Four of Pentacles

Card Information:

Numerical Value: 4

Element: Fire

Upright:

Stability
Security
Control
Possessions
Conservation
Financial security
Prudence
Saving
Stability
Ownership
Protection
Materialism
Greed
Holding on
Conservatism
Financial independence
Boundaries
Self-reliance
Accumulation
Conventionalism

Reversed:

Financial insecurity
Loss
Greed
Hoarding
Material loss
Lack of boundaries
Overspending
Financial instability
Fear of change
Stinginess
Scarcity mindset
Financial dependence
Releasing control
Letting go
Over-consumption
Lack of possessions
Feeling trapped
Generosity
Sharing
Embracing change

Meaning of the Four of Pentacles:

In the Four of Pentacles card, there's a man sitting on a chair outside of a town. He has two pentacles beneath his feet, one in his hands, and another one on his head. The grand castle in the background represents the man's wealth. The man's tight and possessive grip on these pentacles reflects his fear of losing them. He holds onto the pentacles as if saying, "Don't touch my money," but he can't move anywhere, unable to do anything else, as he's trapped among these four pentacles.

The fourth card in the Pentacles series, the Four of Pentacles, represents a stage where a person has surrendered themselves to the material world in financial matters. Just like the man in the card, the person has sacrificed their body for the sake of money. Their body is only used to serve this money or to ensure the continuity of incoming funds. The person is so engrossed in money and material affairs that they've become immobile and can do nothing else. If they stand up, the pentacle on their head will fall; if they lift their feet, the two pentacles beneath them will be left behind; if they try to move their hands, they'll lose the pentacle they're holding. The person can neither move forward nor backward, nor can they use their hands and feet. They remain motionless in this position.

In this card, pentacles are positioned at the north, south, and center of the person's body, indicating that material world matters occupy both the subconscious and conscious levels of their mind. This person sees money, represented by the pentacles, everywhere they look, both internally and externally. Their life is dedicated to money and material affairs as if it's the sole purpose in life. The person who draws this card has become excessively attached to things of great material importance and cannot free themselves from this attachment, at least for now.

The Four of Pentacles also emphasizes that the fear of loss has become an obsession. The person has dedicated their life to not losing what they have, focusing solely on protecting their money. While this person hasn't made any progress in life, they believe that what they have is sufficient. Their mindset is, "I'm content with what I have, I don't need more; what I have is enough." Consequently, they have no intention of breaking out of their shell or trying new things.

The Four of Pentacles is a card of refusal to spend. It embodies the themes of stinginess and greed. The card's owner enjoys taking but dislikes giving. They are tough negotiators and difficult individuals.

They only think about their own benefit and often don't care if the other party benefits in an agreement. Their primary focus is always on taking without giving. Therefore, entering into a business agreement with them or attempting to get something from them can be quite challenging. Additionally, this person doesn't like making payments. They never gamble and have a risk-averse nature. If this card represents a boss, it signifies that the expected time for advancement is not on the horizon; in fact, the boss intends to cut costs.

Despite appearing as a negative card, the Four of Pentacles includes positive themes as well. The castle in the background of the card signifies that progress has been made, achievements have been unlocked, and accumulation is present. However, it also serves as a reminder not to be greedy and to emphasize the importance of sharing when necessary. Hoarding is not virtuous, and money is meant to be spent. Currently, there's financial stability, and money is flowing, but it's being accumulated and resisted from being spent. According to this card, conservative attitudes and rigidity regarding money should be put to an end.

This card also signifies excessive possession, claiming "everything is mine," and refusing to give. The card's owner doesn't want to share things with others, adopting a possessive attitude as if saying, "No, these are only mine, and I won't share them with you." Sometimes, it might relate to not liking to delegate tasks or trying to do everything themselves, which leads to a lack of time for other activities. This person has trust issues and believes that nobody can do the job better than them. In short, their intelligence is the only intelligence they trust, and they've become trapped in this mindset.

Although pentacles often relate to material matters, it's not always the case. While the figure in the card grasps pentacles as symbols of financial values, sometimes they can represent a person's loved ones, friends, or other values they are deeply attached to. This card can also be about excessive possessiveness. It may represent someone who is overly jealous, restricts their partner's freedom in a relationship, and exhibits controlling behavior. This person is so tightly bound to certain things that losing them feels like a fate worse than death.

In health readings, this card can indicate health issues related to constipation or indigestion. Sometimes, this card can also serve as a warning about obesity or excessive eating. It involves an imbalance between intake and expenditure. The person is storing more than their body can burn, and as long as they continue this lifestyle, they may face more significant health problems in the future.

Person Represented by the Four of Pentacles:

The person represented by the Four of Pentacles has become excessively captivated by the charms of the material world. Everywhere they look or reach, they see something of material value. For them, the worth of something is only meaningful if it holds material value; otherwise, it's considered unimportant. This person is also a hoarder. They love making money but hate spending it. Accumulating wealth has become the purpose of their life. They are shrewd when it comes to financial matters and not particularly self-sacrificing. Their mentality is about getting the most while giving the least in any endeavor. Their religious faith is money, and they don't engage in ventures that don't promise financial gain; they even avoid taking risks. This extreme materialistic mindset is unhealthy.

