Three of Pentacles (Reversed)

 

Tarot Card Interpretation & Meaning

Poor Growth, No Growth, Not Learning from Mistakes, Lack of Commitment, No Effort, Shoddy Workmanship, Mistakes, Mistakes in Plans, Weak Foundations, Lack of Interest, No Team Spirit, Failing Exams, Careless Work, Mediocre, No Goals, No Motivation

Rider Waite Tarot Deck

Card Imagery Description

Three of Pentacles finds a small group of people involved in a meeting of some kind.  There are three people.  They stand close to a stone building that has all the appearances of a church.  The young man standing on the bench appears to have been busy chiseling away on the stonework of this building before the other two figures arrived.  He may have been expecting them or perhaps they just dropped by to check how the work was proceeding.  One of the other figures appears to hold the plans of the building the young man is working on and we may assume that he is the architect of this fine structure.  The third figure is that of a monk so let us presume that it is he who has commissioned the build and hired those with the necessary knowledge, skills and qualifications to carry out the work.  In the Three of Pentacles we explore the nature of the Group and how we work within groups who have common goals or purpose to achieve our aims.  This card   deals with the importance of teamwork and its contribution in successfully reaching goals and completing projects on time.

Individually the figures are very capable and able within their own field of expertise. However, they need each other’s expertise to complete the project they are working on.  The Monk, being a man of the cloth knows what he wants for his church.  He also has a budget that he must operate within.  Like his religious and spiritual beliefs, his church must stand the test of time and be able to withstand anything that threatens its stability.  The Monk has hired the expertise of an architect who will draw up the necessary plans based on his requirements.  The architect will explain to the monk what is possible and what is not and provide several drafts before anything is finally settled upon.  Once the plans have been officially signed off, they must then find the right builders and specialized tradesmen to provide them with the finished product as per specifications.  The church must also be built within a certain time frame and come in on budget.  It will take the cooperation of all within this group to achieve such a lofty ambition.  All must be committed to the task.  All must give it their very best and work to the highest standards possible.

And what of their reward for such focused effort? With this being a Pentacle card material gain is extremely important so all will expect to be handsomely paid for their time.  However, the Three of Pentacles deals with more than just an honest day’s pay for an h0nest day’s work.  Recognition for their work is also extremely important.  The Monk will expect to be praised for his wonderful church and thanked by his entire congregation for providing them with such a special and holy place to worship in. The congregation in turn will expect recognition for all their generous ongoing donations which have gone a long way to funding the building itself.  Both the architect and builder will expect to gain further commissions and work once word gets around and others see this fine building.

The architect and specialized tradesmen may even be hoping for an award so this card also deals with the importance of quality in our work and how it reflects our personality and reputation as a result.  Churches by tradition are considered holy, sacred and spiritual.  They were built to last on sound and solid foundations.  The traditional churches of old showcased amazing feats of engineering, craftsmanship and artistry.  An incredible amount of fine detail and passion went into these massive structures.  As a result, they often took a long, long time to build.  Great patience, commitment and endurance were demanded of all.   The individual stones had to be cut from quarries and hauled over miles of terrain before one wall could be built.  Statues and symbolic spiritual images and lettering had to be painstakingly carved and chiseled out of the stone.  Specialized paintwork and magnificent stained glass depictions took months if not years to complete.  Then there was all the precious metal work and carpentry to complete.  No rush-jobs, shoddy workmanship or impatience are ever seen in these ancient buildings. All who worked on them felt proud and privileged to be part of something considered so worthy for these buildings were understood to be the House of God and therefore only their very best effort would do.

Meanings

The reversed 3 of Pentacles is generally a positive card, particularly with regard to work and career questions, but it carries the warning that this is not the time to allow yourself to slack off.

Work is very much a focus when the 3 of Pentacles reversed is in the picture. It’s an important time to give your best, not settle for the simplest solution. If you do, you are likely to find yourself with much success.

