Six of Pentacles

The Six of Pentacles represents the moral side of wealth and this relates to wealth in movement or giving and receiving. This is shown graphically by balance scales used to weigh the six pentacles of the card.

We are most concerned about receiving wealth in career. When it comes to other areas such as your closest relationships, there is giving through pooling resources to buy a roof over your head and raising and educating a family. We grow not just by materially bettering ourselves, but also those close to us.

Altruistic giving involves donating to larger groups and charities. Helping others through generosity simultaneously raises our own spirituality and sense of belonging. Giving circles back, elevating your own self-worth.

The poorest person spiritually is not the one who has nothing, but the one who has more than they need yet never gives. That person harbors a negative image of the world and a defensive, judgmental attitude toward others. They remain unhappy on anything other than a superficial level.

The poorest person spiritually is not the one who has nothing, but the one who has more than they need yet never gives.

The ancients personified physical objects like the sun and moon, but they personified abstract concepts like compassion and understanding as well. This gives us the goddess seen on the card: Eleos.

Eleos

Eleos is the personified spirit of compassion, mercy, and pity. Like all personification deities, she possesses few stories of her own. However, a famous altar to Eleos existed in ancient Athens, surrounded by several myths.

The children of Heracles (Hercules) fled to Athens after their father’s death, receiving protection from the Athenians at this altar. Although this occurs in a play by Euripides, historical evidence proves the altar served as the symbolic site where outsiders petitioned Athens for military aid or protection.

The altar itself remained simple, because Eleos does not live there. According to the Thebaid (by the Roman poet Statius, circa 100 CE), she preferred to reside elsewhere:

…in hearts and minds does the goddess delight to dwell.

The absolute opposite of Eleos was Anaideia, the personification of ruthlessness, an unforgiving nature, and shameless behavior.

Description and Symbology

The card shows that gaining material possessions and security is a balance. We must give as well as receive to truly thrive.

In the middle of the card we see Eleos and behind her a pair of balancing scales representing the moral balance between giving and receiving.

Below her kneel two people down on their luck. Eleos drops coins to one of them; the gold hangs in midair between goddess and receiver. This shows that material wealth is useless unless it is in transit or working for your future or the future of others. Money you hoard, that is neither invested nor set aside for you or others is dead money (any investment professional will confirm it depreciates and loses worth).

The two other people are in need. Although they may look different from us, remember that we are all in need at some time, so we will be in their position at times in our lives even when we are not in need of charity. For example, a person born to wealth will rely on their parents during their formative years.

Finally, the sky burns red, denoting emotion. Although wealth appears to be a numbers game, giving and receiving constitute an emotional contract we make with others, between ourselves and our conscience, or between today and our future.

Eleos and the balance of compassion

Eleos is the spirit (daemon) representing the personification of compassion, mercy, and pity that exists in all of us. More important is the balance we maintain within ourselves as we are helped and offer help. This is shown by the balance scale behind Eleos.

The two men in need of help

The two men visited by Eleos are in need of help. Although we may see them as different to our own situation, we all require help at some time, so we should not see ourselves as Eleos all the time either!

Wealth in motion

The pentacles being given in this image are in motion between giver and receiver. Wealth that is not working to better your position or moving to those in need is often dead or wasted money. Our wealth should always work for us, enrich us, and allow us to help others. To do this, it should always be in motion.

The red sky

The sky on this card is red, denoting powerful emotion. Although other red cards denote passion, anger or a competitive spirit, we should never see the finer emotions related to compassion and mercy as somehow softer. They are perhaps the strongest we have — because we are always stronger when we act together.

Tips for Readings

The following table shows the upright and reverse meanings for general questions. The last row ('Yes/No') is useful when you are picking a single card to decide a yes or no decision.

Upright

Reversed

Love

There will be a period where a good sense of mutual trust, support, and caring will show itself.

This may occur through an unexpected event that shows the real strength of the relationship, as one partner may experience a time of need.

If carried on in the longer term, this will result in growing respect and a far stronger relationship.

For new relationships or single people, this card represents the beginnings of strong bonds based on sharing life’s ups and downs together.

One person is either doing all the work, or thinks they are.

There may also be money issues, where separate accounts or hiding income is causing mistrust.

There may also be an issue with one person spending money on expensive things that were not agreed in advance.

If this carries on, there will be arguments and disagreements (if they are not apparent already!).

For new relationships, there are issues with one party making all the ‘asks’ or demands, but giving less in return. Remember, you can’t expect what you don’t put out yourself. This may quickly sour the relationship.

Career

You are feeling more positive in your career direction or may be moving to something more rewarding financially.

Either way, you will be reaping the balance of hard work and skill from a previous period, and your current gains are coming from recognition of your talents, work ethic or abilities as a team player.

