be closer than you think.

Five of Pentacles in Spiritual Growth:

Spiritually, the five of pentacles tarot card meaning prompts you to evaluate your position. You may feel disconnected from your spiritual path or that you are not getting the direction you seek. It suggests that reaching out to others in your spiritual community or seeking new forms of support may help you restore your bond.

FAQ

How should a tarot reader interpret this card in a general reading?
In a general reading, the five of pentacles tarot card meaning symbolizes a time of struggle, particularly with finances, relationships, or health. However, it also emphasizes that this phase is not permanent and that assistance is within reach if you seek it.
What does this card indicate about financial and material struggles?
The Five of Pentacles tarot strongly points to financial hardship, material loss, or instability. It may indicate that you're going through a tough financial time, possibly struggling to meet basic needs.
How does the Five of Pentacles reflect emotional isolation and self-worth issues?
Emotionally, the Five of Pentacles tarot card highlights feelings of loneliness and abandonment. It shows that you might be feeling low about yourself or having trouble connecting with others. This could be because of fear or feeling insecure.
How does this card affect career and financial decisions?

For career and financial concerns, the five of pentacles tarot guide advises careful consideration. It may signal a time to reevaluate your objectives and strategies. Especially if you are facing setbacks. The reversed arcan, however, indicates that recovery and fresh opportunities are on the way.


Ultimately, the Five of Pentacles tarot card shows the struggles and burdens that are part of life. No matter which way it appears. This menor arcan reminds you to stay strong and believe that even during tough times, healing and progress are possible.

Author Stefanie Caponi

Stefanie Caponi (she/her) is a Colorado based intuitive writer and illustrator. She has been reading tarot for over twenty years, and established her business as a professional tarot reader after creating her first tarot deck, The Moon Void Tarot. She is the author of bestselling Guided Tarot For Seamless Readings, Guided Tarot for Teens, and three editions of Moon Void Tarot. Her work is centered around exploring shadow work, healing, and creativity using tarot and astrology as a vehicle to access the hidden realms of the self. In addition to her work with tarot, she also illustrated the YA fiction series All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue. Connect with Stefanie on Instagram @moonvoidtarot and moonvoidtarot.com for tarot courses and to join her online coven space.