The Four of Pentacles also represents a person who refuses to change. When this card appears, the person may be stuck in the mindset of "I'm fine this way; I already have everything, why should I change?" Change to them means taking a risk. They are so afraid of losing what they have worked hard for that they avoid taking any risks. Because if they disrupt their current position, their moving body, the pentacles under their feet, the one on their head, and the one they are holding would all be lost. This doesn't suit them because those pentacles represent the accumulations they've made in the past. They don't have the intention to strive for more because they believe what they have is sufficient.

The reversed Four of Pentacles also represents an individual who is excessively greedy and willing to do anything for money. In their view, everything is fair in the pursuit of wealth. If there's money at stake, they believe anything goes. When this card represents a woman, it can signify a prostitute or someone willing to do morally questionable things for money. While they are ready to do anything for money, they lack the ability to keep the money they earn, and it slips away quickly. Even though they enjoy earning, they dislike spending. They are extremely conservative and miserly.

Reversed Four of Pentacles Meaning:

When upright, the man in control of the four pentacles keeps them balanced. However, when the card is reversed, he drops them all, starting with the one on his head. This symbolizes the loss of financial stability and a change in the flow of money when the card is reversed. The person who draws this card reversed may have taken risks and lost or may find themselves in financial difficulties due to not being prudent. It may symbolize a period where savings start to deplete, and funds must be spent.

When the Four of Pentacles is reversed, it indicates forced giving rather than generosity. The person may have to reluctantly part with some of their hard-earned money, and they make payments with reluctance. Money may be taken from them against their will, or they may be subjected to fines or even interest payments. In some rare cases, the reversed card could indicate being swindled or having their savings stolen. The person may have to unwillingly give up something they held onto dearly, and money could slip from their grasp, sometimes due to poor investments or fraud.

Four of Pentacles in Love:

When the Four of Pentacles appears in the context of love, it suggests a situation in which change is not occurring, and it may even be impossible. The relationship has progressed to a certain point but has become stagnant. Further progress can only occur if one or both partners are willing to accept change. Just like the man in the card, one of the partners is tightly holding onto something they consider non-negotiable, making it impossible for the relationship to move forward. In the relationship, one of the parties may say, "This is a must-have" or "This is my red line," and this rigidity hinders progress. The person who draws this card is best equipped to interpret the situation. Change can only happen when the partner with inflexible attitudes softens them a bit.

In the context of love, the reversed Four of Pentacles represents forced compromises in a relationship. When upright, the man in the card secures all four pentacles, but when reversed, he drops them all. This signifies making involuntary sacrifices and experiencing losses in the realm of love. Just like the money falling to the ground, the person in the relationship may have given up something and suffered a loss in the relationship, but this compromise was not willingly made; it was forced upon them. In a sense, when the reversed Four of Pentacles appears, it indicates that a person may have to give up something they didn't want to give up in their love life due to circumstances they feared. This could sometimes mean separation for some or infidelity for others. The person who draws the card may find themselves having to compromise something they held onto dearly in their love life.

Four of Pentacles in Career:

In the career context, the Four of Pentacles carries both positive and negative aspects. The card's positive aspects relate to achieving success and finally reaping the rewards of past work. However, its negative aspect is about the fear of change and risk-taking, leading to stagnation. When this card appears in the career house, the person may say, "This is enough for me in my career; if I take risks, I might lose everything." The person is stuck with a mindset of having clear-cut boundaries and non-negotiables, and they won't allow anyone to cross these lines.

When the reversed Four of Pentacles appears in the career house, it tells us that change is finally coming to a situation that seemed unchangeable. When upright, the person in the card secures all the pentacles, but when reversed, they drop them all. This represents reluctantly letting go of what they held dear and suffering losses they didn't intend to suffer. Just like the fallen pentacles, the person may have to make sacrifices and experience losses in their career, but these sacrifices were not willingly made. The reversed card may indicate job loss, losing a position to someone else, or facing undesired consequences due to mistakes made in their career. It serves as a reminder that even in a stable career, unwelcome change can disrupt financial stability and put a person in a financially precarious situation.

Four of Pentacles in Finances:

In the financial context, the Four of Pentacles warns against stinginess and refusing to spend money. It relates to the ebb and flow of money in commerce. Failing to maintain the give-and-take cycle can lead to economic downturns. When this card appears in the financial house, the person should consider increasing their spending a bit. The Four of Pentacles also appears when we are tightly holding onto certain aspects in our financial lives, saying, "I will never do this; it's my red line." However, it invites us to be a bit more flexible. The person may be excessively afraid of taking risks when they see this card. This fear can lead to stagnation and lack of progress. If they want more, they need to broaden their horizons and try new things.

When the reversed Four of Pentacles appears in the financial context, it signifies the involuntary losses we've given up. When upright, the person secures all the pentacles representing their values and financial stability. However, when reversed, they drop them all, indicating the forced sacrifices and losses in financial stability. The person may have had to do something they declared as a non-negotiable or unwillingly let go of something they considered essential. This card can also represent change forcing its way into a person's financial stability, disrupting their financial situation against their will.

Comments:

Please remember that Tarot card interpretations can be highly personal and situational. The context of the reading and the reader's intuition play a significant role in understanding the full meaning of a card. These interpretations serve as a general guideline but should be adapted to your specific circumstances and feelings.