Ten of Pentacles, Minor Arcana, Pentacles X
The Ten of Pentacles shows an aged, wise man just outside a majestic archway that leads into a nice town. He is looking at the townspeople – most likely a family with their child and dogs. While the adults don’t seem to be aware of the man’s presence, the child and the dogs are in the know.
The wise man is wearing a beautiful robe decorated with images of grapevines. He has come to share his riches. The family, too, is well-dressed. But they are ordinary people, probably discussing something mundane between them.
Layered on top of all these complex symbolisms is the way the pentacles are laid out. Tarot cards sometimes refer to esoteric mystic teachings, which is the case with this card, as the ten pentacles form a pattern known as the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.
In this tree, there are ten “sephirot” i.e. life areas, that represent the different levels of our being: physical, emotional, conscious, subconscious, intellectual, spiritual and more. While the Kabbala symbolism is too intricate to explain in a few paragraphs, here’s what’s most relevant for your Tarot reading:
• Regardless of where you are in life, even if it feels like a very difficult, painful place, know that everything is happening for a reason. There are forces bigger than us, and sometimes we just need to trust that this universe has larger plans.
• The situation you are in is making you a more evolved human being; it could even be considered a fast-track to higher states of consciousness.
• The wise man represents divine grace, meaning the universe is generously supporting you and your endeavors even when you are not aware of it.
• The dogs symbolize friendliness – that there’s so much potential around you, only if you extend a hand and open your heart to others more.
• You might sometimes be getting carried away by daily chores, forgetting just how mysterious and amazing life is.
There’s magic in your life, but most likely you don’t notice it most of the time. You might be focusing on the “wrong” things – such as what you see in the news. There’s so much good in the world; we wouldn’t have come this far otherwise. Try to cultivate a positive attitude.
If your reading is about your career and finances, the Ten of Pentacles means it’s time you lift your head up and see the magic that’s in front of you. You have a very good, abundant life, especially compared to the world’s poor, but you seem to forget this fact. You seem to worry about those “first world” problems too much. Of course, you’ll want to continue to improve your life, that’s a no brainer. But remember to count your blessings from time to time!
If you are not happy with your job, that’s okay, remember you are mature enough to tolerate unpleasantness for a while, until you find a new job. If you aren’t happy with your finances, that’s fine too, but don’t blow the problem out of proportion. The moment you decide to help yourself, the universe will be there for you 100%, as symbolized by the generous wise man in the card.
What does the Ten of Pentacles Tarot card mean for love?
For singles, having the Ten of Pentacles in your reading might mean you need to find ways to look at dating differently. There are great people out there, and the universe is all too ready to help you find one, but you might need to get out of your mental comfort zone i.e. you might need to “date differently.”
Start by reviewing your dating criteria – what do you look for in a date? Is education really important? Is money important? Height? Weight? Perhaps by bringing some flexibility into your criteria-mix you can find someone who isn’t “perfect,” but perfectly suited to be your Mr. or Ms. Right. Ten of Pentacles suggests deep connections are more important than what’s on the surface.
For couples, the Ten of Pentacles might mean that lately, you have been failing to see the magic in your relationship. Errands, bills, schedules all get in the way, constantly creating distractions. When was the last time you two did something together, just the two of you, without rushing or talking about tomorrow’s chores? It’s a true blessing that you have found one another; make sure to take the time to cherish it, nourish it, and be grateful for it.
What does Ten of Pentacles reversed in Tarot mean?
Ten of Pentacles reversed shows disconnection from the divine. The divine hasn’t left you – it is there for everyone all the time. But you might have fallen away from it, trying to do everything on your own, being rational, forgetting your spirituality.
There is a theory in psychology that says how we experience God as adults has to do with how we experienced our parents when we were little. Take a piece of paper and pen, and write down how it was with your parents when you were completely dependent on them. Were you afraid of them? Was there harsh disciplining? Were they there for you even when you failed at something? Did you receive unconditional support? Explore these questions and compare the answers to how you see the divine today.
Astrological association
Pentacle cards – all 14 of them – in Tarot’s Minor Arcana are associated with the earth element, which is associated with the astrological signs of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Ten of Pentacles is associated mostly with the constellation of Virgo, which is associated with worldly riches and material comforts. It’s even said that a high proportion of world’s richest plink to people are Virgo!
In a Tarot reading, Ten of Pentacles symbolizes Virgo energy in general. It’s rare for this card to represent a Virgo person. You might want to get your astrological chart done to explore what’s happening in your second house – the house of wealth – and which other signs and planets are affecting your chart, specifically Jupiter and Venus which have to do with wealth.