The Five of Pentacles is the card of hardship, loss, isolation, abandonment, struggle, and alienation. The card shows two people walking through icy wind and snow. Both of them are dressed in rags, and they are clearly struggling. Behind them is a church where they can seek shelter, if only they would go inside.
The Five of Pentacles reminds us that struggle and loss is part of the process. It is part of life, and often, it’s part of our romantic relationships as well. From our struggles, we learn how to become better partners and how to choose better partners for ourselves. This is a reminder that even when things look negative, we can still take away with us the positive: the lessons we’ve learned.
Upright Meaning:
If you are asking a yes or no question, and you draw the Five of Pentacles, it indicates a no. This card symbolizes struggle, hurt, and loss. You are in a tough spot in your life right now and any decisions that stem from a negative place will always have a negative outcome. You’re clearly struggling and this cad wants you to know that you are allowed to take your time before trying to move forward.
For love questions where you want a yes or no answer, the Five of Pentacles indicates a no. You aren’t mentally able to handle a healthy relationship right now. You feel lonely and want to establish a connection with someone, but you’re afraid to do so. Your walls are standing too high. This just isn’t the right time for you to get romantically involved with someone as it may be coming from a place of loneliness and desperation instead of love.
For career questions where you are looking for a yes or no, the Five of Pentacles indicates a no. Your air of negativity inevitably seeps into your work ethic. You’ve been feeling like everything you do is for nothing, so you decide that it’s better not to put in any effort at all. You’re guarded as you do try to shield your colleagues from being exposed to your negativity but it hasn’t been working. As much as you deserve a promotion or your next big break, now just isn’t the right time.
For new and potential relationships, the Five of Pentacles is a no. You feel hopeless. You’ve tried to connect with multiple people and though this is the first time you feel like things may be going somewhere, there’s just something in you that’s putting up a concrete wall between you and your potential partner. You need to learn that in order to develop and build a healthy connection with someone, you need to open up yourself to them.
For existing relationships, the Five of Pentacles is a no. Your relationship is in a very fragile state right now. You and your partner aren’t seeing eye to eye and you’re both constantly wondering what you could do to make it better without actually taking any action. You tend to view yourself in a negative light so you find it hard to figure out what it is about you that your partner likes and while you do this to look for places to improve, it ends up backfiring as you spiral lower into your darker thoughts.
If you are asking about reconciliation with an ex, the Five of Pentacles is a no. Your ex is really going through it right now. Your split brought about a great bout of depression for them and they’re still struggling to pull themselves out of it. They are emotionally isolated and unready to open themselves up to someone. Reconciliation is not on their minds right now as they feel that they are unworthy or incapable of love at the moment.
Reversed Meaning:
If you are asking a yes or no question, and you draw the Five of Pentacles reversed, it indicates a yes. You were stuck in a vicious cycle of darkness, but you’ve finally broken free from it. You’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and it’s time to seize the day! The struggle is over and it’s time for you to finally feel the happiness that you’ve been fighting so hard for. Keep going because amazing things are waiting for you.
For love questions where you want a yes or no answer, the Five of Pentacles reversed indicates yes. You’re recovering from a difficult period in your life and where negativity once triumphed, there is now positivity. You’re beginning to see the silver lining in everything and are ready to open your heart to new people. You’re excited to welcome love into your life and after the hardships you faced, you definitely deserve it.
For career questions where you are looking for a yes or no, the Five of Pentacles reversed indicates yes. Things were looking rough for a while but they’re finally beginning to look up! It’s possible that your job may have been in jeopardy for a minute there, but that’s all behind you now as you strive ahead with a newfound motivation to achieve greater things. Your burst of energy is well-recognized and your professional career is about to take off in the right direction.
For new and potential relationships, the Five of Pentacles reversed is a yes. You’re filled with hope that your potential partner could be the one you’ve been searching for. You’ve dealt with lots of pain and grief in the past, but that’s all behind you now. You’re ready to turn over to a new page in your life. This time it will be different and you’re willing to make sure of that. Get excited and dive into this relationship as you explore all the things that could happen!
For existing relationships, the Five of Pentacles reversed is a yes. Your relationship was in limbo for a while, with you and your partner possibly contemplating splitting up. But now you’re past that and you’ve both come back stronger than ever. Your bond has only deepened and things are beginning to improve. The pain you’ve been harboring has been healed and it’s time to look forward to the future with your partner.
If you are asking about reconciliation with an ex, the Five of Pentacles reversed is a yes. Your ex has taken the time to heal and is now ready to try again. They no longer harbor any negative feelings for you or your split. They feel that there is still something that the universe has left in store for the two of you. They are ready to move on to better things, now it’s just up to them if they want to reach out to you or not, but this card implies that they do.