Key Meanings

Upright

Generosity, charity, giving and receiving, financial help, sharing wealth, fairness, kindness, gratitude, prosperity, balance of resources, mentorship, community support

Reversed

Debt, strings attached, one-sided generosity, power imbalance, selfishness, financial dependence, inequality, unpaid debts, charity with conditions, taking advantage, greed, withholding help

General Interpretation

Upright

In a general context, the Six of Pentacles represents giving and receiving. It is the charity card of the tarot deck. The person depicted on the card has more wealth than they need and they are sharing it with those in need. When this card appears in your Tarot reading, you are either going to be in a position to help others who need support or you will need to seek help and support from others. Both situations are equally dignified in this Minor Arcana card. There is a sense of balance and fairness when it appears. Wealth is circulating. Help is going where it is most needed. Sometimes you will be the one giving support, sometimes you will be the one needing to accept it. Neither is a better position to be in than the other.

Reversed

In a general context, the Six of Pentacles reversed can indicate an uneven exchange of resources. Someone may be generous with you but expect something in return. Alternatively, you may be the one offering assistance, but it is not a gift - you want something back or there are strings attached. This Minor Arcana card reversed can signify someone being financially dependent on another or one person having too much control or power over another through money. However, the Six of Pentacles can also indicate that you are rejecting genuine help when it is offered or that you are refusing to share when sharing would be the equitable thing to do.

Love & Partnership

Upright

In relationships, the Six of Pentacles can indicate a healthy give-and-take in a relationship. Both people should be feeling supported. One partner may be struggling financially or emotionally and the other partner may naturally take on a bigger share of the responsibility for a while. That is the wonderful thing about this card in a love context - there is no keeping score. There is an understanding that the balance will even out in due course. Couples who get this card are usually in a good place where genuine mutual care and respect exist.

For single people, this card can indicate meeting someone by doing acts of kindness. You may meet someone while volunteering in your community. People are drawn to you when you have a generous spirit. Alternatively, it can indicate that someone is coming into your life who is generous or wants to share what they have with you. This relationship is likely to be based on sincere warmth rather than chemistry.

Reversed

In a partnership, the Six of Pentacles reversed can indicate that the relationship is unbalanced in some way. One partner may be overgiving and the other may be taking or receiving without reciprocating. This can manifest in many ways, such as one partner or spouse controlling finances in an effort to manipulate the other partner, or one partner constantly doing favours for the other but holding them over their head. Whatever the case, there is an imbalance and lack of trust in the relationship.

For single people, again, this can be an indicator that you have a tendency to attract people who take more than they give. Alternatively, you can go to the other extreme and give so much of yourself in the early stages of dating that you completely forget to look after your own needs! The message is the same: there is a recurring pattern of imbalance that needs to be identified.

Social Relationships

Upright

In the context of friendships and social circles, the Six of Pentacles indicates that there is a sense of mutual support within your social circle. Friends help friends. Maybe someone needs to borrow money, maybe someone needs time or just someone to listen to them. There is a sense of generosity within the group. People feel comfortable asking for help as they know it will be given without judgement.

For newer connections, this card indicates that you will meet people in situations involving giving or generosity. Volunteering, community events, group projects - these situations tend to attract like-minded people. Any new friendships you make in this time will be rooted in shared values and goodwill.

Reversed

In existing friendships, the Six of Pentacles reversed can indicate one half of the friendship always paying the bill, always listening, always being there etc. and the other rarely reciprocating. Resentment can build in that situation. It can also be an indicator of friends who try to buy their way into the inner circle.

New social connections under this reversal may feel a little transactional. You may find that someone is being friendly to you because they want something from you rather than because they actually like you. You may find that you gravitate towards people who seem kind and generous initially but turn out to be rather controlling people.

Work & Career

Upright

In a career Tarot reading, the Six of Pentacles signifies a balanced and positive work environment. You may be given a raise, a bonus or some sort of reward for your efforts. It can also indicate being mentored by someone generous with their knowledge. Alternatively, it can signify being in a position to help someone else. The energy in a professional setting is teamwork. Everyone supports and uplifts each other.

Reversed

In a work setting, the Six of Pentacles reversed can signify unfair pay, nepotism or an employer having unhealthy power over employees. It can also signify someone stealing or taking credit for your ideas/work. Any generosity in the workplace will come across as insincere when this card appears. If a promotion or reward is being promised, there may be strings attached that you are not aware of. It can also signify financial instability in a company/organisation that you are involved in.

Money & Finance

Upright

In a financial context, the Six of Pentacles is also a good omen! Money should be flowing in and out in a healthy way. You may find you receive some sort of financial assistance such as a loan or gift, or you may receive unexpected financial support just when you need it. Alternatively, you may be in a secure enough financial position to offer assistance to others. There is a good balance between what you make and what you spend, save or share. Any charity or investment in others will come back to you.

Reversed

In finances, the Six of Pentacles reversed can signify debt, bad loans or financial deals that are not as fair as they appear to be. Money may be lent with strings attached that have not been disclosed. Someone may be overextending themselves or going into debt to maintain the appearance of generosity. Alternatively, someone may be holding onto their wealth when sharing it would actually benefit all concerned. The balance of power in a financial situation is skewed. One party is gaining a lot more than the other, and this inequality will cause issues down the line.

Spirituality

Upright

Spiritually, the Six of Pentacles is a card of giving and receiving. What goes around comes around. When you give generously without expecting anything in return, you create abundance. When you are grateful for what you have received, you make yourself open to receiving even more. The spiritual message is simple: give generously, receive gratefully.

Reversed

In a spiritual context, again, this card in a reversed position can indicate that you are giving from an egoic place rather than a place of compassion. If you are doing charity work to make yourself look good or to give yourself a sense of superiority over others, then you have completely missed the point. Alternatively, if you are refusing to accept charity or assistance in any form because you feel you don't deserve it, you may be blocking yourself from receiving. You are out of touch with the flow of abundance. Look at the reasons for giving and receiving and adjust your behaviour accordingly.