Provided you don’t suddenly start producing lousy or inferior work, you should find that you are more successful in the “marketplace” when the reversed 3 of Pentacles is in the spread. Do not allow yourself to give in to any feelings of jealousy or pettiness. Take the higher road.

In a love question, the reversed 3 of Pentacles is a good omen. If you are looking to add to your family, this is a time when fertility can be higher than usual. If you’re looking for love, this is a good time to meet people (particularly through your work) however, beware a tendency to be overly subservient or to behave as though you are “less than” the potential love partners you are meeting. Hold your head up high!

Money should be going well (or be about to go well for you) when the reversed 3 of Pentacles is part of your spread. However, you need to not just expect “pennies from heaven.” How well you do financially will be in direct proportion to how hard you have worked and how much you have tried. Don’t grovel, but do ask for what you deserve.

When it comes to your health, you should be cautious about over-doing things. Moderation is the key when the reversed 3 of Pentacles appears. Trust your instincts. If you are feeling weak, rest. If you think you need to be seen by a doctor, then don’t hesitate. You may be overly tired when this card appears in Reverse.

The reversed 3 can indicate that you are indeed ready to make a spiritual leap; however, you should be cautious about where and from whom you accept input. You already have a number of the answers that you need deep within you, and you may be in a phase where it is easy to be “blinded” by a guru who claims to have your best interests at heart but who may truly be more interested in your money. Be extremely cautious with new spiritual leaders and churches, and cautious about where you put your money in that regard. Spiritual growth is FREE.

When the Three of Pentacles reverses it suggests there are reasons why you are not getting things off the ground or making progress in your situation. Regardless of what you say you are not putting any real effort into your work or the task at hand.  You must ask yourself why this is?  On the front you are all talk and full of plans but nothing is getting done.  This could be down to a lack of commitment or belief in what you are doing.  It could simply be that you are getting no joy out of it and it all seems like too much work.  It could also be as a result of fear.  Do you think that you haven’t got what it takes to be a success? Do you fear losing everything if your plans fail?   Could you possibly have taken on too much? Negativity may be eating away at you and preventing any positive growth.

Impatience and lack of concentration is evident as you fail to apply yourself to your work.  The Three of Pentacles Reversed speaks of rushed jobs and taking short-cuts.  There appears to be a lack of pride in what you do and a careless attitude about you. All you want to do is get the job done and move on so your heart is really not in this at all.  Intense boredom may be an issue or just plain laziness.  In the Upright card the young builder was busying chiseling away when the monk and architect came on site.  He was so intent and focused on his work that he didn’t even stop to put his tools down for he wanted to get stuck back in as soon as they left.  In the reversed, there is more of a chance that he was taking yet another break when he saw the two arrive and very quickly had to make it appear that he had been hard at it all day.  He has neither respect for himself nor the people who are relying on him to complete the build.  He is only in it for the money and will be long gone before any of his botched jobs come to light.

If you are involved in building your own house or buying a property the Reversed Three of Pentacles can unfortunately suggest a building survey that fails.  Subsidence or structural problems may be an issue. Plans need to be checked in detail as there may be mistakes discovered.    You may be enthusiastic to do as much of the work as you can but do you really know what you are doing?  Try to get as much advice as you can and allow some of the budget for the essentials such as plumbing and wiring. Get the best builders you can afford as this reversed card can represent cheap builders who lack quality and qualifications.  Double-check credentials and references of all builders for they may not be trust worthy. You get what you pay for and you may live to regret it. It can represent problems getting a build complete due to builders not turning up or knocking off early. Either be a constant on-site presence or hire a reliable Project Manager to make sure the job gets done on time and that work is completed to regulation and standards. Scrimping here may cause expensive problems down the line.  If builders are asking for money up front then this reversed card would strongly advise against it.  Make sure the price agreed on is based on a certain completion date otherwise it may drag on indefinitely.  Sadly, with the reversed Three of Pentacles, shoddy workmanship and poor finish is likely to be problem. Cowboy builders with lack of skill and interest are highlighted.

