The Seven of Pentacles is one of those cards you can read positively or negatively, depending on your perspective. It can mean you’re getting ready to reap the rewards of your hard work, or that you’re pouting over the fact that you’re not seeing results quickly.
On the positive side, this card shows you’re soon going to see rewards for all the effort you’ve put in. You took your time and paid attention to the details, and now it’s paying off.
On the negative side, The Seven of Pentacles means you’ve done the work, but the results are taking a long time to show up. This could mean you have unrealistic expectations or have not yet completed the necessary steps.
When you see The Seven of Pentacles card reversed, it can mean you’re lacking direction and aren’t sure where to invest your efforts. You might be pulled in a few different directions, or you might be frustrated with your current project.
Maybe you’ve invested money in something that isn’t giving you any returns. Or maybe you thought something would bring you joy, but it isn’t.
It asks you to take a step back to evaluate where you’re putting in the effort and see if it’s really worth your time. Don’t waste your valuable energy and resources on something that will not improve your life.
The reversed Seven of Pentacles can also mean that you know when it’s time to stop wasting energy on something that isn’t paying off. For example, you might be building a foundation for a new relationship, but you recognize it doesn’t have the potential to grow into something meaningful.
This can frustrate and dishearten you, but trust yourself and your intuition. If things aren’t progressing the way you want, it may be time to invest your time and energy elsewhere.
Reading this reversed card using the “blocked/restricted” meaning
Okay, so now let’s talk about how to read your reversed Seven 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.
For The Seven of Pentacles, this means something is keeping you from the rewards of your hard work. What’s blocking your success?
For example, say you pull the reversed Seven of Pentacles thinking about your job. You work in retail at a clothing outlet, and you’re trying to get promoted to assistant manager. You pick up extra shifts whenever you can and always put 100% in everything you do.
In fact, you have no problem staying late and taking short lunches. But you have a coworker who doesn’t take her job seriously, and she’s making you look bad.
She’s received several complaints from customers while you were on the same shift, and management blamed you both. She also doesn’t do any side work, making your job that much harder. At this rate, you figure you’ll never get that promotion.
Here, the reversed Seven of Pentacles card tells you it’s okay to stand up for yourself. Tell management when you do extra things around the store so they know to keep an eye on you.
You also don’t have to throw your co-worker under the bus, but you can tell her you’ll no longer take the blame when she messes up. And you can talk to her about doing her fair share of the work too. You’re right; you won’t get that promotion if this keeps up, so take steps to secure the future you want today.
Reading this reversed card using the “opposite” meaning
Another way to read your reversed Seven of Pentacles card is using the “opposite” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards this way, you look for the opposite of the card’s upright meaning.
So for The Seven of Pentacles, instead of patient growth and rewards, you’re going backward and experiencing loss.
Say you pull the reversed Seven of Pentacles thinking about a recent investment. After hearing all the hype, you invested in cryptocurrency. You thought it was guaranteed to pay off because of what everyone’s been saying.
But you know nothing about investments and didn’t consult anyone who does, so after just a couple of months, you’re down $500. You’re feeling frustrated and disappointed with the situation, and you feel foolish for losing so much money with nothing to show.
Here, the reversed Seven of Pentacles tells you that sometimes things don’t pay off—especially if you don’t put in the effort. Next time you want to invest, do the research to help you make a wise choice.
It’s always frustrating to lose money, but this can be a good lesson for the future. Take what you’ve learned here and use it as a stepping stone towards investments that will pay off down the line.
Reading this reversed card using the “worse” meaning
You can also read your reversed Seven of Pentacles card using the “worse” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you take the card’s upright meaning and put it in a negative light.
With The Seven of Pentacles, this means you’re seeing slow growth and progress, but what you thought you wanted isn’t making you happy.
For example, say you pull the reversed Seven of Pentacles card thinking about a romantic relationship. You started seeing a girl a few months ago after being alone for years. She’s nice and the two of you have similar interests, so you’ve been dating each other exclusively. You go on hikes together and play in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, and she really is a great companion.
After three months, things are getting more serious, and she’s started talking about what the future might look like for the two of you. But even though you were happy to find a partner who “gets” you after being alone for so long, something doesn’t feel right.
There’s no spark between the two of you, and you are rarely intimate. You’re hesitant to move forward, even though she’s happy to. Here, the reversed Seven of Pentacles tells you that you don’t have to progress if this relationship doesn’t make you happy.
If there’s no chemistry, there probably won’t ever be, so a romantic relationship might not be in your future. Maybe the two of you can just be friends after talking about how you feel. Be honest with your girlfriend and try not to waste too much time investing in something that ultimately won’t make you happy.
Reading this reversed card using the “no/not” meaning
Finally, you use the “no/not” card meaning to read your reversed Seven of Pentacles card. When you read your cards this way, you put a “no” or a “not” in front of the card’s upright meaning.
For The Seven of Pentacles, this can mean “no results” or “no hard work.” You may expect to see results, but maybe you haven’t put in the time or effort to make them happen.
Say you pull the reversed Seven of Pentacles card thinking about a business you just started. Last week, you launched an online t-shirt store after seeing several ads about how easy it is. The service you’re using set up your site, and they have a third-party company that manufactures the shirts.
You posted a few announcements on your Facebook page account full of old friends and family. You thought this whole thing would be a quick and easy way to make money, but no orders are coming in.
Here, the reversed Seven of Pentacles card tells you that you haven’t put in enough effort to see the rewards you want. Even though this platform makes it easy, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to put in the work too.
When you see something that’s too good to be true, it usually is. And “overnight success” is something that in reality can take years. Remember that nothing comes without hard work, so you’ll need to put the effort in to see results.