The Knight of Pentacles tarot card isn’t your typical knight in shining armor. Unfortunately, this knight is a bit too focused to offer much romance (although, he possesses some physical skills that can be quite enjoyable).
Like all the Court cards, the Knight of Pentacles can represent a real person in your life—someone hardworking, patient, and methodical. They love nature and are physically fit, but they probably don’t show strong emotions.
When it comes to offering lessons, this card shows the importance of hard work, staying on schedule, and completing your projects. While the message here isn’t sexy, it is effective: It’s all about putting your nose to the grindstone and making it happen.
When you see the Knight of Pentacles card reversed, it can show you’re struggling with self-discipline and commitment. You might be very creative and talented, but sometimes you have to stop dreaming and do the hard, practical work. You might need to get better at sticking to a schedule or seeing your projects through to the end.
This reversed card also emphasizes the importance of routines. You might struggle to keep up with the necessary day-to-day tasks that require your attention. Yes, mundane activities like paying the bills and keeping your home organized can be boring, but they’re also necessary to help you function and succeed in all areas of life.
On the other hand, this reversed card can show you might be too caught up in the routine of your daily life. Has your life become boring, predictable, and overly conventional? The reversed Knight of Pentacles can encourage you to open yourself up to new experiences, adventures, and maybe even a risk or two.
While practical details are important, sometimes we can lose our passion and sense of wonder if we become too focused on them. Try making new friends or taking up a new hobby to expose yourself to some exciting and unique experiences.
Reading this reversed card using the “blocked/restricted” meaning
Okay, so now let’s talk about how to read your reversed Knight of Pentacles card. First, you can use the “blocked/restricted” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you look for an obstacle standing in front of the card’s upright meaning.
So for the Knight of Pentacles, this means something is blocking your ability to stay on schedule and complete your projects. Are you getting distracted by something on your mind?
For example, say you pull the reversed Knight of Pentacles thinking about a steamy romance you have going on. You started seeing someone last month, and since the first night, it’s been hot and passionate.
The two of you met on a dating site and after having a couple of drinks at a local bar, you went back to your place and had the time of your life. Since that first night, you’ve been seeing each other once or twice each week, and it’s always incredible and unexpected.
You’ve never had such a passionate affair, and you can’t help but get swept up in daydreams all day long, always thinking about the next time you’ll see him. But because you’re so distracted by this new romance, you’re falling behind in work and having a hard time staying focused throughout the day.
Your work performance is suffering and you’re often too distracted to do your normal routines or stick to other important schedules. Here, the reversed Knight of Pentacles tells you not to get too lost in this relationship.
It’s great to have someone who makes you feel excited and passionate, but don’t neglect the other important things in your life. If your work performance continues to suffer, it can cause problems down the line.
Plus, there are other people in your life, like your friends and family, who need your attention too. Strike a balance now before things get out of hand.
Reading this reversed card using the “opposite” meaning
Another way to read your reversed Knight of Pentacles card is using the “opposite” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you look for the opposite of the card’s upright meaning.
Here, instead of being methodical and sticking to a routine, you’re approaching projects haphazardly and your schedule is irregular. It might be tough for you to stay on track and get things done because you never know what to expect.
Say you pull the reversed Knight of Pentacles thinking about your job. For many years, you worked as a data analyst for a corporate dentistry chain. You tracked and evaluated their website, social media, and AdWords performance, and you became a skilled analyst.
In fact, you got so good at your job that you left the company to do freelance work for a high hourly rate. But even though you’re very talented at what you do, you’re not naturally self-disciplined, and you’re finding that working for yourself is much more challenging than you thought it would be.
There’s a lot to manage—from applying for new contracts, to producing the work, to staying on schedule when you have multiple clients in the mix, to remembering to invoice them after the job is done.
You’re having a hard time sticking to a routine, and you often just get lazy and end up doing nothing all day because you’re not sure where to start. Every day starts with the same question: “What am I doing today?” And you rarely have a good answer.
Here, the reversed Knight of Pentacles tells you that if you want to be successful working for yourself, you’ll need to set a routine and stick to it. Try focusing on only two or three major clients at a time so that your attention isn’t too scattered.
Work out the details of each contract before you accept an offer, and make sure you have a set schedule of tasks and due dates. Freelance offers a lot of flexibility, but without some guidelines, you’ll be totally lost.
Focus on the details and stick to your schedule every day. You’ll get more done and be far more successful in the long run.
Reading this reversed card using the “worse” meaning
You can also read your reversed Knight of Pentacles card using the “worse” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards this way, you take the card’s upright meaning and put it in a negative light.
For the Knight of Pentacles, this means you’re working hard and getting things done, but maybe all your emphasis on practical details is making you lose your passion for life.
For example, say you pull the reversed Knight of Pentacles thinking about your daily routine. You’re 36 years old and not partnered and have just a few close friends you see occasionally.
You work as an exhibit specialist at a state museum and you’re also a landlord with a couple of townhomes. Even though you could hire someone, you do all the maintenance and upkeep on these properties yourself.
Mostly, your days consist of hanging out with your dog, going into the museum, and tending to whatever your tenants need. In your free time, you like to post on Reddit and hang out at home and eat takeout.
It’s been forever since you’ve been out on a date, even though you are a romantic and sensual person. Lately, you’ve been feeling like something is missing, and you’re finding yourself enamored with Instagram models you’ll never meet in real life.
You feel like it’s too late to change your life, even though you’re not passionate about anything anymore. Here, the reversed Knight of Pentacles tells you that it’s never too late to make a change if you’re unhappy.
Sometimes exposing ourselves to something new can be hard to handle alone, but a fun hobby might be just what you need to bring back that spark of life. You can also try meeting new people by going out on a date or joining a group in your area.
Try looking at groups on Facebook or Meetup to see what catches your eye. You might be surprised to learn what your peers are up to. Don’t keep things the same if you’re not happy with your life. It’ll only get tougher to make a change down the line, and there’s no better time to start than right now.
Reading this reversed card using the “no/not” meaning
Finally, you can use the “no/not” card meaning to read your reversed Knight of Pentacles card. When you read your cards like this, you put a “no” or a “not” in front of the card’s upright meaning.
For the Knight of Pentacles, this can mean “no patience” or “not methodical”. You might expect results too soon or rush through things just to get them out of the way.
Say you pull the reversed Knight of Pentacles card thinking about potty training your toddler. You’ve read all the books and are a part some of the biggest mommy groups on the internet. Your little one just turned two, and in your mind, that means he should be ready to use the potty.
So you got a training toilet and have been working to get your son to use it. But after three months, he’s not showing interest, and you’re frustrated that it’s not working out. You keep wondering what’s wrong and don’t get why he’s not ready.
On the other hand, your husband doesn’t understand the rush, so he hasn’t been encouraging your son when they’re alone. Here, the reversed Knight of Pentacles tells you that first, the whole family needs to be on the same page, and second, your son might not be ready yet.
Remember that all kids develop at different rates, and just because some parents have success with potty training at two, doesn’t mean every child is ready at that age. Plus, to help your son get comfortable and understand, your husband will need to be consistent, too.
If your son isn’t interested, don’t push him too hard yet. He’ll become more curious as the year goes on, and you’ll need to be patient and regular in your efforts. Talk with your husband and come up with a plan you both agree to. Your boy will adjust in his own time.