Six of Pentacles Overview
The Six of Pentacles represents the beautiful balance of giving and receiving that creates harmony and abundance in communities. You are either in a position to be generous with others or you are receiving help and support when you need it most. This card emphasizes that true wealth comes from circulation and sharing rather than hoarding. When we give freely and receive graciously, we create a flow of abundance that benefits everyone. This card suggests that you have the opportunity to make a positive impact in someone's life through your generosity, or that help is coming your way from unexpected sources.
Card Imagery
A wealthy merchant weighs coins on scales while giving money to two beggars kneeling before him. Six pentacles hang above the scene, representing the balanced circulation of abundance. The scales symbolize fair exchange and the importance of balanced giving and receiving.
Six of Pentacles in Readings
Often Appears With
Reading Position
Most commonly appears in the advice position. Drawn reversed 37% of the time.
Six of Pentacles Upright Meaning
Love & Relationships
Balanced giving and receiving in relationships, mutual support and generosity.
In love, the Six of Pentacles represents a beautifully balanced relationship where both partners give and receive equally. You and your partner support each other generously - emotionally, practically, and perhaps financially - without keeping score or creating imbalances. This card can also indicate that your relationship is blessed with abundance and that you're able to share your happiness and resources with others. For singles, this card suggests that being generous with your heart and open to receiving love will attract the right person into your life. Acts of kindness and community involvement may lead to romantic connections.
Career & Work
Professional success through mentoring, collaboration, or generous sharing of knowledge.
Professionally, the Six of Pentacles indicates success that comes through generous collaboration and knowledge sharing. You may be in a position to mentor others, share your expertise, or help colleagues advance in their careers. Alternatively, you might be receiving valuable guidance, training, or support from more experienced professionals. This card suggests that your career flourishes when you participate in the generous exchange of knowledge, resources, and opportunities. Your willingness to help others and accept help when offered creates positive professional relationships and advancement opportunities.
Finances & Money
Financial balance through wise giving and receiving, charity, or investment returns.
Financially, the Six of Pentacles represents a period of balance and flow in your money matters. You may be in a position to be generous with others while still maintaining your own financial security. This card can indicate charitable giving, lending money to friends or family, or investing in causes you believe in. It can also suggest receiving financial help, gifts, bonuses, or returns on investments. The key message is that money is meant to circulate and that generous financial practices often lead to increased abundance. Your financial situation benefits from balanced giving and wise receiving.
Health & Wellness
Health improvement through community support, sharing resources, or receiving care.
The Six of Pentacles in health suggests that your well-being benefits from community support, shared resources, or receiving care from others. You may be part of a health support group, receiving excellent medical care, or finding that friends and family are generous with their help during your health journey. This card can also indicate that you're in a position to help others with their health challenges - perhaps sharing your knowledge, providing emotional support, or contributing to health-related causes. The balance of giving and receiving support creates a positive environment for healing and wellness.
Spirituality
Spiritual growth through service to others and balanced spiritual exchange.
Spiritually, the Six of Pentacles represents growth through service and the balanced exchange of spiritual gifts. You may be called to share your spiritual knowledge, contribute to your faith community, or serve others as part of your spiritual practice. This card emphasizes that spiritual abundance increases when shared and that both giving and receiving spiritual support are important parts of the spiritual journey. You might find that your spiritual path is enriched by acts of service, charitable work, or supporting others in their spiritual development. True spiritual wealth comes from generous sharing of your gifts.
Six of Pentacles Reversed Meaning
When reversed, the Six of Pentacles indicates problems with the balance of giving and receiving. You might be giving too much and receiving too little, or you could be taking advantage of others' generosity without reciprocating. This card can suggest that generosity comes with strings attached, creating unhealthy power dynamics or obligations. You might be using your resources to control others, or someone else might be using their generosity to manipulate you. The reversed Six of Pentacles warns against both selfish hoarding and codependent over-giving. True generosity should be freely given and received without creating imbalance or obligation.
Love Reversed
In love, the reversed Six of Pentacles indicates an imbalanced relationship where one partner consistently gives more than they receive, or where resources and generosity are used as tools of control or manipulation. You might be in a relationship where financial support comes with emotional strings attached, or where one person uses their resources to maintain power over the other. This card can also suggest that you're over-giving in a relationship to the point of depleting yourself, or that you're being taken advantage of by someone who accepts your generosity without reciprocating. Healthy relationships require balanced exchange and mutual respect.
Career Reversed
Professionally, the reversed Six of Pentacles suggests problems with unfair exchange in the workplace. You might be giving much more than you're receiving in terms of effort, time, or resources, or you could be in a position where others are taking credit for your work. This card can indicate exploitation by employers or colleagues, or situations where professional help comes with strings attached that create unhealthy obligations. You might also be in a position of power that you're misusing to take advantage of others. The message is to examine whether professional relationships are truly fair and balanced.
Finances Reversed
Financially, the reversed Six of Pentacles warns of problems with money relationships and boundaries. You might be lending money to people who don't pay you back, giving so much that you're compromising your own financial security, or being taken advantage of by those who see you as an easy source of financial support. This card can also indicate that you're receiving financial help that comes with unhealthy strings attached, creating debt obligations beyond money. Learn to set appropriate financial boundaries and ensure that your generosity doesn't become enabling or self-destructive.
Health Reversed
The reversed Six of Pentacles in health suggests that your well-being is suffering due to imbalanced caregiving relationships or poor boundaries around health support. You might be so focused on caring for others that you're neglecting your own health needs, or you could be in a situation where receiving care comes with unhealthy obligations or guilt. This card can indicate caregiver burnout, codependent health relationships, or being taken advantage of due to health vulnerabilities. It's important to maintain healthy boundaries even when giving or receiving health support.
Symbolism in Six of Pentacles
Scales
Fair distribution
Justice in material matters
Merchant
Generous giver
Those with resources to share
Beggars
Those in need
Recipients of charity
Pentacle/Coin
Material manifestation and earthly resources
The physical realm and material success
Earth
Material world, stability, and practical matters
Grounding force and physical manifestation
Advice from Six of Pentacles
Practice balanced generosity - give freely when you can and receive graciously when help is offered. True abundance flows through balanced exchange.
Affirmation
"I give and receive with an open heart, creating abundance through balanced and generous exchange."
Reflection Questions
- 1How can I better balance giving and receiving in my relationships?
- 2Where in my life am I giving too much or receiving too little?
- 3What gifts and resources do I have to share with others?
- 4How can I receive help and generosity more graciously?
- 5Are there strings attached to my giving or receiving that create unhealthy dynamics?
Six of Pentacles FAQs
Common questions answered
Still have questions? We're here to help!
Contact Support →Explore More Tarot Readings
Discover different ways to gain insight and guidance through our free tarot card readings