Four of Pentacles Tarot Card Meaning

Four pentacles are arranged in a pattern of two vertical and two horizontal, though the lines do not intersect. The two vertical ones are positioned above the two horizontal ones.

The central figure in the scene faces us, sitting on a square stone seat with a firm and unyielding posture. He has strung together these four pentacles in a vertical and horizontal arrangement.

He tightly embraces the pentacles with both hands, with one foot on each pentacle, and a crown on his head, which also has a pentacle on top.

He must remain still, or else the pentacle on his head would fall first, but he seems to take pleasure in possessing this wealth.

This wealthy man has a greedy look in his eyes, his lips tightly pursed, and his entire body is in a state of stillness, appearing very rigid. He is dressed in a deep reddish-brown garment, with two sleeves and the hem exposed, draped in a black cloak, showing a noble demeanor, but also revealing his inner closure.

Behind the wealthy man is the backdrop of an entire town, with rows of high and low buildings clearly visible, and in the far distance, mountains can be faintly seen as a barrier. The foreground ground is flat and colorless, and the background sky is also a colorless expanse.

Indeed, the entire arm encircling and still as a mountain is also a posture of practicing. The posture of holding money in the hand, if replaced with something else, could represent a different state. However, if one is too attached to material things, it becomes a kind of rigidity.

Man Holding and Stepping on Pentacles

The main figure in the card is a man who holds a pentacle close to his heart and has his feet firmly placed on two other pentacles. This is a direct representation of his deep attachment to material possessions, wealth, and security. He is unwilling to let go, clinging to what he owns with great intensity.

Fourth Pentacle on the Crown

The fourth pentacle placed above the man’s head or on a crown signifies his mental and perhaps egotistical attachment to wealth. It shows that his thoughts are consumed by his possessions, to the point where it rules over his identity and self-worth.

Background Town or City

The town or city that is often portrayed in the background of the card indicates that the figure is disconnected from his community and social ties. His concern for material wealth has distanced him from society, suggesting the loss of something more valuable than material goods.

Rigid Posture

The man’s rigid posture points to his emotional and spiritual rigidity. He is closed off to anything that doesn’t directly concern his wealth or material possessions. This lack of emotional and spiritual flexibility is indicative of how his material concerns have overshadowed other areas of his life.

Throne or Seat

The throne or seat upon which the man sits is often adorned or structured in a way that denotes stability and power. However, this is a double-edged symbol. While it suggests that he has achieved some level of material success, it also traps him, becoming almost like a cage that restricts his freedom and ability to connect with more ephemeral, but equally important, aspects of life.