Five of Pentacles Cheat sheet

Key words and phrases: Loss. Misfortune. Misery.

Loneliness. Poor health. Hardship. Feeling left out in

the cold. Sorrow. Depression. Poverty-stricken.

Destitute. Needy. Unemployed. Suffering. Financial

strain. Broke.

Symbolic Meaning

The Waite deck depicts two unfortunate destitute

figures passing by a brightly-lit stained-glass window

of a church as they walk in the snow on a cold dark

night. These two figures are probably beggars, one of them is walking on

crutches and the other is huddled in old and tattered clothin

The two destitute figures symbolise anxiety. They suggest that we may be

afraid of losing something that is important to us, such as our job, home or

relationship, which may lead to emotional or physical suffering and pain. It can

also mean that we may feel cut off and alienated from society, or that we are

feeling oppressed, out of place, lost or spurned by someone close to us.

The brightly-lit stained-glass window indicates that light is shining down on

something that we have been in the dark about or has been hidden from us. It

symbolises spiritual illumination and suggests that we will experience a

dawning of inspiration and understanding.