Six of Pentacles Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes/No
Generosity flows both ways today. Give where you can, and accept help without guilt.
| Arcana | Minor Arcana, suit of Pentacles |
|---|---|
| Element | Earth |
| Number | 6 |
| Astrology | Moon in Taurus |
| Golden Dawn title | Lord of Material Success |
| Yes or no | Yes |
| Upright | generosity, giving and receiving, fairness, support |
| Reversed | strings attached, imbalance, one-sided giving |
Six of Pentacles symbolism
A merchant in a red cloak holds a set of balanced scales in one hand while dropping coins into the open hand of a kneeling beggar. A second figure kneels nearby, waiting. Six pentacles float above them. The scales show that the giving is measured and deliberate.
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
- generosity
- giving and receiving
- fairness
- support
The Six of Pentacles is generosity, fairness and the flow of giving and receiving. It can show you helping someone, or someone helping you, with money, time, knowledge or support.
The scales are the heart of the card: healthy generosity is balanced. It is neither martyrdom nor charity used to gain power. The card also reminds you that receiving gracefully is as important as giving.
Reversed meaning
- strings attached
- imbalance
- one-sided giving
Reversed, the Six of Pentacles shows strings attached, one-sided giving or debt that creates a power imbalance. Someone may be giving in order to control, or you may be giving more than you can afford.
Check whether exchanges in your life are fair, and say no to help that comes with conditions you cannot accept.
New to reversals? Our guide to reading reversed tarot cards explains the different ways readers interpret an upside-down card.
Six of Pentacles in love and relationships
Upright in love
In love, it shows a relationship where both people support each other. It can also point to an imbalance if one partner gives much more than the other.
Reversed in love
Reversed in love, it can indicate a one-sided relationship or affection used as leverage.
Six of Pentacles as feelings
As feelings, the Six of Pentacles means someone feels generous and caring toward you and wants to support you.
Career and work
At work, it favours fair pay, mentorship, charity work, grants and support from those with more resources.
Money and finances
With money, it shows loans, gifts, donations or financial help. Make sure terms are clear.
Is Six of Pentacles a yes or no card?
Yes
The Six of Pentacles is a yes, especially if you ask for help or offer it.
Want to ask your own question? Try our yes or no tarot, which uses the same yes, no and maybe values shown on this page.
Number, element and astrology
The Six 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, 6 is the number of harmony, restoration and exchange. The Golden Dawn assigned this card to Moon in Taurus and gave it the title Lord of Material Success.
Six restores harmony, and material harmony is fair exchange. The Moon in Taurus, where it is exalted, brings a nurturing, generous tone. The Golden Dawn called it Material Success: the kind that can be shared.
Advice from Six of Pentacles
Give and receive in balance. Generosity works best when it is fair on both sides.
Example reading
Illustrative example
A young graduate hesitant to ask a former professor for a reference draws the Six of Pentacles. The card encourages asking: support flows naturally when it is requested respectfully.
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.
Related cards
Ask the cards about your situation
Draw three cards for your own question. Every card in your result links back to its meaning here.
Free tarot readingCard of the dayFrequently asked questions
What does Six of Pentacles mean in tarot?
Upright, Six of Pentacles means generosity, giving and receiving, fairness, support. The Six of Pentacles is generosity, fairness and the flow of giving and receiving.
What does Six of Pentacles reversed mean?
Reversed, the Six of Pentacles shows strings attached, one-sided giving or debt that creates a power imbalance. Someone may be giving in order to control, or you may be giving more than you can afford.
What does Six of Pentacles mean in love?
In love, it shows a relationship where both people support each other. It can also point to an imbalance if one partner gives much more than the other. Reversed in love, it can indicate a one-sided relationship or affection used as leverage.
Is Six of Pentacles a yes or no card?
The Six of Pentacles is a yes, especially if you ask for help or offer it.
Does the Six of Pentacles mean a loan?
It can represent loans, gifts or financial help, and asks that the exchange be fair for both sides.