04. Four of Pentacles
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Number: 4
Card Title: Four of Pentacles
Esoteric Title: Lord of Earthly Power
Numerical Keywords: 4: Stability, Kindness, Grace
Numerical Attributions: Jupiter, Blue, World, South
Intelligence: Receiving and Containing Intelligence
Element: Earth (cold, dry)
Elemental Keywords: Physical, Materiality, Worth
Elemental Attributions: North, Winter, Midnight
Astrological Attribution: Sun in Capricorn
Dates & Timing: January 10 to January 19
Qabalistic World: Chesed in Assiah
Translation of World: The Mercy of the Material World
Suit Color: Pentacles – Green
Keywords: Material prosperity, Financial Stability, Good Investments, A Gift, Mastery of Material World, Law and Order, Stability.
Ill-Dignified:False Economy, Stinginess, Defensive, Suspicious, Fear of Opening Up.
Interpretation: The good things of the universe pours into the 4 of pentacles. Perpetual flow. Source of Physical Abundance.
Reversed Interpretation: Fear of trusting people. Poverty consciousness despite what resources a person has. Neglecting financial responsibilities.
Rider-Waite Imagery
The suit of pentacles governs the physical world and is related to material matters. The number four is a framework for kindness and love.
Shown on this card is a man sitting on a gray cubic. Each foot is resting on a pentacle. There is one pentacle above his head. He holds the fourth in his arms. One arm is on top and the other is on the bottom of the pentacle. His arms are in the shape of an infinity symbol (complete free flowing energy). The sky is gray (the divine) and so is the ground. This is a stage card. Notice the flat surface and the double line that separates the surface from the background. The real situation may not be what it looks like. He is wearing a crown with a pentacle over it. This combination represents his mastery and authority in the material world. He is wearing a black cape that is lined in red. His slippers are red (passionate action). His clothing is scarlet with a blue trim (passion edged with contemplation: restraint). The man shown on this card is a master of the material world. He has the ability to do anything he needs to but does it in a complete and systematic way.
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite (1911)
A crowned figure, having a pentacle over his crown, clasps another with hands and arms; two pentacles are under his feet. He holds to that which he has. Divinatory Meanings: The surety of possessions, cleaving to that which one has, gift, legacy, inheritance. Reversed: Suspense, delay, opposition.
4 Some Additional Meanings of the Lesser Arcana
Four.–For a bachelor, pleasant news from a lady. Reversed: Observation, hindrances.
The Recurrence of Cards in Dealing
In the Natural Position: 4 Threes = progress; 3 Threes = unity 2 Threes = calm.
Reversed: 4 Threes = great success; 3 Threes = serenity; 2 Threes = safety.
The Tarot of the Bohemians by Papus; tr. A. P Morton, [1896]
Signification of the Four Series of Minor Arcana in the Divining Tarot
PENTACLES. Development. Money. Trade.
FOUR. Opposition of fortune. Loss of money.
The Tarot by S.L. MacGregor Mathers [1888]
Meanings of the Cards
74. Four of Pentacles.–Pleasure, Gaiety, Enjoyment, Satisfaction; R. Obstacles, Hindrances.
Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Henry Cornelius Agrippa
Capricorn III
A woman chast [chaste] in body, and wise in her work, and a banker gathering his mony [money] together on the table; the signification of this is to govern in prudence, in covetousness of money, and in avarice.
Picatrix the Goal of the Wise by Ghayat Al-akim
Book "T" The Tarot
XXXVIII. The Lord of Earthly Power
Four of Pentacles
A HAND holding a branch of a rose tree, but without flowers or buds, save that in the centre is one fully blown white rose. Pentacles are disposed as on the points of a square; a rose in its centre. Symbols Sun and Capricorn above and below to represent the Decan.
Assured material gain: success, rank, dominion, earthy power, completed but leading to nothing beyond. Prejudicial, covetous, suspicious, careful and orderly, but discontented. Little enterprise or originality. According to dignity as usual.
Chesed of HB:H (Gain of money or influence: a present).
Herein do HB:KVQYH and HB:MNDAL bear rule.
Often the General signification of the Majority of a particular suit and of the particular signification of the either 3 of 4 cards of a sort in a reading:
- A Majority of Pentacles Business, money, possessions.
- 4 Fours Rest, peace.
- 3 Fours Industry
