What does the Three of Pentacles card mean in Tarot?

Three of Pentacles, Minor Arcana, Pentacles III

The Three of Pentacles shows three people: one who appears to be working, and two who are holding what appears to be the blueprint of a building. If you tilt your head and look at it closely, you can see it looks like the ornate cement structure right next to them – that they are actually designing the very building they are in.

They are all working towards the same goal – creating something beautiful. While the man on the left is handling the practical aspects, therefore has hands-on experience, the two on the right look like they are seeking his guidance on how to move forward. This makes perfect sense as the left side in tarot symbolizes the past while the right side symbolizes the future.

The gray wall and the columns suggest some work has already been successfully done. Here, the imagery is extremely interesting: the three pentacles are arranged in an equilateral triangle, right above a downward-facing equilateral triangle with a rose in the middle, thus representing divine creation with both its male and female aspects (upward facing triangle is the male principle, while the downward facing triangle is the female principle). At the center point of the upper triangle is a Celtic cross, symbolizing perfect balance. We see the same symbol inside the rose, as well.

In divinatory Tarot readings, this card symbolizes effective teamwork, collaboration, shared goals, and communication that flows. Groupthink supersedes individual thoughts, and people understand that teamwork is more important than personal goals. It’s a wholesome setting where the group supports and nourishes each and every individual member regardless of their gender, race, or any other factor.

This card could represent healthy family dynamics, positive relationships, genuine friendships, companies where workers feel a strong sense of belonging, or any cause groups of people work collaboratively towards, such as a social, environmental, or even a political cause. It could also represent your neighborhood, city or even country, if people are truly united.

If your reading is about your career and finances, chances are you’ll be an integral part of an amazing project and you’ll work with great people. You’ll all be loyal to the main goal, and you’ll help each other out along the way. If you’re offered a new job, chances are people in the company are really cooperative and have a wonderful team spirit. If that’s what you’re looking for, you should take the job!

If you’re still looking for a job, make sure that the people where you’ll work next are supportive and happy to work together with others. Use your interview time to assess the environment.

If your reading is about your social life and relationships in general, the Three of Pentacles symbolizes a beautiful collective spirit. People around you are genuine, and they don’t play games. They like you and you like them – there’s no faking, no friendships that are there out of convenience. It’s a blessing to be loved like this – enjoy!

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

For singles, having the Three of Pentacles in your reading means you might need some outside guidance to find the one. Work with a professional relationship coach, a therapist, an experienced love psychic, or a spiritual advisor to make sure you’ll do whatever is necessary to find the person you can spend the rest of your life with. Work on your emotions and your reactions to situations, also take practical steps to increase your chances of finding love. You must do all this under the guidance of someone you trust.

If you’re in the mood to just have some fun, make sure to communicate this fact to the people you’re spending time with – honesty is key. You don’t want to mislead them. You don’t want to break somebody’s heart for no reason. Fun can be doubled or tripled when everybody involved knows that that’s the aim!

For couples, the Three of Pentacles means you are in a great place to embark on new journeys together. You can make long-term plans – you’ll both be great at sticking to the to-do lists and the commitments. This could be about moving in together, or even buying a place. The Three of Pentacles suggests it’s a favorable time to do this. You are on a great team! You two are like a power duo! You could also start a business together – you’d make truly compatible business partners.

What does Three of Pentacles reversed in Tarot mean?

Three of Pentacles reversed might mean lack of cooperation and maybe even severe disdain for groupthink and teamwork. People feel forced to be a part of something that they don’t want to be a part of. So, they sabotage the project by “forgetting” to do things, doing things slowly, or just not caring. They might talk behind one another’s back. They might have a particularly strong dislike for the group leader.

In your reading, the meaning of this card depends on your role – are you the leader or a follower? If you’re the leader, try to establish an honest communication channel with your team members. Ask them what they are looking for and don’t judge the answers. You can give them an anonymous questionnaire to make it easier. If you are a follower and you get this card reversed in your reading, it might mean it’s time to switch groups. You need a healthier environment.

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 Three of Pentacles is associated mostly with the constellation of Capricorn, as Capricorn is a cardinal sign, symbolizing beginnings. The card could represent your relationship with a Capricorn but most likely it represents a situation you’ve found yourself in. The situation itself has Capricorn-like energy.

The Capricorn constellation’s name comes from an Arabic phrase: "the lucky stars of the slaughterer," referring to the ritual sacrifices ancient Arabs performed. Slaughter was believed to be a holy activity, a divine offering, a collective undertaking. Capricorn energy shows people’s willingness to work together to create something beautiful to please the divine – and the Three of Pentacles embodies it perfectly.