Five of Pentacles Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes/No

By The Mystica Editorial Team · Checked against our editorial standards · Updated 20 September 2026 · 6 min read

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

Pamela Colman Smith · Rider–Waite–Smith (1909)

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

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?

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

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.

Five of Pentacles in question readings

What Five of Pentacles says when it lands in a specific position. These are the interpretations our free readings by question show for this card.

• As their feelings (Does my ex still love me?): This person may be feeling lost, lonely, or left out in the cold. There may be hurt or regret, but they are struggling and may not feel they have much to offer right now.
• As what they are not showing (Does he like me?): What they are not showing is how much they are going through. Stress, worry, or a sense of lack may be keeping them distant, and it may have nothing to do with how they see you.
• As the outcome in a reconciliation reading (Will he come back?): This leans toward a difficult stretch rather than a warm reunion. The card suggests loneliness may linger for a while, yet help and comfort are nearer than they seem, even if not from this person.
• As what is coming in love (Will I find love?): A difficult season may be passing, but help is close. Support from friends or community can lift you, and once you feel less alone, you will be more open to someone new.
• As the outcome for work (Will I get the job?): The outcome leans toward a challenging period. This is not the card of an easy win; it suggests delay or loss for now, and a need to seek help and rebuild patiently.
• As advice (What should I do?): Reach out. Ask for help, lean on community, and accept support without shame. The way through this is not alone; turn toward the warm light instead of walking past it.
• Reversed in a love reading (Will we get back together?): Reversed, the hardest part is ending. Loneliness eases, and one or both of you may find your way back to warmth, whether together or through healing apart. Recovery is beginning.

Pulled Five of Pentacles next to another card? See what they mean together with the tarot card combinations tool.

Popular combinations with Five of Pentacles: Five of Pentacles + Four of Pentacles.

Related cards

Dream symbols linked to this card

Money. Our dream dictionary explains how the same symbolism appears in dreams.