(The above image is a copy of The Six of Pentacles card in a standard Rider-Waite Tarot deck. The 5 symbols pointed out above are explained below.)
Card Description
Much like the Six of Cups, the Six of Pentacles gives us a giver and a receiver. During different times in our life, we will see this card differently. If we are currently prosperous, the card asks us to give to those less fortunate. If we are facing financial hardship, the card asks us to be grateful for charity given to us.
If you are looking for a deck of Tarot cards, check out our standard Rider-Waite deck here or check out one of our recent arrivals here.
For more information about The Six of Pentacles card, check out A. E. Waite’s description here.
Point 1 – RICH MAN
In juxtaposition with the Four of Pentacles, the rich man in this card is not stingy with this money. He gives it freely to those less fortunate than him. He might wear a common head dress, but it is a crown of purer gold, invaluable compared to the self-described king in the Four card.
Point 2 – RICH MAN’S HAND (BLESSING)
The hand that gives money to the beggars is in the shape of a blessing. This reveals just how much the man’s charity means to the two men. It is an action reminiscent to Christ’s command to sell all of our possessions to the poor. The blessing is seen throughout Tarot, most notably in The Hierophant card.
Point 3 – TWO BEGGARS
The two beggars are as much a reflection of us as the rich man is. All of us have benefited from the kindness of others. Whether we are currently in the beggar role or not, the card reminds us to be grateful for the times people have shown love to us.
Point 4 – FOUR COINS
The rich man throws four gold coins to the beggars when we view the card. Notably, the coins are suspended in the air between the rich man’s hands and the beggars’ hands. This illustrates the reciprocity of charity. Giving is just as beneficial to the giver as it is to the receiver.
Point 5 – BALANCED
In the rich man’s other hand, he holds a balance like the one in The Justice card. This shows the necessity for the rich to throw away the power that economic hierarchies give them in order to restore the balance of society.
Tarot Reading
Upright
An Upright Six of Pentacles suggest that you are currently in a state of economic prosperity and that you have the opportunity to help others in need. Perhaps you got a raise or made some good investments. In any case, an Upright Six of Pentacles asks that you not be stingy with your luck. Remind yourself of a time when somebody helped you and decide to continue the chain of kindness.
Reverse
A Reverse Six of Pentacles encourages you to give yourself charity in addition to giving others some. It is virtuous to serve others, but you shouldn’t let that come at the expense of yourself. In order to truly help people, you must first help yourself. Only then will you be operating at the peak of your abilities.
For more Tarot Card Meanings, check out our blog here.
Video
About the author: John Taylor is a content writer and freelancer through the company Upwork.com. You may view his freelancing profile here. He has a B. A. in English, with a specialty in technical writing, from Texas A&M University and a M. A. in English from the University of Glasgow. You may view his previous articles about Tarot here and his LinkedIn profile here.