The reversed Three of Pentacles can often highlight delays in getting work done or reaching goals due to a problem with a group of people who cannot cooperate or join forces.  A lack of positive teamwork can raise issues of superiority, pulling rank or possessiveness about the project.  You may feel that all your efforts are in vain. No matter what you do, your work it is criticized, picked at or dismissed.  You may feel that you do not receive the recognition you deserve or that others take the credit for you work. This is not a group who work well together as there may be too many chiefs and not enough Indians.  They are the wrong people for the job.

On the other hand you find it impossible to take constructive criticism or advice from your superiors.   You may also try to muddle through a situation as you refuse to seek expert advice.  You may view it as an expense you cannot afford or that it would not be worth the time and effort.  You may be completely out of your depth but you continue to plough on regardless.  All you are doing is digging a deeper hole for yourself and penny pinching now may cost you dearly in the long run.

The Three of Pentacles Reversed is a flag or warning that you do not know what you are doing.  You haven’t thought things through properly and have no real plans to work by.  You may be making it up as you go along.  You need to do more research into your situation as you still have a lot to learn.  Slow down and take stock of the situation.  You might need to do a course or gain some extra qualifications.  This reversed card questions your education or lack of it and can be a sign that you are under qualified or unskilled.  Don’t pretend to be someone you are not.  If you want success then you will have to work hard for it.  Set long-term goals for yourself and work towards them.  It is the only way as there are no shortcuts.  However, you have to show some determination and commitment if you are ever going to make it. However, ambition may not be one of your strongest qualities.

When the card is reversed the imagery now suggests a building that is sinking into the ground instead of rising out of it and we must question how strong the foundations are.  We didn’t need to question the strength of the structure when the card was upright but once it reverses we cannot be so sure.  If what you are doing or embarking on is built on sticks or pure mud then it will not last the course of time and is bound to come tumbling down sooner or later.  It highlights shallowness and lack of commitment.

In The reversed Three of Pentacles we find the student who is not applying himself to his studies. This is usually the student who has not had to work hard to pay for his college fees or contribute towards them. It also represents the student who has no interest in the field he or she is studying in.  This can be for a variety of reasons.  The student may have been uncertain of what course to take and now realizes he or she has made a mistake or it can represent the son or daughter who embarks upon a course of study chosen for them by parents or dictated by family tradition.   This is bound to reflect in their work as lack of quality and poor grades.  We may also find the college drop-out when this card reverses especially if a reversed Page of Pentacles appears in the Spread.

A change of college, course of study or an alternative career may be the simple solution to up righting this card again.  The student needs to sit down and carefully decide on what it is they want to do with their life before committing to anything else.  Otherwise a negative pattern of failed ventures can set in.  The upright Three of Pentacles suggests learning, learning and more learning in order to promote growth and development.  When it reverses it can often indicate the inability to learn and especially the inability to learn from past mistakes which keep repeating over and over again.

In relationships this reversed card can be a sign that no effort is being put in to making it work.  It indicates a lack of commitment and growth within the relationship.  You or your partner may not be able to sustain initial efforts and good intentions fall by the wayside over time.  It can suggest that it is not the first time relationships have gone this way for you as patterns of behavior repeat themselves.   You may ignore advice to seek counseling from well meaning friend’s family preferring instead to work it out your way.  However, your way has never worked in the past.  There is a definite lack of solid foundations within the relationship represented by this Reversed Three. One must ask the question as to why the couple were drawn to each other in the first place (may not be the stuff solid relationships are built on).  Are you continuing to drift from one meaningless relationship to the next?  What are you learning from all this?

As far as career goes, what has happened to you? After such a promising start, what a letdown. Lack of effort and desire to build on your skills or expertise has left you under qualified for the best positions and openings.  Sponsorship and support may be withdrawn. Careless work and lack of commitment is evident. No Goals, drifting from job to job. Meaningless mundane tasks.  Quality control

It may have been discovered that you oversold yourself to get a job.  Your work lacks quality and is really not up to much.  You may lose your job if you don’t sort yourself out. Time to shape up or ship out.  Job problems and possible boredom on the job front.   If you are making a presentation it may not go well. Have you put in the necessary work? Lack of success in job interviews as what you have to offer is mediocre at best.

