Four 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

Protecting what you have is wise, but make sure security is not turning into fear of change.

Arcana	Minor Arcana, suit of Pentacles
Element	Earth
Number	4
Astrology	Sun in Capricorn
Golden Dawn title	Lord of Earthly Power
Yes or no	Maybe
Upright	security, saving, control, holding on
Reversed	overspending, letting go, greed or scarcity fears

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

Four of Pentacles symbolism

A crowned figure sits on a stool holding a pentacle tightly against his chest. One pentacle rests on his crown and two are under his feet. A city stands behind him, but he faces away from it.

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

• security
• saving
• control
• holding on

The Four of Pentacles is security, saving and control. It shows holding on tightly to money, possessions or control out of fear of losing them.

The card can be positive when it means building savings and protecting what you have. It becomes a problem when fear of loss keeps you from living, sharing or growing.

Reversed meaning

• overspending
• letting go
• greed or scarcity fears

Reversed, the Four of Pentacles shows either letting go and becoming more generous, or overspending and losing control of finances.

Find a middle path between hoarding and spending.

New to reversals? Our guide to reading reversed tarot cards explains the different ways readers interpret an upside-down card.

Four of Pentacles in love and relationships

Four of Pentacles as feelings

As feelings, the Four of Pentacles means someone is protective or possessive, or guarded about their feelings.

Career and work

At work, it favours protecting your position and resources, but warns against being too rigid.

Money and finances

With money, it favours saving and protecting assets. Do not let fear stop sensible investments.

Is Four of Pentacles a yes or no card?

Number, element and astrology

The Four 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, 4 is the number of stability, structure and foundations. The Golden Dawn assigned this card to Sun in Capricorn and gave it the title Lord of Earthly Power.

Four stabilises, and stabilised earth becomes possession. The Sun in Capricorn, power in the sign of authority, gives the card its controlling quality. The Golden Dawn titled it Earthly Power: security that can protect or imprison.

Advice from Four of Pentacles

Protect what matters without clinging to it. Security is a base, not a cage.

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.

Four of Pentacles in question readings

What Four 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 is holding their feelings tightly. There may still be attachment, even possessiveness, but they are guarding their heart and unwilling to risk being hurt or losing control again.
• As what they are not showing (Does he like me?): What they are not showing is a fear of losing control. They may be protecting themselves from vulnerability, holding back emotion because opening up feels like too big a risk.
• As the outcome in a reconciliation reading (Will he come back?): Things lean toward a standstill. Unless someone loosens their grip, this is likely to stay frozen in place, neither fully over nor truly moving forward, held in a careful but lonely stalemate.
• As what is coming in love (Will I find love?): A stable, loyal connection may be possible, but it is likely to come once you relax your guard. What arrives will ask you to share a little more of yourself than feels comfortable.
• As the outcome for work (Will I get the job?): The outcome leans toward stability rather than growth. Things are likely to stay where they are, finances protected, position secured, but without dramatic change or expansion. If you want more, a measured risk may be required.
• As advice (What should I do?): Loosen your grip, even slightly. Security matters, but so does room to breathe. Ask yourself what you are protecting and whether it still deserves that much of your energy. Open your hand a little and see what comes.
• Reversed in a love reading (Will we get back together?): Reversed, the tight grip begins to loosen. Someone may finally let go of pride or control, which can open the door to honest conversation, or to accepting that it is time to move on.

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

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

Related cards

Dream symbols linked to this card

Hair, Teeth falling out. Our dream dictionary explains how the same symbolism appears in dreams.