Five 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
Five of Pentacles Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Minor
Earth
In its general meaning, the Five of Pentacles is the card of lack, precariousness, exclusion or rejection — but also of potential solidarity and resilience. It shows that you may be going through a difficult period, whether materially, emotionally or spiritually, where you feel alone, vulnerable or helpless. But this card is not a condemnation: it is a call to seek the light in the darkness, to reach out or accept a helping hand. It reminds you that external resources can be invisible if we don’t want to see them, and that the return to warmth and abundance begins with a first step of trust. The Five of Pentacles tells you: ‘This is not the end. It is a journey. And you do not have to make it alone.’
RWS Tarot : Arcana Five of Pentacles readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card Five of Pentacles
In matters of the heart, the Five of Pentacles symbolises a period of coldness, emotional deprivation or relationship difficulties. It can evoke a couple going through a crisis, a feeling of abandonment or mutual misunderstanding, or even a painful break-up where one of the two feels left behind. This card also reflects a form of loneliness within a couple, where love is still there but emotional resources are dwindling. For single people, it can illustrate a deep, unhealed heart wound, a feeling of rejection, or the belief that love is not (or no longer) accessible. Yet despite this atmosphere of loss, the Five of Pentacles contains a glimmer of hope: it reminds us that warmth is still possible if we are willing to ask for support, show vulnerability, or go through the ordeal together, rather than alone.
Professional / Work reading
with the card Five of Pentacles
Professionally, the Five of Pentacles indicates a period of instability, precariousness or feelings of exclusion at work. This could be a job loss, a job application rejection, a professional failure or a feeling of uselessness in a position. This card reflects an atmosphere where you feel isolated, unrecognised or insecure, whether financially or psychologically. It may also highlight a conflict of values between you and your professional environment. However, it urges you not to get stuck in this negative mindset: support is available, but it may come from unexpected sources, such as supportive colleagues, training or a change of direction. The Five of Pentacles encourages you not to lose hope, to ask for help, and to see this challenge as a transition rather than an end.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card Five of Pentacles
In the financial realm, the Five of Pentacles is clearly a card of lack, loss, or economic hardship. It can signal a period of debt, unexpected expenses, unemployment, or temporary instability. But more than the financial reality itself, it points above all to feelings of fear, insecurity, and sometimes shame in the face of the situation. It is a card that speaks of material vulnerability, but also of the refusal to ask for help or support, often out of pride or fear of judgement. However, a helping hand may be available in the form of social assistance, loved ones or new opportunities. The message of the Five of Pentacles is clear: you are not alone, even if you think you are. It is by accepting your fragility that you will gradually regain your power to act.
Family reading
with the card Five of Pentacles
In the family sphere, the Five of Pentacles reflects tensions related to a lack of support, rejection, or perceived or actual exclusion. This may concern a person who feels isolated from the rest of the family, an unresolved conflict, or material concerns that weaken the family structure (lack of housing, income, resources). This card evokes a need for solidarity, but also a difficulty in asking for or offering it. It highlights the need to rebuild bonds, recognise each other’s suffering, and move away from judgement in order to return to mutual support. The Five of Pentacles invites us to reconcile the clan with kindness and listening, and reminds us that even in the worst moments, human warmth remains a precious resource.
Spiritual reading
with the card Five of Pentacles
Spiritually, the Five of Pentacles represents a ‘dark night of the soul,’ a time when you feel abandoned by life, by your guides, or even by your faith. It is a phase of spiritual emptiness, of deep inner loneliness, when you may believe that all is lost. Yet this card is also one of the most transformative: it pushes you to discover the light in destitution, to reconnect with what is essential when everything seems to be falling apart. It teaches you that faith is not born in abundance, but in the depths of lack, when there is nothing left but yourself. The Five of Pentacles is also about learning humility, compassion for oneself, and solidarity with others who are suffering. It is a card of stripping away… but also of inner rebirth.
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
Five of Pentacles and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card Five 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 Five of Pentacles in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
