What does the Queen of Pentacles card mean in Tarot?

Queen of Pentacles, Minor Arcana, Pentacles XIII

The Queen of Pentacles depicts a seemingly calm, peaceful queen, surrounded by nature’s abundance and pleasantness. She looks a little melancholic, eyeing her only pentacle, the symbol of her attainments in life – in whichever life area and whatever they are, she seems content with them.

The colors of her dress and cape, white, red, and green, symbolize spirituality, worldliness, and heartfulness, respectively. She has experienced it all – feeling connected to the divine, leading a good life on earth, and having a big heart. Yet nostalgia is implied in this card, as the Queen is sitting facing left, the side that represents the past in Tarot. Though the card shows a tranquil setting, the Queen’s heart might have a different story to tell.

The one overtly conspicuous thing that’s missing in this picture is her castle. Where is her home? Why isn’t her kingdom somewhere in the background? This is why in some readings, this queen can represent a woman who feels lonely. A woman who has a family but they are far away. A woman who has achieved a lot, but doesn’t have anybody to share it with. A woman who might be living in another country than the one she considered home in the past, and her new life, though good, may sometimes feel like exile to her.

Pamela Colman Smith, the artist who drew and painted each and every card in the Tarot deck, is also known for the following poem, titled Alone and Everywhere – a poem the Queen of Pentacles brings to mind.

Alone and in the midst of men,
Alone 'mid hills and valleys fair;
Alone upon a ship at sea;
Alone -- alone, and everywhere.
O many folk I see and know,
So kind they are I scarce can tell,
But now alone on land and sea,
In spite of all I'm left to dwell.
In cities large -- in country lane,
Around the world -- 'tis all the same;
Across the sea from shore to shore.
Alone -- alone, for evermore.

If your reading is about your career and finances, the Queen of Pentacles might mean you have everything you need to get by and feel good about the future. You feel confident that one way or another you’ll make ends meet and be able to take care of yourself. You know you’ll be there for yourself when it comes to financial responsibility. What bothers you, way more than money stuff, is the fact that you might have to do all this alone.

What does the Queen of Pentacles Tarot card mean for love?

For singles, having the Queen of Pentacles in your reading might mean having feelings of profound sadness that come from having moved on from a past relationship or lover. The figure in the card is facing left, symbolizing the past, therefore, you might not be ready to get into anything new right now. It’s okay. Honor your sadness and grieve like you should. It was a relationship worth experiencing, no matter what, and it made you who you are. Take your time to move on. There’s no rush.

For couples, the Queen of Pentacles represents disconnection. You have been together for a long time now, or enough time to feel comfortable with each other as a couple, but sometimes there is that feeling of loneliness that creeps up on you and keeps you up at night. All in all, you know this is a good relationship. It has many positive aspects and you know breaking up would be just senseless.

Note that your sadness and disconnection might have to do with your past, way before your even knew your current partner. You might be carrying unresolved emotions, unhealed wounds from before. They are not strong enough to completely destabilize your current relationship, but it would be a good idea to talk to a therapist, a life coach or an advisor.

What does Queen of Pentacles reversed in Tarot mean?

Queen of Pentacles reversed shows deep loneliness that’s been in your heart forever now. Most likely, you are one of those people who love animals and nature, but when it comes to people you feel a certain disconnection. It’s not that you don’t like people, but mostly you find them shallow, boring, or just not worth getting into deep relationships with.

Many people feel this way at times. But if this feeling has been with you for a long time, it might have to do with your childhood. Were you one of those children who played alone, or with imaginary friends only? It might be that very early in your life you decided people aren’t safe, stable, or even interesting. It’s sad because you might be missing out on so much. While the love that animals give is immaculate, people are pretty capable of great things, too. Give them a chance.

Astrological association

Pentacle cards – all 14 of them – in Tarot’s Minor Arcana are associated with the earth element, which is associated with the astrological signs of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. The Queen of Pentacles, specifically, shows female Capricorn energy.

The Queen is a Court card. In Tarot’s Minor Arcana, there are 16 court cards: 4 Pages, 4 Knights, 4 Queens, and 4 Kings. Court carts tend to represent what we’re going through deep down and what type of a person it’s making us, or a very important person in our lives who’s going through what the card shows.

If the card is upright and it’s about a Capricorn female in your life, note that she is a very capable person. She has many experiences under her belt. She has built a whole kingdom! But she might not always know how to connect deeply. Under her strong, content façade, you might find someone who really wants to be loved, appreciated, maybe even approved. She might also be feeling a deep yearning for a past she has lost.

If the card is reversed, this Capricorn is feeling very lonely. Show as much support as you can, both through words and deeds. Be there for her.