TL;DR: Waite wrote in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911) that Four of Pentacles means certainty of possessions, holding on to what one has, gifts, heirlooms, inheritance; reversed it means suspension, delay, opposition. In modern Tarot reading, this card is often understood as clinging to wealth for a sense of security when upright, and excessive stinginess or fear of loss when reversed. Nhật Nguyệt's suggestion: review whether what you are holding onto is still necessary or only because you fear losing it, and regarding health, this is only a reference signal, not a medical conclusion.
Where does the 4 of Pentacles card sit in the deck?
The 4 of Pentacles belongs to the Minor Arcana, the suit of Pentacles, tied to the element of Earth, and linked to the material world, work, finances and the body. It is the fourth card in the suit of Pentacles, and often appears when a question revolves around holding on to or letting go of some resource.
This article separates four layers when reading the card: the original text by Waite in 1911, the modern reading, the Nhật Nguyệt understanding, and suggestions for applying it today. These four layers do not replace one another, nor are they a prediction of the future.
What does the 4 of Pentacles artwork depict, and how does Waite describe it?
The Rider-Waite-Smith deck was printed in 1909, with artwork by Pamela Colman Smith, while the divinatory meanings were set out by A. E. Waite in his book The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911). According to Waite's description in that book, the Four of Pentacles has: a figure wearing a crown, with a coin on the crown, both hands and both arms clutching another coin; two coins lie beneath the figure's feet. Waite notes briefly: the figure holds on to what he has.
Details such as the stone chair, the city behind, and the yellow sky are observations on the artwork, not wording in Waite's description. If read in an iconographic direction, they can be treated as material for reflection, and one should not attribute to Waite things he did not write.
What divinatory meaning did Waite give this card in 1911?
Waite writes that the divinatory meaning of the Four of Pentacles includes: the surety of possessions, holding tightly to what one has, gifts, heirlooms, inheritance. For the reversed meaning, Waite records: suspension, delay, opposition. This is the entire body of meaning Waite lists for this card in the 1911 book, including the part that seems to run counter to the rest.
A distinction is needed: the deck was printed in 1909, while Waite's divinatory meanings were published in the 1911 book. Waite's stated meanings are often different from the meanings common today, so one should not attribute modern meanings to Waite or to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.
In today's Tarot reading, what does the 4 of Pentacles mean?
In today's Tarot reading, this card is usually understood as clinging to wealth in order to feel safe and financially stable when upright; when reversed, it is excessive stinginess or a fear of loss that makes it hard to let go. The keywords commonly used are safety, clinging, stability. This reading is also the quick-draw meaning used by the site, not the divinatory meaning Waite set out in the 1911 book.
Upright and reversed in today's reading
- Upright: clinging to wealth in order to feel safe, financially stable.
- Reversed: excessive stinginess or a fear of loss that makes it hard to let go.
- Keywords: safety, clinging, stability.
In the Nhật Nguyệt understanding, what does this card suggest?
In the Nhật Nguyệt understanding, the 4 of Pentacles is the card of boundaries and the need for safety. It does not judge whether you are rich or poor, nor does it foretell the future, but suggests a question: what are you holding on to, and are you holding because it is still necessary or because you fear losing it.
On the gentler side, this card points to building a material foundation, and knowing your limits at work and in relationships. On the heavier side, it reflects a closed mindset, trading connection for a sense of certainty.
What are today's suggestions for work, love, finances and health?
Nhật Nguyệt's suggestion: with work, look again at whether you are protecting your achievements or clinging to a position that no longer fits. With love, try to recognise when care turns into control, and when keeping distance is the healthy thing.
Nhật Nguyệt's suggestion: with finances, saving and having a reserve is reasonable, but if the fear of loss governs every decision, it is worth reviewing. With health, issues of stress and anxiety should be seen as reference signals, not a medical conclusion, and professional advice should be sought when needed.
How should the 4 of Pentacles be understood in combination with other cards?
When this card sits beside another, today's reading usually treats it as a retaining or slowing factor. Below are a few common interpretations, for reference only:
- With The Fool: the wish to begin may be held back by a fear of loss.
- With The World: material achievement complete, along with the question of whether one is too attached to outer form.
- With 10 of Pentacles: a matter of wealth and legacy, along with a question about how it is shared within the family.
- With 6 of Wands: success may be kept for oneself instead of shared.
Quick reference table: What do the Four of Pentacles upright and reversed mean?
| Aspect | Content |
|---|---|
| Suit | Minor Arcana - Suit of Pentacles |
| Number | 4 |
| Main keywords | safety, clinging, stability |
| Meaning upright | Clinging to wealth in order to feel safe, financially stable. |
| Meaning reversed | Excessive stinginess or a fear of loss that makes it hard to let go. |
The table above uses today's reading, not the divinatory meaning Waite set out in the 1911 book.
Overview article on the topic: Tarot Basics: The 78 Cards and the Meanings of the Major/Minor Arcana
