Five of Pentacles -
The New Palladini Tarot
Here we have two elderly, weary Travelers bent over from age shivering in the cold. They are looking down at the ground so they can't see that right next to them is the warm light of a church window it's windows decorated with beautiful stars / coins. If they would just look up they would see sanctuary, shelter, and assistance right beside them. The building is physical comfort and the church offers spiritual comfort. All they have to do is go inside.
The traditional meanings for this card are: "isolation, insecurity, worry, financial loss, poverty"
reversed: "recovery from financial loss, spiritual poverty"
The Five of Pentacles is a reminder that resources are always available. You just have to be open and watchful for an unexpected opportunity. You may be going through a period where all you feel is poverty and lack, loneliness, no spiritual connection, job instability, broke, illness, etc. Often these problems are caused by your unwillingness to reach out, your pride, stubborness or your fear. However, recovery is possible, and you will not have to get out of this situation all by yourself. In fact, trying to do everything by yourself or your way may be one of the things that got you into trouble.
It's a good time to stop and look both without and perhaps within ( to listen for spiritual guidance) for answers and assistance. Ask yourself. What am I afraid of? What am I uncomfortable with that is holding me back? What is my relationship with money, success, accepting help? Is it unhealthy?
Five of Pentacles - Comparative Tarot
Starting at top left, left to right:
1. New Palladini card I just drew.
2. The Buckland Romani Tarot has a bit of an interesting twist because the Romani are beggars in front of the church, but they may be merely pretending to gain sympathy and make money. So it kind of takes some of the issues of this card relating to the state of poverty and fears, relationship with money, etc to another level.
Both of these cards are very much influenced by the traditional Rider Waite imagery. Some of these other decks change things up a little more.
3. Animals Divine Tarot. It's odd to see the red fox in winter. Being a trickster he also adds a little bit of that element of poverty or your ideas about being a sham. Normally a fox can be pretty much invisible in any landscape but this guy is completely exposed and his red coat is highly visible against the winter storm.
4. The five of Oaks from the Incidental Tarot. You notice the broken branch is the focal point here. There's a feeling of disconnect.
5. The Secret Tarot. This is probably the weirdest five of Pentacles I have. It has completely divorced itself from any connection to the Rider Waite. I still have not a hundred percent figured this one out and it makes me so sad that there is no book accompanying this tarot because I'm dying to know what the artist intended. What I usually read this as, and honestly I kind of get a different thing from every single person who draws it, but it feels a lot like it's about vanity and the trappings of success. There are so many interesting little things in this card. I often ask people whether they are more drawn to the woman or if they feel like the photographer in this image. Here you have this extremely glamorous women posing opposite this obese photographer, who actually looks like he might be Jewish. There's a feeling of aloofness on her part and voyeurism on his. This card just fascinates the heck out of me.