SIX OF PENTACLES — Tarot Card Meaning
SIX OF PENTACLES in the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot: what the card means upright, what shifts when it appears reversed, the symbols drawn on it and the correspondences traditionally assigned to it.
Generosity
Core meaning
Give and receive with open hands and fair heart.
- generosity
- charity
- giving
- receiving
- sharing wealth
Upright keywords
- generosity
- charity
- giving
- receiving
- sharing wealth
- balance of power
- financial help
- kindness
- gratitude
- prosperity shared
- fairness
- support
- philanthropy
- loans
- mentorship
- reciprocity
- helping others
- abundance mentality
- being helped
- fair exchange
Reversed keywords
- debt
- strings attached
- inequality
- selfishness
- power imbalance
- charity refused
- financial exploitation
- one-sided giving
- dependency
- gloating
- unpaid debts
- unfair distribution
- conditional help
- taking advantage
- guilt about receiving
Reversed and shadow side
Six of Pentacles reversed warns of imbalanced giving—strings attached, exploitation, or difficulty receiving. Examine the true dynamics of exchange.
Symbolism on the card
- wealthy merchant
- scales in left hand
- coins given to beggars
- two kneeling figures
- six pentacles
- red cloak
- purple robe
- city behind
Correspondences
- Element
- Earth
- Astrology
- Moon in Taurus (2nd decan, 10-20 degrees)
- Numerology
- 6 — generosity, charity, balance of giving and receiving
Reading the card
- Psychological
- The dynamic balance of giving and receiving. Awareness of one's position in the hierarchy of resources and the choice to share or accept generously.
- Personality
- Generous, balanced, charitable, fair, sometimes patronizing, aware of social dynamics
- Appearance
- One hand giving, one hand measuring on scales, well-dressed, kind expression, standing above others slightly
- Timing
- Venus in Taurus, first quarter moon, midday, mid-February
What it means for
- Love and romance
- A generous partner, the balance of giving and receiving in love, financial support within a relationship.
- Work and career
- A raise or bonus, mentoring, charitable business practices, financial fairness at work.
- Health
- Receiving medical care through charity, sharing health knowledge with others, balanced give and take in healing.
- Family
- Financial help from or to family, the dynamics of who gives and who receives in the household.
- Spirituality
- Karma of generosity, tithing, understanding the spiritual flow of abundance.
Everyday situations
Concrete, literal situations this card can point to in a reading.
Upright keywords
- tipping the waiter generously
- donating to a GoFundMe
- boss handing out year-end bonuses
- volunteering at a food bank
- lending your neighbor your lawnmower
Reversed keywords
- tipping generously then realizing the service was terrible
- GoFundMe donations going to the wrong cause
- boss giving bonuses only to favorites
- volunteering at a food bank that wastes most of the donations
- neighbor never returning the lawnmower you lent
Related cards
Reinforcing cards
- JUSTICE — balanced exchange
- TEMPERANCE — equitable sharing
- SIX OF CUPS — gift-giving kindness
- THE LOVERS — reciprocal care
Opposing cards
- FOUR OF PENTACLES — generosity vs. greed
- FIVE OF SWORDS — fairness vs. exploitation
- NINE OF PENTACLES — giving vs. withholding
Tarot content on mezulla is for personal reflection and exploration. It is not a substitute for medical, legal, financial or mental-health advice.