ELEMENT
Earth
PENTACLES POWERWORDS
Money/Work/Finance/Security/Abundance
FOUR OF PENTACLES POWERWORDS
Holding on / Planning
QUICK MEANING
The Four of Pentacles indicates that you are holding on to something tight. It brought you to a good place and you now sit with what you have created.
TRADITIONAL MEANING
Many people see this card as negative. I do not at all and the creator of this deck did not either. Waite said this card indicated a gift, legacy or inheritance of some kind. It shows a successful man who has had much success through careful planning.
CARD DESCRIPTION
A man sits on a stone cube seat. Far in the distance is the city he built. He holds one pentacle tight to his chest indicating that through careful financial planning he has achieved a level of success. Another pentacle sits on his head and a further two on his feet. He wears a robe of red with blue trim, a black cloak and a crown.
SYMBOLS
Man
The man represents you and where you are in your life right now. What are you holding on tight to?
Clothing and Crown
The red indicates passion and the blue brings a sense of spirituality to the image. It also connects with the pentacle on the crown chackra. The black cloak could indicate stagnation if this man is not going to allow change. The crown tells us this man has money, wealth and power and we sense he came by it by careful intellectual planning.
Four Pentacles
One pentacle is firmly held to the chest – the heart area. This tells us that the man loves what he has created and feels somewhat obsessive. The pentacle on the head tells us that the mind is involved in this card a lot to help make dreams a reality. The two pentacles under the feet represent security. Nobody can take them away and they make the man feel safe and secure.
Stone Seat
The stone cubed seat represents stability and matches the earth element and the number four of this card.
City
The city in the back ground represents what the man has created. He sits outside the city now away from everyone. He is making his plans for the next stage.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU EXPLORE THIS CARD MORE
In terms of fiances this man has made some achievements. If that city in the background was created by him then we can assume this man is not poor. In fact he has money but he is very careful what he does with it. We get the sense that this man got to where he is now through very detailed planning and execution. However many see this card as negative with a scrooge like figure who wont share his money and has isolated himself so he can keep the money safe. When you see this card watch what is your emotional reaction to the card. This will indicate what it means TO YOU.
When it comes to money do you allow yourself to ‘do it your way’? I believe money = freedom and for many women this is an important feeling to have. If you are financially successful then I congratulate you. If you are not – then I would ask why? What planning, focus and clarity can bring you to abundance in your life?
So if you get this card, perhaps ask some questions about your finances…
Do you know exactly how much money you have?
If you are working do you keep records of all your earnings?
What hard work were you doing?
Do you budget?
When you spend money on yourself how do you feel?
Can you see a clear future in your finances?
Do you do financial planning?
GOLDEN DAWN / QABALA
The Hermetic title for this card is ‘Lord of Earthly Power’.
On the Tree of Life, the Number Four cards sit on the Sphiroth Chesed which represents mercy. After the energy from the Divine enters Kether at the top of the Tree of Life, it next flows to Chokhmah. Chokhmah is the place of wisdom. The energy then flows onto Binah which is the energy of understanding. Then the energy leaves this upper triangle of energy (called the Supernal) and flows down to Chesed, the energy of Mercy. It also relates to the energy of Compassion and Grace. Therefore the number four cards in the Minor Arcana always have a gentle but firm message.
ASTROLOGICAL
Ruled by the Sun in Capricorn
FOUR OF PENTACLES REVERSED
When this card is reversed the energy of being in control is less and being stuck or obsessed is more. A person with this card reversed will find it very hard to let go or move forward. If you get this card you are not spending the money that you have, you are not relaxing about your finances and you are holding on wayyyyy too tight. If you get cups cards around this card you are most likely not letting go of a relationship that no longer serves you. If you get swords cards around this card you are having obsessive thoughts. Wands – your energy is super stuck and you cannot move forward.
Two important questions to consider with a reversed Four of Pentacles:
Why are you holding on so tight? What would happen if you let go?
Where do your fears come from – can you source them?