What Does the Reversed Nine of Pentacles Mean?

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See what this upside down card has in store for your life

Co-authored by Dan Hickey Reviewed by Stina Garbis

Last Updated: May 8, 2024

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Nine of Pentacles Reversed Meaning

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Reversed Interpretations

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More about the Nine of Pentacles

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Other Associations

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Tips

In tarot, the suit of Pentacles—circular talismans inscribed with a pentagram symbolizing the element earth—represents the materialistic and practical components of your life. The Nine of Pentacles is all about the rewards of your hard work, but when reversed (upside down), it hints at forces holding you back from success. In this article, we’ll dive into what the reversed Nine of Pentacles means and how to interpret it for your love life, career, health and more.

Things You Should Know

The reversed Nine of Pentacles indicates something is holding you back from success or material gain. It means “no” in “yes or no” readings.
In love, it may mean that one partner in a relationship is being dishonest or financially irresponsible, or that someone is pursuing you for the wrong reasons.
In your career, a reversed Nine of Pentacles suggests that any setbacks you experience may stem from a lack of effort or wise business decisions.

Section 1 of 4:

Nine of Pentacles Reversed Meaning

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A reversed Nine of Pentacles shows cracks in your stable life. Although you strive for security, luxury, and satisfaction, something may be disrupting your plans for success.^{[1]
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Research source} The root cause of this stalling may or may not be clear to you yet—perhaps the consequences of a past mistake are catching up to you, or careless planning has caused your projects and plans to lose their potential.
- If a lack of wealth or material possessions is plaguing you, the cause may be social deprivation or a lack of confidence. For example, you may be missing out on career opportunities due to weak networking skills.
- The reversed Nine of Pentacles is also associated with low self-worth or material envy. It may be a sign to stop comparing yourself to others in order to stop feeling jealous.
- Pause and reflect on why you haven’t achieved your goals yet. Do your struggles stem from factors outside your control, or is there something you can do to turn things around?
- Keywords for the reversed Nine of Pentacles: being guarded, living beyond means, material instability, reckless spending, superficiality
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A reversed Nine of Pentacles means “no” in “yes or no” readings. This “no” answer might mean you’re afraid to lose what you currently have or feel insecure about your possessions, wealth, or relationships—you’d rather stay where you’re at than change things up. You feel like something is missing, but out of fear of losing your current lifestyle, you may choose to ignore that nagging feeling.^{[2]
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- In other words, a “no” in the context of the Nine of Pentacles represents a fear of the unknown.

Section 2 of 4:

