THE FIVE OF PENTACLES

By Cal Garrison

The 78 cards in the tarot deck all have very specific meanings. While the 22 archetypes of the Major Arcana represent successive stages of spiritual initiation, the 'Pip' cards of the Minor Arcana are symbols for real life experiences that everyone is subject to from time to time. Out of all of them, the Five of Pentacles is the card that embodies the essence of poverty. Whenever it appears in a reading it is a sign of material and/or spiritual destitution.

In the Rider-Waite Deck, the image of the Five of Pentacles shows a ragged couple trudging through the snow. Of the two, the male figure is worse off. Bandaged and wounded, he hobbles along on a pair of crutches and stares vacantly out at the viewer. Walking ahead of him, the female figure is barefoot. Clutching her shawl for warmth she seems to be focused on getting wherever she is going. The stained glass window and the stonewall in the background tell us that the pair are outside of a church or cathedral. It's hard to know if they are seeking refuge there, or if they have been cast out of this place. Either way, it's obvious that they are vagabonds, in dire straits, with no help in sight.

One could assume that these two people are related in some way but that idea is less apparent than the fact that they are in trouble. Because we don't know for sure if there is any relationship between them, we can only surmise that it is their predicament that brings them together. The fact that they appear to be sharing the experience gives us a vague indication that at least they have each other to lean on in their time of trial and need. If this is true, it is the only thing about the card that softens its meaning. But the woman could just as easily be leaving the wounded man behind, or abandoning him out of desperation in order to lighten her burdens and preserve her self. Interpreted from that angle, their hardship bears an element of cruelty that often surfaces out of necessity in situations like this.

The poignant imagery, combined with the suit of Pentacles, and the number five, tells a very interesting story. Pentacles represent money and material wealth. What they also stand for is the blending of inner and outer resources. In its highest expression this suit speaks to the idea that it is our deep connection to Spirit that gives rise to outer harmony and security, and that one cannot exist without the other.

As for the five, this number is known to be one of difficulty and crisis. Halfway between the Ace and the Ten it represents the Great Void, or the state of greatest change and upheaval. There is no stability here, no safety, and nothing to offer any measure of security. When you're in the Great Void, all you can do is go within and pray, because only God or your Higher Self can show you the way through it.

The Five of Pentacles is one of the most depressing cards in the entire Tarot Deck. When it appears in a reading it is a sign that a situation has broken down and may never be repaired. Upright, it signifies that it's time to admit defeat and in the act of admission perhaps be able to rectify whatever the problems are. The odds are slim, and it's quite possible that this won't happen, either because the situation has been allowed to go on too long, or because there is nothing left to work with.

Whether it be material lack or emotional/spiritual deprivation, the stained glass window in the background tells us that only by turning to a Higher Power do we stand any chance of surviving the experience. We have nothing to say about how things turn out because when life gets this bad, it becomes a matter of letting go and letting God step in to restore order. The restoration of balance depends on the ability of everyone involved in the crisis to admit to all the mistakes that led them to ruin. It also depends very much on their ability to trust that everything is divinely written and that only by going into alignment with Spirit will they find any hope of salvation and renewal.

The uncertainty of the Five of Pentacles is based on the fact that we never know how we will respond to difficulties of this magnitude. Some people thrive in a crisis and some people fall apart. The key to its highest expression lies in being able to embrace the idea that, 'whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger' — and that ultimately it is our connection to Spirit that determines which way the axe will fall.

In its reversed aspect the Five of Pentacles carries the same meaning, but it doesn't hold any hope. It signifies that a situation has gone beyond the point of repair and needs to break down completely before anything can begin to shed light on it. Lack, want, and poverty of the Spirit have combined to bring about total ruin. Because nothing is left on either the inner or outer levels we can only accept that things have dissolved and allow them to slip away. The notion that we have nothing to say about it still applies to the reversed position, but our ability to accept that isn't as likely. The reversal of the card indicates that we have lost our connection to Spirit and will fall prey to bitterness and resentment unless we find a way to restore it.

This card speaks to us on so many levels. The imagery defines every nuance of poverty. Reflecting on the Five of Pentacles may remind us of our own experience with lack and destitution and help us to recall what pulled us through those trials. We can also use this symbol to remind us of all the people on the planet who are having that experience right now and let it prompt us to bring them into our Hearts. If our inherent connection to God and to all of life is felt deeply enough and shared from within, we may be able to touch the lives of those who are no longer able to feel as sheltered and safe and loved as we do and perhaps fill their Hearts with some measure of peace.

About Cal Garrison

Cal is a writer with four books to her credit. ‘The Old Girls’ Book of Spells’, ‘The Old Girls’ Book of Dreams’, and her latest book, ‘Witch On the Go’ were published by RedWheel/Weiser Press and are available in bookstores or on Amazon.com. In addition to her own work, she also writes for Slim Spurling. Her first book with Slim, ‘Slim Spurling’s Universe’ is being followed up by their second book together which, with any luck, will be out in 2008—2009.

A professional astrologer with 35 years experience Cal has cast over 6000 charts and is one of the best in her field. She is also an expert on the Tarot. When she’s not running the Spirit of Ma'at office, or working on her books, Cal spends her time doing in depth astrology and tarot readings for people all over the country.