Three of Pentacles Tarot Card Meaning

Three of Pentacles Keywords

Collaborate/Collaboration, teamwork, mediate/mediation, third party, achievement, building, apprenticeship, dedication, goals, resourceful (pooling resources)

Three of Pentacles Numerology

3

Three of Pentacles Astrology Zodiac

Earth: Capricorn

Three of Pentacles Tarot Suit

Minor Arcana, Suit of Wands

Journal Prompts for Three of Pentacles Tarot Card

– What skills/tools/steps are required for things to come together at this point?

– How are things taking shape/coming together/forming so far?

– Is everyone involved putting in an equal amount of effort (as it relates to the circumstances)?

Three of Pentacles Tarot Card Meaning

The Three of Pentacles depicts three individuals; a stone mason (left), a monk (middle) and a nun (right); seen in what appears to be a discussion about building plans. The cloistered nun wears red/a red patterned habit and holds building plans in her hand, presenting them to the stone mason. She represents the divine feminine energy while the monk, wearing gray robes, stands beside her, representing the divine masculine energy.

The stone mason, in his work clothes, stands on a bench. He is still holding his masonry tools in his hands, and has taken a moment to pause his work so that he can address the monk and nun. Just behind them we see an intricate archway with three pentacles carved into the stone. It becomes clear that this is a work in progress.

*Based on the Rider Waite Tarot Deck

Three of Pentacles Upright

The word, “collaboration”, always comes to mind when the upright Three of Pentacles appears in a tarot card reading reading. The energy of this card conveys a sense of accomplishment, unification and joint effort(s). It is generally a positive card to see, indicating growth and development. A short-term goal has been met and you are seeing early signs of success in terms of your bigger picture.

If you have been working independently, you may be at a point in your work where an external source or guide could be useful, if not necessary. In the traditional Rider-Waite image, a stone mason pauses his work to have a discussion with the monk and the nun. This could be an indication that while you are feeling confident and doing well, you have managed to reach something of a turning point. You are gaining ground and experiencing greater consistency.

If you have arrived at a level where you could use outside assistance or support, don’t hesitate to accept or ask for help as needed. This card is a sign that you are ready for it. You may already have one or two helpful people nearby who are ready and willing to offer their support.

Where your career and/or work is concerned, this is your sign to pool your efforts. If you have been working diligently toward achieving something, the Three of Pentacles is telling you that you are making progress. You are encouraged to keep going, especially where you have invested yourself and are continuing to work toward your greater goals. It may be a good time to see how far along you’ve come as your efforts are beginning to take shape. 

The Three of Pentacles upright is likely to project a healthy foundation for collaboration when it comes to potential teammates or co-workers. So long as everyone is agreeable and able to maintain a common sense of group synergy, your efforts should be well met. Additionally, the Three of Pentacles is a sign that your work environment and/or co-workers are solid and present a strong foundation for future success.

In matters of love, relationship, etc, the Three of Pentacles may emphasize that you and your partner do well as teammates. You manage to find and/or create balance in your own unique way as partners. This can only serve to benefit your union in the future as it means that you are both able to bring a harmonious level of balance to the relationship, especially when it comes to practical matters. Having a partner who shares hobbies, interests, etc lays a strong foundation for mutual growth and connection, especially in the long run.

Depending on the circumstances along with the cards surrounding this, you and your partner may benefit from third-party assistance or mediation. Be mindful of any external influence(s) on your relationship though. The earth-based nature of this energy could mean that finances, work and/or other people could be affecting your connection. When the Three of Pentacles is upright though, the meaning tends to be positive in nature. 

Three of Pentacles Reversed

The reversed Three of Pentacles can appear in a tarot reading as an indication that some form of blockage(s) may be preventing growth, progress and/or success. You could be feeling stumped or slowed down in your efforts. You may know that you need extra help but are resisting it. For example, if you are an expert builder or contractor it does not necessarily mean that you are an expert electrician. While you may be able to complete a lot of the work on your own, it doesn’t always mean that you are able (or meant) to do the entire lot on your own.

Make sure that you are not putting off or refusing to take action, educate and/or properly inform yourself, if and when necessary. When the Three of Pentacles reversed appears, it can mean that you are aware of something that you need to do (in order to get to the next level in your journey) but for whatever reason, you are avoiding it.

For example, if your inquiry concerns finances/money, it could mean that you have saved up a certain amount of money but in order to use it, you have to open a bank account. The only trouble is, you have not opened your account and deposited your savings. In failing to do so, you can’t use the money that you spent all of that time and effort saving up. If this is relatable, perhaps you should consider getting an outside opinion, at least as a sounding board. If anything, perhaps this could serve to help you better hear your own thoughts and provide you with the clarity and confidence you need to move forward in a positive way.

Where your work life and/or environment are concerned, you could be dealing with discord among your peers, co-workers, etc. There may be clashing personalities, opinions, perceptions, etc that are creating adverse results. It is possible that there could even be an inability to move forward smoothly and successfully when the reversed Three of Pentacles appears. Depending on the other cards in the reading, be mindful of your approach and/or attitude in the situation. Do your best to be as grounded, clear, calm and communicative as you can in order to move toward turning things around.

The Three of Pentacles in reverse can mean that there are disagreements and/or potential clashes with your romantic partner, especially around practical matters. Your viewpoints may differ and for whatever reason one or both of you are unable to find common ground. Perhaps there are distractions starting to get in the way. The “third-party” theme often present around reversed three cards can mean that one or both of you could be getting distracted with work, money, or even other external pursuits. Look at the surrounding cards for deeper insight; but generally speaking, due to the practical, earth-based nature of the coins, any “third-party influence” here is unlikely to deal with being unfaithful in love or matters of the heart.