Interpreting the Reversed Nine of Pentacles

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For love If you’re coupled, the instability you sense in your personal life may be due to a strain in your relationship. You or your partner may have been dishonest or unfaithful, or perhaps one of you entered the relationship for self-serving reasons. Since the Nine of Pentacles concerns material wealth, one of you might be spending beyond your means and forcing the other to compensate.^{[3]
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- If you’re single, suss out any potential new partner’s intentions carefully. It’s possible they want to be with you for your wealth, or that they need something from you that you can’t provide them.
- What to do: Let your guard down and open up about your feelings and fears. Communicate with your partner about your needs and tell them when they’ve hurt you. You deserve to experience love without fear!
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For your career The reversed Nine of Pentacles may mean that your lack of success or progress at work stems from a lack of effort. Even though your heart is in the right place, you may not be ready to give your all to your career. It’s also possible that someone has been dishonest about what’s required or expected of you or is trying to undermine your success for their gain.^{[4]
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- On the other hand, this draw might also signify that you’ve worked too hard and haven’t left yourself time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
- What to do: Decide if you’re happy in your field of work. If you are, now is the time to give it your best effort! If not, consider searching for your dream job to satisfy both your spirit and your material lifestyle.
- Review contracts and documents carefully (especially those regarding money) to make sure you don’t miss any fine print. Only do business with those you find trustworthy.
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For your finances You may be wealthy now, but overspending might threaten your lifestyle. It’s possible you struggle with a tendency to immediately spend your hard-earned cash on things you want, but don’t necessarily need. This poses a risk to your financial well-being, especially if you’re going through a rough patch at work.^{[5]
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- What to do: Slow down your spending and pay only for what you need (rather than giving in to impulse spending) until you feel secure in your finances and have plenty of money saved away.
- Be wary of big business investments or purchases for the time being. Stick to safe, reliable decisions that you know will pan out in your favor.
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For your health A reversed Nine of Pentacles may signify a lack of self-control or discipline when it comes to diet, exercise, or taking care of yourself in general. You may also be struggling with over-indulgence in unhealthy habits, like smoking or drinking too much alcohol. Aside from physical ailments, the card might also hint that you have underlying mental or emotional stress that is impacting your well-being.
- What to do: Make an effort to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. You don’t have to become a fitness and nutrition guru, but taking care of your body will help you become more prosperous down the road.
- Think about the times in your life when you felt the best. What was different back then? Try to copy those behaviors or mindsets now to get back on track.^{[6]
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- Remember that a tarot reading is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you’re experiencing a physical or mental health problem, visit your doctor or a therapist for treatment.
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For your spirituality The reversed Nine of Pentacles might mean you’re clinging to old beliefs or ideas that don’t work for you anymore—maybe you’re just “going through the motions” of the religion you were raised in, or you’ve put your faith in people or leaders who don’t have your best interest at heart. You might also feel timid or unsure about creating your own spiritual path and investigating what you truly believe in.
- What to do: Explore new ideas and belief systems. Try meditating or journaling to clarify to yourself what your core values are, then read up on different religions, philosophies, or lifestyles that align with your beliefs.
- In many cases, you get what you give when it comes to spiritual practices. Be patient and give different beliefs and points of view a thoughtful chance—you never know what may end up resonating with you.

Section 3 of 4:

More about the Nine of Pentacles

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The Nine of Pentacles represents success, rewards, and leisure. It’s a reminder that having an abundant mindset (a belief that you have enough resources and having gratitude for what you already have) is the key to a prosperous life and healthy relationships. You can’t give to others what you don’t have yourself, and this card encourages you to be independently happy (whether you’re in a relationship or not).^{[7]
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- When you’re happy and thriving in your own personal life, you’re able to share that happiness with others as well as lay back and enjoy the fruits of your labor without worry.
- In other words, this card symbolizes the possible rewards for your achievements and nudges you to work hard and earn your success.
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The Nine of Pentacles depicts a mature woman in a luxurious vineyard. The woman is independent, confident, and dignified. She’s built a lush life for herself through hard work and careful planning, and now basks in the fruits of her labor. In the classic Rider-Waite deck, the garden symbolizes her rewards and prosperity—the vines are loaded with grapes and gold coins, and the woman has the luxury of strolling about in nature.^{[8]
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- The falcon perched on her arm is a symbol of discipline, as it harkens to her every command.
- The number 9 also represents the end of a cycle. The woman may be entering a new phase of life like pregnancy, marriage, menopause, or a spiritual awakening.
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An Upright draw means it’s time to enjoy the life you've built. While the reversed card may mean your life is losing stability, the Upright card reassures you that you’ve made strong choices and put in good effort to get to where you are today—time to relax!^{[9]
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- In addition to material wealth, pulling an Upright Nine of Pentacles also asserts that you’re in harmony with the environment around you. You enjoy the finer things in life and feel at home among nature or the people and possessions you hold most dear.
- An Upright Nine of Pentacles indicates “yes” in “yes or no” questions. You’re satisfied with what you have in life and are ready to share it with others and the world.^{[10]
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- Keywords for the Upright Nine of Pentacles: rewarded efforts, success, achievement, independence, leisure, material security, self-sufficiency

Section 4 of 4:

Nine of Pentacles Associations

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- Element: Earth
- Planets: Venus, Saturn, Uranus
- Astrological signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn (the earth signs)
- Key dates: September 2–11