Six of Pentacles tarot card meaning: upright, reversed and symbols

The Six of Pentacles shows a merchant holding a pair of scales in one hand and dropping coins into the hands of a kneeling person with the other. A second person kneels beside them, waiting.

It is a card of generosity, giving and receiving and fairness. Here is what the Six of Pentacles means upright and reversed, the symbols in the 1909 card and how to read it.

Here is the Six of Pentacles at a glance.

The Golden Dawn named the Six of Pentacles the Lord of Material Success and gave it the Moon in Taurus, the middle decan of the sign, on Tiphareth. The Moon is exalted in Taurus, so this is a nourishing, generous decan. Smith added the scales, a clear sign that the card is about fair exchange.

Later tradition The Golden Dawn also gave each decan two of the 72 Goetic spirits, one for the day and one for the night. For the second decan of Taurus, and so for the Six of Pentacles, they are Marbas (spirit 5, day) and Focalor (spirit 41, night). Their pages read the old entries as history; see the spirit directory for all 72.

The card: what Pamela Colman Smith drew

Waite wrote: “A person in the guise of a merchant weighs money in a pair of scales and distributes it to the needy and distressed. It is a testimony to his own success in life, as well as his goodness of heart.”

The scales. The merchant weighs what he gives. Generosity here is measured and fair.

Two kneeling figures. Two people kneel, but only one receives. Many readers ask who decides, and how fairly.

Giving from above. He stands while they kneel. The card can show real kindness, and also power in giving.

Upright meaning

Upright, the Six of Pentacles is generosity. A merchant holds a pair of scales in one hand and drops coins into the hands of a kneeling person with the other. A second person kneels beside them, waiting. The card speaks of giving and receiving, charity, fairness and the flow of resources.

It can show you as the giver, sharing what you have, or as the receiver, getting help when you need it. Either way, it asks for fairness. The scales suggest that generosity should be balanced and wise.

The card also speaks of success that allows sharing. When you have enough, giving becomes a pleasure rather than a sacrifice.

Reversed meaning

Reversed, the Six of Pentacles can show one-sided giving, debt, or help that comes with strings attached. It can also show selfishness, or someone taking advantage of generosity.

Ask whether the exchange is fair. A reversed Six often asks you to look at the power behind giving and receiving.

Turn the scales on yourself. Are you giving to others while refusing to receive, or receiving while feeling ashamed of it? Healthy exchange runs in both directions over time, and the reversed Six often shows where the flow has stuck.

In love, work and spirituality

In love. Upright: Generosity, give and take, and balance in a relationship. Reversed: One-sided giving, or a power imbalance.

At work. Upright: Fair pay, mentorship or sharing resources. Reversed: Unfair pay, or a manager who controls through favors.

With money. Upright: Giving, receiving, loans or charity. Reversed: Debt, or strings attached.

In spiritual practice. Upright: Service, charity and sharing what you have learned. Reversed: Helping others to feel superior.

As feelings. Generous and caring, wanting a fair exchange.

As a person. A generous, fair person who likes to help.

As advice. Give and receive fairly.

Reading the Six of Pentacles: positions and yes or no

In the past position: Help or generosity got you here. In the present position: Give and receive fairly.

In the future position: Help or a fair exchange is coming. As advice: Share what you can.

In modern yes or no readings, the Six of Pentacles leans yes. Generosity points to yes.

What the Six means, and the history behind the card

Six brings harmony after loss. In Pentacles the harmony is fair exchange, money flowing where it is needed. The Golden Dawn called it the Lord of Material Success.

Here is how the Six looks across the four suits:

• Six of Wands: success, recognition, victory
• Six of Cups: nostalgia, memories, reunion
• Six of Swords: transition, moving on, healing
• Six of Pentacles (this card): generosity, charity, balance

The scales in the merchant’s hand connect this card with Justice in the Major Arcana, which also carries scales. Some readers see that link as a reminder that generosity and fairness belong together.

The two kneeling figures have also started many conversations among tarot readers about charity and dignity: is the merchant generous, or does he enjoy being above them? Smith left the picture open, and both readings can be useful. Ask which one fits your question.

The card also pairs well with the Four of Pentacles. In the Four a man holds his coins so tightly that nothing moves. In the Six the money moves, from one hand to another, and the scales show that someone is measuring how much.

Reading the two cards side by side is a simple lesson in how the suit works: resources are meant to circulate, and the question is always how fairly and how freely they do.

When A. E. Waite published The Pictorial Key to the Tarot in 1910, he listed these divinatory meanings for the Six of Pentacles: “Presents, gifts, gratification; another account says attention, vigilance; now is the accepted time, present prosperity, etc.” Reversed, he gave: “Desire, cupidity, envy, jealousy, illusion.”

Common questions

Is the Six of Pentacles a yes or no card? Yes, especially for help and fairness.

What does the Six of Pentacles mean for money? A gift, a loan, fair pay or charity.

What does the Six of Pentacles mean in love? Generosity. Reversed, a power imbalance.

Try this

Try this small spread for the Six of Pentacles. Use it to look at giving and receiving.

Affirmation: I offer and receive support with respect for everyone’s dignity.

Reversed affirmation: I clarify expectations and protect my right to make choices.

If you keep a tarot journal, take one of these questions to it: What can I give? What do I need to receive? Is this exchange fair?

What next

Cards that sit close to this one are Justice (the Major Arcana card of fair balance), Five of Pentacles (the need that comes before) and Four of Pentacles (holding on instead of sharing).

The Six of Pentacles is part of the lesson Pentacles in my free Tarot for Beginners course. To see the whole suit on one page, go to the suit of Pentacles. To keep walking the suit, read the card before it, Five of Pentacles or the card after it, Seven of Pentacles, or go back to all the card meanings.

For the suits and numbers in one place, see The Minor Arcana: suits and numbers made simple. For every card with keywords, affirmations and examples, see my book The Novice’s Guide to Tarot. If you would like a printable cheat sheet for all 78 cards, my 45-page Tarot Workbook is on Etsy.

Sources

• A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (London: Rider, 1910), Part III, sections 1 and 2.
• Pamela Colman Smith and A. E. Waite, the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot (London: Rider, 1909).
• Nicolas Conver, Tarot de Marseille (Marseille, 1760).
• Lauri Mukkala, The Novice’s Guide to Tarot, entry for the Six of Pentacles.
• Aleister Crowley, 777 (London: Walter Scott, 1909), columns of the decans, the Minor Arcana and the court cards.
• Israel Regardie, ed., The Golden Dawn (Chicago: Aries Press, 1937 to 1940), “Book T”, titles and attributions of the small cards and the court.