The Ten of Pentacles tarot card is fun, positive, and has a lot of different meanings. This is the card of total personal security. This means financially, materially, and emotionally, your life is secure. Your family is happy and well cared for, too.
Financially, this is a card of inheritance, meaning your hard work will leave a legacy for others and you’re using your resources wisely to care for your family. In a nutshell, the Ten of Pentacles shows a lasting foundation that will lead to future success. Stay consistent in your efforts, and you’ll have the resources and stability to care for your loved ones for a long time.
When you see the Ten of Pentacles card reversed, it can mean you’re questioning what is important to you. Do you want a committed relationship and a predictable, stable life? Yes, that’s important to many people, but what makes you happy?
It’s up to you how you want to live your life, and if that means not placing much emphasis on material security, well that’s just fine.
On the other hand, this reversed card can show you’re feeling unsure about your financial and material future. You’re concerned about providing for your loved ones in the long run, even though things may be stable at the moment.
The reversed Ten of Pentacles can also be a warning not to get “trapped” by your wealth and material possessions. You might get so used to having the finer things in life that it’s hard for you to settle for any less. Don’t let your self-worth get wrapped up in how much money you have and remember to find joy in the simple things too.
Reading this reversed card using the “blocked/restricted” meaning
Alright, so now let’s talk about how you can read your reversed Ten of Pentacles card. First, you can use the “blocked/restricted” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards this way, you look for an obstacle standing in front of the card’s upright meaning.
So for the Ten of Pentacles, this means something is blocking your legacy.
For example, say you pull the reversed Ten of Pentacles thinking about your children. You have three kids, and you want to leave them all with a healthy inheritance when you pass away.
You started your own company over 30 years ago and sold it for a small fortune, so you should have more than enough money to leave all three of your children a healthy chunk. But you have a son who’s used to you taking care of him. He doesn’t work, and he follows bands around the country, living off your money.
His lifestyle is causing you to eat into the inheritance you have set up for your two daughters. They both work and don’t take any money from you, so you know it’s unfair to spend so much on your son. Here, the reversed Ten of Pentacles tells you that if your legacy is important to you, you need to work to keep it intact.
Your son can live off way less than what you’re giving him, and he needs to learn to support himself. You’re not doing him any favors by giving him so much. He won’t learn how to budget properly or earn an income of his own if you don’t start cutting back.
Not to mention, you’re hurting your other children who work hard. Try helping your son in a way that’s actually helpful, like offering to pay for him to go back to school. He’ll be much more fulfilled and productive if he can earn money doing something he’s passionate about. Don’t take away his opportunity to find himself by making things too easy.
Reading this reversed card using the “opposite” meaning
You can also read your reversed Ten of Pentacles card using the “opposite” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you look for the opposite of the card’s upright meaning. So for the Ten of Pentacles, instead of stability and a strong foundation, you’re unstable at the moment and on shaky ground.
Say you pull the reversed Ten of Pentacles thinking about your job. You work in IT support, and have pretty much hated it since the day you started. Last week, your bosses put you on a performance improvement plan.
Your bosses want to see you take more calls and stick to some of the predetermined scripts. You have three months to improve or else you’ll be terminated. You’re feeling scared and uncertain about your future, and it’s bleeding into other areas of your life, giving you a temper and making sleep difficult.
Here, the reversed Ten of Pentacles tells you not to put all your eggs in the same basket. You should focus on doing what your bosses want, but also, put your feelers out for other jobs. It is possible to beat a performance improvement plan, but it’ll be good to have something to fall back on if it doesn’t work out.
Remember that, no matter what, you’ll gain a valuable lesson from this experience, and maybe it’ll help you find a job that’s a better fit. Focus on what you can control, like doing your best at work and looking for new opportunities.
If your bosses don’t want to keep you on board, that’s out of your hands, but you will land on your feet, regardless. Now is the time to stay focused and work hard. Things will work out in the end.
Reading this reversed card using the “worse” meaning
Another way to read your reversed Ten of Pentacles card is 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 Ten of Pentacles, this can mean you have a strong, stable family, but maybe they’re causing some problems in your personal life.
For example, you might pull the reversed Ten of Pentacles after having yet another talk about settling down. You come from a big family. Your parents are first-generation American, and your grandparents are from Mexico, so family is very important to them.
They host all of you together and have certain expectations for the grandkids. Over the weekend, you were having a big Sunday dinner with everyone, and your grandparents started asking when you’re going to find a nice girl and settle down.
You’re in your late 20s and making good money, so it’s something they expect at this point. But you’re happy just working and have zero desire for a romantic partner. Here, the reversed Ten of Pentacles tells you that you’re doing fine.
Your family loves you no matter what, and they just want to see you happy. You can try to explain to them that you’re content the way things are, or just shrug it off the next time they suggest finding someone to marry.
Be honest with them, and with yourself. You’ll settle into your life in your own time, but don’t feel like you need to make adjustments based on what your family expects.
Reading this reversed card using the “no/not” meaning
Finally, you can read your reversed Ten of Pentacles card using the “no/not” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you put a “no” or a “not” in front of the card’s upright meaning.
With the Ten of Pentacles, this can mean “no security” or “no strong foundation.” You’re living in the moment, not concerned about keeping up with the Joneses or securing your future.
For example, you might pull the reversed Ten of Pentacles thinking about your priorities in life. You make good money working in sales for a large company. But you don’t put your funds into things other people in their 30s consider important.
While everyone around you is buying a house and investing in new hybrid cars, you’re just spending your money on fun activities. You took a trip to see the pyramids last year, and you’re becoming a certified skydiver in your free time.
You don’t have any kids or a husband, so you figure, “Why not live how I want?” Even though your activities make you happy, you’ve been wondering if there’s something wrong with your priorities since they seem so different from everyone else’s.
Here, the reversed Ten of Pentacles shows that there’s no “correct” way to live your life. As long as you’re happy and you pay the bills, that’s all that matters. It might be helpful to save a little for uncertain times, but don’t change your priorities just because they’re different. If you’re enjoying life, you’re already doing better than most people out there, so don’t second-guess yourself.