The reversed Three of Pentacles can indicate a lack of teamwork, whereby people are acting in competition with each other and trying to appear the most knowledgeable. You may be trying to work collaboratively with others but there is an increasing level of tension as each individual tries to exert power or control over the group, thus negatively impacting the harmony of the people involved.

If you rely on the cooperation of others, now may be a good time to break free of your current group or network and join forces with another group. The lack of harmony and teamwork is having a negative impact on your performance and there may be a lack of a common goal. It may be best to just move on at this stage.

The Three of Pentacles reversed signifies that you are seeking more respect in the workplace. You have had to be polite and listen to the opinions and feedback of your superiors but now you seem to be growing restless with always taking the advice, rather than giving it. You want to work in an environment where you have the chance to voice your own opinion and be heard, where you are seen as the expert or the leader. You may also be seeking new colleagues who bring with them new knowledge, so as to create a more synergistic team environment.

The Three of Pentacles reversed can also indicate that you are working in a fairly mundane job, in which your contributions and experience are not really appreciated or valued. There is not much opportunity for growth and advancement, and you feel as if your skills and capabilities are not being effectively utilized. It may be a good time to make a career move and find somewhere where your skills are more valued.

Given the upright Three of Pentacles is about good planning and organization, the reversal of this card can suggest that you are need to bring more of this energy into your work. If you do not have a clear view of how you will accomplish your goals, then it will be beneficial to stop work momentarily and plan out your next steps at a detailed level.

In Love and Light

Merry Meet Merry Part Merry Meet Again

Blessings

Tiana-Lynn

 

Eight of Pentacles –The Skilled Master

Your day card may provide insights into current or up coming events in your life or just provide an idea to think about. A day card can also be used simply for learning the Tarot one card/day at a time.

Keywords:

Success, Commitment, Financial Security, Craftsmanship, Master, Expertise, Specialized, Specialist, Hard work,  Workaholic, Highly Skilled, Excelling, Raising The Bar, Ambition, Confidence, Pride, Personal Fulfillment, Quality, Standards, Reputation, Dedicated, Absorbed, Concentration, Application, Productive, Effort, Painstaking, Methodical, Thorough, Meticulous, Diligent, Impeccable, Attention

Waite Tarot Deck

 Eight of Pentacle suggests that you are working very hard, not just at present, but over a long period of time.  This is something that you find quite easy to do as you are completely dedicated to the task at hand and like nothing better than to get stuck into your work. You are bound to be crazy busy at present, mega productive and super industrious.  It seems like you can make a success out of anything you decide to turn your hand to.  Any obstacles that may have stood in the way in past are now history and you are free to pursue your course of action and any projects you may be working on.  You are now at liberty to indulge your own interests and special projects too. There is a wonderful sense of coming into your own and feeling extremely confident about what you do.  You work with a strong sense of purpose and life is feeling wholesome and worthwhile.  Everything is falling into place and your two feet are firmly planted on the ground. This is a time for making excellent progress.

The Eight of Pentacles heralds success as a result of sustained and concentrated efforts.  Your commitment and unrelenting effort has paid off and you are now in a very strong position.  While others around you have been running around like headless chickens, trying this and that, you have kept your head down and hammered away on making progress in very specific areas.  Where you are now is not a case of just being lucky for you have earned every cent of your success from serious application and self-discipline. This Card very often deals with finances and career but the success that accompanies this Card can be applied to any area of your life.  Not only are you a success at what you do, but others see you in that light as well.  You may see yourself as someone who is just getting on with their work but from the observer’s point of view, you are a role model and inspirational.

