Home › Tarot › Four of Pentacles
Four of Pentacles is one of the most talked-about cards in the deck — and no wonder.
Four of Pentacles upright
Security, holding on, control, saving, possessiveness.
Four of Pentacles reversed
Letting go, generosity, loosening control, financial release, spending.
Keywords: security, holding on, control, saving, possessiveness
The classic reading (Waite, 1911)
- Upright: The surety of possessions, cleaving to that which one has, gift, legacy, inheritance.
- Reversed: Suspense, delay, opposition.
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot is the oldest layer of the card — modern readers soften and expand these meanings.
Golden Dawn correspondences
- title The Lord of Earthly Power
- Decan Sun in Capricorn
- planet Sun
- zodiac Capricorn
- decan 20–30
Fortune telling with Four of Pentacles
- A rainy day is coming—it's time to save
The light and the shadow
In its light, Four of Pentacles: Saving for a rainy day Fasting as part of a spiritual practice Dieting in an effort to improve your body Abstaining from sex as a way of honoring a spiritual tradition or personal promise Being financially conservative Establishing a trust fund Opening a savings account
The reversed trap of Four of Pentacles: Being stingy Refusing to spend money that needs to be spent Withholding sex from your partner Taking care of your own needs exclusively, without regard for the needs of others Spending a dollar to save a penny Failing to be a good manager of the blessings you've been given
Questions to ask Four of Pentacles
- What factors determine how conservative or generous you are?
- What kinds of things must be preserved at all costs?
- When is greediness or stinginess a good trait to have? When might generosity work against you?
The extended portrait, upright
The Four of Pentacles represents stability and control, often in the material realm. You may be conserving your resources, managing your finances or property, or simply feeling grounded and secure. This card can also indicate a need for stability, whether in your personal life or in a situation you are involved in. However, be aware that holding onto things too tightly can lead to stagnation and missed opportunities.
The extended portrait, reversed
The Four of Pentacles reversed suggests that you may be overly focused on material gain or security, to the point of becoming greedy or selfish. This can lead to a lack of generosity or empathy, causing problems in your relationships or community. Alternatively, you may be holding onto something or someone too tightly, causing stagnation or a sense of being stuck. It's important to remember that material possessions or security can never bring true happiness or fulfillment.
Card details
- Arcana: Minor Arcana — pentacles suit
- Yes or no: maybe — timing matters
- Published: June 21, 2026
Read Four of Pentacles in context
- Four of Pentacles — love meaning
- Four of Pentacles — career meaning
- Four of Pentacles — money meaning
- Four of Pentacles — yes-or-no verdict
- Four of Pentacles reversed, in full
Four of Pentacles in combinations
- Four of Pentacles and The Empress
- Four of Pentacles and Page of Swords
- Four of Pentacles and Five of Swords
- Four of Pentacles and The Magician
Old correspondences
The older systems read as one web, and this one has clear ties: Capricorn — card of the Capricorn decan.