The Meaning of
the "Ten of Pentacles" Tarot Card

The Ten of Pentacles card is rich with symbolism.

The pentacle coins themselves are arranged in a symbolic way — drawing out the mystical "Tree of Life" pattern.

Dominating the rest of the card is a traditional scene from a noble family's life: A wealthy partriarch sits on the left wearing an ornate robe, while the family and their dogs cavort within an archway of his home.

Engraved on the archway is the partriarch's family crest — signifying generational wealth and a growing dynasty. The patriarch watches in contentment, knowing that his life of hard work has borne fruit.

Adding a possible dark touch to the card, is the small reference to the Tower card, depicted on a tapestry at the far left.

NOTE: Look closely at the the patriarch's robe on the Ten of Pentacles and you might see the ornately abstracted initials "A.W." (The "A" peaks out from under one of the left-most pentacles.) Most tarot scholars agree that this hidden monogram almost certainly stands for Arthur Waite, co-creator of the world famous Rider-Waite Tarot deck. The old man even looks like Waite in his greying years. Given the meaning of the Ten of Pentacles card, and the Kabbalistic arrangement of the coins, it's almost certainly where Waite would want to leave his mark. And that position on the Tree of Life where the 'A' peaks out? It represents both majesty and free will.

The Ten of Pentacles card references the ideas of generational wealth, inheritance and family lineage.

If the Pentacles suit generally references concepts of material wealth and business, the Ten of Pentacles is the successful end of that road. Pictured here is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work, personal growth and the accumulation of material wealth.

... the ideas of family, wealth and one's legacy somehow apply.

When the Ten of Pentacles appears in a reading, it typically means that the ideas of family, wealth and one's legacy somehow apply. It may also reference the ideas of savings, pensions or family inheritance.

In some cases the Ten of Pentacles may also reference ideas of family bonds and the ties which hold families together — particularly between generations.

It may also serve as a gentle reminder to spend more time with family, or to make sure the most important bonds in our lives remain healthy and sound.

In general, the Ten of Pentacles is a very positive card. It relates to wealth, success and the ideas of success that span beyond one's own lifetime. It also has overtones of family life, child rearing and family gatherings.

The reversed Ten of Pentacles carries a few different meanings, but most often it revolves around financial savings and our preparations for the future.

For most of us, saving for the future is one of the most difficult things in life — and one of the easiest things to put off until "later".

As the Ten of Pentacles gently reminds us, later is coming, whether we like it or not.

...most often it revolves around financial savings and our preparations for the future.

The card may also be reminding us that the pursuit of wealth for its own sake is mostly shallow and unrewarding. What really matters is family, friends and the life we build for ourselves.

When the Ten of Pentacles appears upside down, it's often a message to take stock of our "big picture" plans. It's easy to live for the moment and forget about the longer term issues that shouldn't be forgotten.

Generally speaking, the Ten of Pentacles inverted is a serious card. It doesn't necessarily reference financial insecurity, credit card problems or personal debt. (Although it can.) Most often it reminds us to think about the big picture of financial planning and our future — but not in a strictly financial context, more in a context of what's really important to us.