One of your many outstanding qualities is the impeccably high standards you set for yourself and everything you get involved in. You believe that if a ‘job is worth doing, and then it is worth doing well’.  You are scrupulous in your attention to detail and the quality of your work is excellent. The Eight of Pentacles suggests that you are highly qualified in your field of expertise and probably have attained other ‘above and beyond the call of duty’ diplomas and credentials.  It is no doubt that you are ‘top of your field’ and ‘top of the class’.  You would be considered an expert by your peers and someone who has vast experience behind them. You are highly sought after.

Another of your qualities is patience, and when this Card appears, it will be asking you to take your time and not attempt to take any short-cuts with what you are doing.  It is quality and not quantity that matters at the moment so you must pay attention to the fine detail and not just be in a hurry to get things finished and done. Only your best work will do and possibly even more is expected of you now, so do not disappoint.  Keep hammering away until you get it just right.  You have really come a long way and should be proud of your abilities and all that you have achieved.

The Eight of Pentacles can act as a reminder to do something that you really enjoy doing.  That something may be work-related, relationship, hobby, sport, travel or just about anything.  When you love what you do, it will always shine through and work that is completed with love will stand out from the rest.  The Pentacles are associated with the material world and the physical body so it is easy for them to get carried away with only caring for the Outcome.  They can become workaholics, financially successful but dull and boring or health freaks who allow themselves no treats or rest.  This Card however, brings maturity to the Pentacles Journey and carries a very strong message.  The Outcome or Reward of course is important, and we all must set goals to work towards, but the journey to the desired outcome or goal is as important if not more.  We must be able to look back on our journey once completed, with fond memories and pride.  If you are not happy doing what you are doing then go out and find something that will.

The Eight of Pentacles can suggest that you have very strong abilities or skills that you may not be utilizing to your best advantage. You may have a hobby; doing or making things in your spare time, which brings you great joy. You are probably self-taught, through research and reading up on your subject.  Your work is more than likely exquisite but is possibly kept to yourself.  The Eight of Pentacles can be indicating that you are sitting on a goldmine.  It may be time to show others your abilities and skills by exposing it to a wider audience.

The Eight of Pentacles is often a Card for study and learning and suggests that you may be working to add to your existing qualifications or getting re-trained. The Pentacles hanging on the Wall in the Imagery may be your proud display of Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and Awards.   This is not someone approaching their subject for the first time but rather someone who is interested in specializing in a certain field of expertise.  This is someone who wants to be the best at what they do and become a Master of their trade. Education is important and you will be happy to add to it wherever you can; taking classes, courses or online study, anything really that will improve your existing skills and expertise. It can suggest that you are going back to college as a mature student or gaining extra qualifications through work. You may be planning to do or start-up something when you retire and are getting trained in that particular area. There is certainly a plan of action and you know exactly what it is that you are doing and want.

An alternative message to the one above can suggest that it is time to push yourself some more.  Even though you have worked consistently hard and are highly qualified, you have not fully realized your true potential.  The Eight of Pentacles can appear to ask you to raise the bar even further to improve your performance, for you are well capable of it. You can do even better than what you have done to date. This Card can suggest that you might have reached a stage where you have platitude and are pondering over whether you need to do more or be content with what you have achieved.   It is for certain that you are aware of areas, qualifications or skills that would be well worth adding to your repertoire, portfolio or CV.  Whatever dream or ambition you may be considering chasing, it is well within your capabilities and reach. The Outcome will bring substantial gain for you. The Eight of Pentacles can also symbolically represent being awarded a Scholarship or being given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to study under one of the Great Masters. Go for it.

The Eight of Pentacles is a Card for commitment to a person or situation. Great effort is put in to maintaining a high standard of work whatever it may be related to. It is a Card for success and building on further success.

Commitment to your community and environment is also very important and this Card asks you to help out wherever you can, especially using the skills and knowledge you have at your disposal.  Think of what it is that you have or can do which might benefit others around you.  Experience like yours is invaluable and you might be able to give someone a start by taking them under your wing. Don’t look at it as tedious or boring but more so as the opportunity to pass on your knowledge or legacy to those who come behind you.  Take the time out to share your success with those around you so that they too may have the chance to be successful in their own right.