Issues with workload or salary may be making you feel undervalued at work. You may feel you are doing more than your fair share, but not getting recognition or remuneration when the time comes.

This may be down to one or two ‘gatekeepers’ that are passing off the team success as their own, or a ‘winner takes all’ atmosphere within the workplace.

Whatever it is, it is time to set boundaries that tip the balance in your favor, or as the saying goes, ‘nothing for nothing’!

Health

This card suggests a ‘give and take’ balance. You are what you eat, and good living rewards with good health.

There may also be a sudden illness, and you will find yourself being either the carer or cared.

Whatever the meaning for you, the card tells you that you will be looked after so long as you do the right thing or pay it back when you can, because what you give, you will get back.

A lack of balance in your life is making you stressed or causing other health issues.

This may be through rich living, extreme partying, or generally burning the candle from both ends.

It could also be caused by someone taking advantage of your good nature, or it could be being underappreciated but over-relied on at work.

Whatever the reason, it is time to return the balance to even. Set good boundaries for your behavior and those of others, and if it still does not work out, it is time for a change.

Spiritual

This card denotes a fair balance between your needs and the needs of others.

Nobody can expect to give or receive constantly as a one way street.

This also means balancing the material and spiritual; a spiritual journey that is all about materialism isn’t really spiritual at all, but at the same time, if your spirituality is all talk and no action, you are probably being at least pretentious.

Helping through meaningful actions because it is the right thing to do, and receiving it back with real gratitude when you are yourself in need is a truer form of spirituality. At the very least, it makes you a good person.

Look out for an imbalance if you are being generous in your time, money or friendship, as someone may be taking advantage of you.

Watch out for dramas and stories that occur only when it is ‘their turn’, especially if it becomes more apparent as time goes on.

Also be wary of your own mistakes. Don’t ignore people who you see as beginning a journey that you are far into as 'not for you' – there are people ahead of you that see you in the same way! Always help others to help yourself.

Wealth

Don’t forget the needs of others when making your financial plans. There is always a balance between making yourself secure and making those who may help you in the future also secure.

This affects many areas of life. In career, help co-workers as they will help you back. In significant relationships, you should be considering their needs as well as yours.

Finally, make sure you make plans for others when you are not here — don’t forget to make that will and keep it updated.

Be cautious of any financial dealings that may lead to exploitation.

Be wary of investments or leases that have far too much in the way of costs and penalties, poor interest rates, or deals that simply do not favor you.

Also be wary if you are borrowing something on a good turn or promise of return in the future – the promise may not hold, and when the other party has what they want, they may simply disappear!

Yes/No

Yes, through mutual support.

No, through unfairness or a bad deal.

Reading the Card

The Upright Card

The upright card represents the balance of giving and taking. Depending on your situation, you may be the one called to help, or the one who will be helped. There is also a sense of reciprocity as implied by the balance scales. You have to give something to get something.

Although Pentacles traditionally govern wealth and material assets, they represent anything providing security, making this a crucial factor in relationships. The card demands reciprocity and balance within a partnership to solve a current problem. Again, you must give to receive.

The card can indicate wealth arriving soon. This comes through career advancement, hard work, an inheritance, or an unexpected win. Managing this newfound wealth is paramount, otherwise, you will lose it quickly. Distributing it to those within your close circle guarantees a far greater impact on your life than spending it entirely on yourself.

There is also a wider level of generosity to consider; charity and giving to those in more need than yourself.

The Reversal

The Reversed Six of Pentacles advises you to be wary of Eleos’s opposite, Anaideia.

Someone is taking advantage of you, or you harbor a deep sense of entitlement. In the words of the ancients: shameless behavior.

You may be guilty of keeping your wealth to yourself, or using it frivolously to make yourself look good rather than feeling good. If you only feel good when other people think you look good, there’s a problem.

The card can suggest an imbalance. What you are giving out is not matching what you are receiving. This may refer to career or a relationship, and you need to correct this or move on.

It may also refer to a balance that isn’t really a balance at all; a forced balance. Walking on eggshells to maintain peace or the avoidance of arguments for an easy life is toxic. Someone is overstepping boundaries or what is acceptable. Force a return to a natural balance by calling it out, perhaps with proof or backup, but certainly by communicating the existence of boundaries and expected behavior.

Card Design Process

The Rider-Waite-Smith card (showing a wealthy medieval man explicitly giving to street beggars) feels archaic today. We no longer operate under feudalism; we rely on structured charities and welfare.

Instead, a divine aspect was chosen, and Eleos as the spirit of compassion was selected to represent giving with a more symbolic sensibility

Final Words

The Six of Pentacles reminds us wealth is not a balance of money or assets, but how you use it. To be truly happy, we have to spend money on both ourselves and others who contribute to that happiness.

There is also a happiness in the acts of giving and receiving themselves.

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