Alright, let’s talk about the 4 of Pentacles. This card and I have a history, you could say. For the longest time, whenever it popped up in a reading, I’d kinda sigh. Felt like it was always telling me I was being stingy or stuck, and honestly, sometimes I just didn’t see it that way.
So, I decided to really dig into it myself, get hands-on rather than just reading interpretations. What I did was start specifically looking for its energy in my day-to-day life. I wasn’t pulling cards every day for this, more like keeping the image in my mind.
My Little Experiment
I started paying close attention to moments where I felt possessive or overly controlling. Not just about money, though that was part of it. I noticed how tightly I held onto my schedule, freaking out if things changed last minute. Or how I’d hoard information at work sometimes, thinking it made me more valuable. It was uncomfortable noticing this stuff, really.
Key things I tracked:
- Moments I resisted sharing (time, resources, even ideas).
- Situations where I felt a strong need for control.
- Times I avoided risk or change because I wanted to keep things ‘safe’.
- How I felt physically in those moments – tense, constricted?
I just jotted down quick notes on my phone or a notepad whenever I caught myself. No big essays, just “Felt annoyed when asked to help with X – felt like my time” or “Hesitated to delegate Y task – worried it wouldn’t be done right.”
What I Started Seeing
After doing this for a couple of weeks, a pattern emerged. It wasn’t always about greed in the typical sense. A lot of it was driven by fear. Fear of instability, fear of not having enough (time, energy, money, whatever), fear of losing control. The card wasn’t just pointing a finger; it was showing me where I felt insecure.
It also showed up in how I managed my energy. Sometimes, holding on too tight meant I was actually blocking good things from coming in. Like refusing help because I had to do it all myself, which just led to burnout. Or sticking rigidly to a budget that was actually making me miserable, instead of finding a balance.
Making Friends with the Card
So, what changed? Well, I stopped seeing the 4 of Pentacles as just a ‘negative’ card. Now, when it appears, I take it as a prompt. Okay, where am I holding on too tight? What fear is behind this grip? Is this structure or boundary serving me, or is it becoming a cage?
I started practicing letting go in small ways. Delegating a task even if I was nervous about the outcome. Allowing for more flexibility in my plans. Consciously sharing resources or my time when my first instinct was to pull back. It wasn’t easy, and it’s an ongoing thing, obviously.
Now, I see the 4 of Pentacles more like a check-in. It asks me to look at my foundations, my security, and my relationship with control. It’s about understanding why I’m holding on, and if it’s truly helping me build stability or just keeping me stuck. It’s a practical card, really, once you get past the initial judgment.
