Four of Pentacles in the Rider Waite Tarot
Table of contents
Table of contents
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
Four of Pentacles Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Minor
Earth
In its general meaning, the Four of Pentacles symbolises security, material or emotional stability… but also excessive attachment, fear of loss, and resistance to change. It is an ambivalent card: it can congratulate you on building solid foundations, but also warn you against stagnation, closed-mindedness, and the need to control everything. It speaks of a desire to protect, secure, and hold on, but it reminds us that life is movement, and that what is frozen eventually withers away. The Four of Pentacles asks you this fundamental question: ‘What am I holding on to out of fear of losing, that is preventing me from moving forward?’ It invites you to dare to let energy flow — emotional, material or spiritual — to restore the balance between possession and freedom.
RWS Tarot : Arcana Four of Pentacles readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card Four of Pentacles
In matters of the heart, the Four of Pentacles reflects an attitude of emotional restraint, a fear of losing or letting go. It may indicate that one or both partners are clinging to the relationship without truly opening up, out of fear of change or vulnerability. It can also be a sign of possessive attachment, hidden jealousy, or an excessive need for emotional security. In a couple, this card invites you to re-evaluate your relationship with trust and freedom, as wanting too much control can stifle the bond. For singles, the Four of Pentacles may mean that you are stuck in the past or afraid to open your heart, which is preventing you from meeting new people. It is time to dare to let go, open up, and let love flow rather than holding it back.
Professional / Work reading
with the card Four of Pentacles
Professionally, the Four of Pentacles symbolises stability, but also a fear of taking risks. You may be in a comfortable position, but you are stuck in your ways, refusing to evolve or step outside your comfort zone. This card can also indicate an excessive attachment to status, control, or material possessions, to the detriment of creativity or collaboration. It encourages you to think about what you are really defending: your security or your fulfilment? Sometimes, the Four of Pentacles can represent a boss or colleague who is very rigid or stingy with resources, hindering the development of a project. In any case, it invites you to re-evaluate your relationship with work and security, and to consider making a move, even if slowly, so that you don’t get stuck in a rut.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card Four of Pentacles
In financial matters, the Four of Pentacles indicates cautious—sometimes overly so—management of money and material possessions. You are probably focused on accumulating and protecting what you have, but you also risk becoming trapped in a fear of scarcity or loss. This card can be very positive if you are looking to save, secure your situation, or stabilise your budget. However, it warns you against greed, inflexibility, or an inability to invest in things that could help you grow. Sometimes, wanting to keep everything also means depriving yourself of growth. It encourages you to find a balance between caution and flexibility, and to ask yourself this essential question: ‘Do I own my possessions, or do they own me?’
Family reading
with the card Four of Pentacles
In the family sphere, the Four of Pentacles can represent a stable but rigid structure, where attachment to traditions, possessions or established roles blocks progress. This could be a family member who refuses to let go, disagreements over an inheritance, or a general tendency to avoid change in order to preserve a certain image of stability. This card can also symbolise a protective but closed home, where emotions find it difficult to flow. It invites you not to confuse security with confinement, and to explore the possibility of a more lively, fluid family relationship, even if this requires redefining certain rules. It encourages flexibility, generosity and detachment, without denying the strength of family ties.
Spiritual reading
with the card Four of Pentacles
Spiritually, the Four of Pentacles highlights a resistance to inner change, a tendency to cling to beliefs, habits or practices that reassure you but may no longer truly nourish you. This card indicates that you may be too attached to a rigid view of spirituality, dogma, or a quest for control, even in subtle ways. It invites you to open your hands… and your mind, to let energy flow, to make room for new experiences or understandings. Spiritual growth sometimes requires losing a little in order to gain more. The Four of Pentacles, in this context, encourages you to let go of what limits you, even if it makes you feel momentarily unsettled.
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
5-Card spread
Four of Pentacles and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card Four of Pentacles according to its position in a cross drawing? What does it symbolise as a situation, obstacle, resource, piece of advice or way out? Explore its many facets and find a detailed reading of the card Four of Pentacles in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