Healthy and fit too, The Eight of Pentacles suggests you are paying much attention to your body and looking after its needs. Exercising, eating healthy and getting plenty of outdoors activity does take a lot of self-discipline but it’s no problem as you have it in bucket loads. The Eight of Pentacles confirms that you are or will be feeling very well and strong in mind and body. In fact you haven’t felt so well in a long time, but that is also because you are emotionally happy too. You are doing exactly what you want to be doing and you should be proud of yourself.

When it comes to relationships The Eight of Pentacles suggests that you are putting great effort and commitment into your relationship. This is a very strong and secure relationship, based on trust, faithfulness and loyalty.  You understand what it is that you need to do to keep your relationship stable. Your relationship means a lot to you and you will do whatever it is to make it work.  You may also be taking steps to improve on your relationship instead of letting it trundle along.  You are conscientious, caring and not prone to taking your partner for granted.  This relationship is relaxed and steady with no emotional or aggressive outbursts.  You do not consider this hard work as you consider your partner is worth all the effort. This is indeed a work of love.

However, financial security is also very important in your relationship, so you may be working hard to build a secure future for you and your partner or family. Make sure you remember to go home regularly and make some time for fun and social activities.  The type of person you are leaves you exposed and vulnerable to becoming a workaholic.  If you let this happen, then it may very well destroy your lovely relationship.  You must work hard at striking the right balance. You can have both you know!

With regards to career or business, the Eight of Pentacles is a very positive card and not only shows that you are working very hard and very diligently, but that you also love what you do. You are committed to your goals and ambitions and accept the hard work that is required to realize them. Those around you in the workplace turn to you for advice or to follow your lead.  More people learn from you than you realize.

It is for certain that you are a hard-worker and have no problem working on your own. You use your initiative and are diligent in your approach to every task. No job is too small or too big and all are equally important. You take set-backs in your stride and when a mistake is made, you learn from it instead of giving up and walking away. You can be trusted to complete any task given to you and are not easily distracted. You have the makings of being the perfect Home-Worker because you are super-disciplined and can work on your own initiative. You are likely to work long hours and prefer to be allowed get on with your work without interruptions and obligatory break-times.

In Business, The Eight of Pentacles can indicate that you are working flat-out at present and are constantly on the go.  Orders and contracts are flying in with staff working overtime to meet the increasing demands and ensuring consignments are dispatched on time.  You have no doubt built a reliable reputation for professionalism, quality and service within your industry and will be eager to build further on these. Keep up the good work.

Should you be planning on starting a Business, then The Eight of Pentacles lets you know that you have the commitment, dedication and tenacity to make it a success. The success is in the detail of the business and that is where you excel. Getting down to the nitty-gritty, and painstakingly going through all the ins and outs, is something that most of us try to avoid, but not you. You are methodical in your approach and very resourceful.  Knowing your subject or field of expertise inside out will be the key to your success.  You might think of getting some extra qualifications to put you top of your game and in a league of your own.

The Pentacles hanging on the tree can symbolize all your qualifications or displaying your goods for sale in a shop window. Maybe you are working on pieces of art or sculpture to exhibit in the local town.  This card suggests that you have many qualifications, talents and abilities. If working on a project, entering a competition or looking for sponsorship your hard work and effort will pay off.

You may be working hard on building up your business even if it does isolate you from friends and family. The Eight of Pentacles can also suggest that you have several projects going on all at the same time.  People may be advising that you ‘have too many fingers in too many pies’ but you are well able to manage and pace yourself when this Eight is Upright.

The Eight of Pentacles is one of several Cards in the Tarot that put an emphasis on Community.  It is a Card that appeals to your conscience and asks you to make a contribution or to give something back.  If you are in a position to help others as a result of your success, then you should make an effort.  Time spent in volunteering, mentoring or sponsoring those less fortunate, or individuals who show natural ability or skills, will be immensely worthwhile and rewarding.

Until Tomorrow

Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again

Blessings

Tiana