The King of Pentacles is the final card in the Minor Arcana suit of Pentacles, and as such, it represents the maturation of Pentacles themes—stability, responsibility, and abundance—in the form of archetypally masculine energy. Symbolically, this can be understood as representing the qualities of success, grounded leadership, and sustainable growth.
Where the key meanings of the Major Arcana focus on life’s overarching themes and events, Minor Arcana cards like the King of Pentacles explore and reveal the more subtle changes impacting one’s day-to-day life and near future. The King of Pentacles also bears similarities with its sibling court cards, the King of Cups, King of Wands, and King of Swords, in that all four deal with themes of self-discipline, actualization, and bringing ideas to fruition.
Like the rest of the suit of Pentacles, the King of Pentacles is typically associated with the earth zodiac signs of astrology, such as Virgo and Capricorn, but is associated with the astrological sign Taurus in particular.
King of Pentacles Keywords
Upright Keywords | Reversed Keywords |
|---|---|
success, materialization of ideas, abundance, security | overly focused on material matters, stubbornness, short-term thinking, re-evaluating a financial plan |
Description of the King of Pentacles Tarot Card
The King of Pentacles is the masculine counterpart to the Queen of Pentacles and represents the successful manifestation of ideas, the establishment of material stability, and the feeling of grounded self-worth. Whereas the Queen represents mastery on a more internal or relational level, the King represents external success and accomplishment.
In the Rider Waite Smith tarot deck, the King of Pentacles sits on a throne in the midst of his overflowing garden, adorned in grape-patterned robes that bleed into the grapevines which grow all around him. The grapes represent the manifestation of his ideas, which began as a seed in the Ace of Pentacles and have now fully matured into an abundant harvest.
His throne is decorated with carvings of bull heads, which connect him to the zodiac sign of Taurus and to qualities of persistence, commitment, and the pursuit of earthly pleasures. He holds a pentacle in his left hand (symbolizing his material success) and a golden scepter in the right hand. The golden sceptre indicates that, like The Empress (Major Arcana #3), he is capable of generating growth and abundance through the focused direction of his will. Similar to King Midas, his touch can turn anything into gold.
King of Pentacles Upright Meaning
In a tarot reading, the King of Pentacles upright signifies the successful realization of a dream, idea, or desire after a period of long and hard work. This stage of the process is related to seeing the rewards for your efforts and harvesting the fruits of your labor. You can bask in the feeling of pride that accompanies successfully materializing your ideas and take pleasure in the abundance that you’ve created.
This card speaks to the establishment of material security through the creation of businesses, investments, and projects that provide stability and sustainable success. Its connection to earth indicates focused energy on activities that generate long-term rewards rather than overnight success and to slow, grounded, and practical approaches to achievement.
The King of Pentacles upright is an encouragement to apply patience, dedication, and hard work towards your goals and dreams. Through the focused application of your will and the felt intensity of your purpose, you can build enduring systems which support your growth over time. The King’s connection to grapes (and wine) reminds you that what you’re working towards should also bring pleasure, beauty and joy.
Love and Relationships (Upright Meaning)
The King of Pentacles upright can signify a relationship with enduring potential that brings feelings of emotional safety and security. You may share similar long-term goals and ideals and are motivated to work hard to achieve financial stability and establish your roots. With patience and commitment, this connection can blossom over time.
The upright King of Pentacles can also signify a partnership that is grounded, earthy, and growth-oriented. Although the King does not necessarily signify literal gender, it can represent a partner with archetypal masculine qualities who embodies a stabilizing, security-oriented, and protective presence.
Love/relationships upright keywords | Career/finance upright keywords |
|---|---|
emotional safety and security, shared long-term goals, patience and commitment, stability-oriented | translating ideas into tangible form, practical and methodical approach, successful realization of a project or business venture |
Career and Finance (Upright Meaning)
The King of Pentacles suggests that you can translate your ideas into tangible, productive, and fruitful business ventures and projects. When you take a patient, practical, and methodical approach to realizing your goals, you can generate worldly success and abundance. Taking a long-term view of your goals will ensure that you are working to build sustainable ventures with the potential for increased rewards down the line.
The King of Pentacles upright can also symbolize the successful realization of a project, idea, or business venture. You have experienced the full process of taking what was once the seed of an idea into its fully mature and realized form, and you can now bask in your success.
King of Pentacles Reversed Meaning
The reversed King of Pentacles can symbolize an imbalance of energy in the material world. You may be overly focused on the materialistic attainment of wealth and are neglecting your relationships, creativity, or your spiritual life in your quest to attain more and more success. This card invites you to reflect on your relationship to money to consider if it has become the prime area of focus in your life.
The King of Pentacles reversed may also signify a stubbornness or a rigidity in your approach to realizing your goals. You may have become stuck by thinking that there is just one path to success when a more flexible mindset may be more beneficial for you. This card invites you to examine your attitude toward control and consider if you are trying to force a harvest before it’s ready.
The reversed King of Pentacles can represent the need to center yourself before proceeding with your plan of action. You may have become ungrounded in some way, with scattered or unfocused energy, and would benefit from reconnecting to a practical and methodical approach. You may want to restrategize your plan so that it minimizes risk.
Love and Relationships (Reversed Meaning)
In a love tarot reading, the reversed King of Pentacles can represent a feeling of instability within a relationship. You may be questioning its long-term potential and if you are aligned in your desires and goals. It may signify a reluctance to commit to a partnership or a loved one who wavers between desiring commitment and desiring freedom.
The King of Pentacles reversed may also signify that your relationship has become overly focused on the attainment of outward material success at the expense of your deeper emotional connection. There may be a transactional quality to the relationship or the feeling that emotional needs are being neglected in favor of the pursuit of success and achievement.
Love/relationships reversed keywords | Career/finance reversed keywords |
|---|---|
instability, reluctance to commit, overly focused on success and achievement, neglecting emotional bond | overly focused on achievement and wealth, neglecting inner life, re-evaluating financial goals and plans |
Career and Finance (Reversed Meaning)
The reversed King of Pentacles suggests that you may have become so focused on achieving success, material wealth, or financial security that you’re neglecting your emotional, creative, or spiritual life. If you are driven solely by the pursuit of more money, status, or accomplishments, your internal life and relationships may feel hollow and in need of attention.
The King of Pentacles in the reversed position may also signify a need to re-evaluate your financial goals or your plan of action to realize a business idea. You may be prioritizing short-term gains over long-term success and well-being, or you may be taking unnecessary risks that threaten your stability and security. This card favors a practical, sustainable, and grounded approach.