The Meaning Of The Eight of Pentacles Tarot Card

New to Tarot? Just pulled the Eight of Pentacles? If the hard-working Eight of Pentacles was pulled out of your deck and you want to know what that means for you, keep reading!

The Eight of Pentacles tells you to work hard and create strong foundations! The dedicated Eight of Pentacles helps us to hone our skills and learn through focused effort. You can’t get good without working for it; boy, does he know it!

The Eight of Pentacles is about taking initiative while you follow your passion and learning to master your craft. It’s about an honest day’s work instead of trying to pull the wool over an unsuspecting customer’s eyes. It’s about being true to what you are good at.

Want to know what else this card wants to share with you? Read on!

Key Facts

Upright Meaning of The Eight of Pentacles

The Eight of Pentacles is nothing if not a hard worker. He’s putting in the work, and he knows you have what it takes to follow in his footsteps, even if it’s sometimes tough. You’ve got the grit and determination to become a master just like him! 

Now is a time of focus for you rather than a time to rest or rely on your wits. You need to be laser-focused, skilled, and have your eye on the prize, or it might pass you by. 

The Eight of Pentacles wants to see you being meticulous. The details matter, and if you ignore the little things, they might come back to bite you. Luckily, Eight of Pentacles appearing upright indicates that you are paying attention and should continue. 

Discipline and routine are tools of the Eight of Pentacles, shields against confusion, forgetfulness, and disorganization. He wants to avoid the chaos by being prepared. If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready!

The Eight of Pentacles is full of ambition; he knows what he wants to do in this world and wants you to do the same. Even if you’re not sure what you want to do with the rest of your life, you can learn a skill in the meantime rather than wasting time. 

You’re using your self-discipline and championing commitment because some goals are only achieved through focused effort and determination. There are no slackers involved when you see the upright Eight of Pentacles!

Love and Relationships – Upright, The Eight of Pentacles

In love, the Eight of Pentacles provides you with a road map to putting in the work for a relationship to succeed. He knows that relationships sometimes require you to do difficult or boring things, but those aspects of relationships are some of the most important. 

It’s time for you to buckle down and commit to someone if you’re currently in a relationship rather than always having one foot out the door. The Eight of Pentacles can help you be the dependable person he knows you can be.

Career and Work – Upright, The Eight of Pentacles

In the workplace, the Eight of Pentacles encourages you to work hard and know there’s no substitute for hard work and learned skills. When it comes to your career, you can’t be wishy-washy or lackluster right now, or you might face the consequences. 

The Eight of Pentacles knows that if you do the work, you’re more likely to see success. He wants you to let your work ethic and your skills speak for themselves because trying to talk yourself out of difficult situations now is less likely to work. 

Some people are more likely to help you now or to support you on your way to the top, but you’re likely to be met with competition as well. Knowing who’s in your corner and who’s gunning for your spot is important.  

Health and Wellness – Upright, The Eight of Pentacles

The Eight of Pentacles lets you know you’ve enacted that routine for your health. It’s paying off. You’re likely seeing positive results because you’ve been putting in the effort, and otherwise, you’re being encouraged to keep going with what you’re doing. 

The Eight of Pentacles wants you to stay consistent even if the results you see are minimal because Rome wasn’t built in a day. You need to keep working at what you’re trying to accomplish, and don’t get discouraged if it’s a slow process!

Slow and steady wins the race, and as long as you aren’t trying to take shortcuts or cheat on your routine, you’re more likely to feel better. Keep yourself honest because what’s the point of lying to yourself.

Spiritual Context – Upright, The Eight of Pentacles

In your spiritual life, the Eight of Pentacles asks you to be consistent in your spiritual routine rather than trying to take shortcuts or avoid your spiritual life. You may feel there are too many rules, but making a few rules for yourself is okay for order and stability. 

The Eight of Pentacles wants you to know that sometimes there’s no excuse; you have to do what you said you would do, or you will regret making a promise you’re not keeping—honesty and accountability matter most with the Eight of Pentacles. 

The Eight of Pentacles is hard-working, dedicated, and trustworthy, and he avoids doing things the easy way or trying to take shortcuts.

Reversed Meaning of The Eight of Pentacles

When the Eight of Pentacles is seen upside down, your reading might be trying to tell you that you’re not fully using your talents. You might know that you have a talent but are avoiding using it because you are insecure or avoiding the work with it.

The Eight of Pentacles reversed can let you know that you need to put in more genuine effort, as you might be approaching things from a half-hearted or lackluster mindset, and in this way, you’re defeating yourself before you’re even starting.

You can also interpret the Eight of Pentacles reversed as a warning sign that you’re easily distracted, bouncing from project to project and never settling anywhere. You may need to find more focus and learn how to take a project from beginning to end. 

This card can also let you know that you’re either procrastinating or unproductive, a hindrance you may not even be aware of. You must reevaluate how you approach your work because otherwise, you might become stagnant. 

Love and Relationships – Reversed, The Eight of Pentacles

If the Eight of Pentacles shows up reversed in a love reading, you might find that you’re struggling with not being dedicated to a partner or your partner may not be dedicated to you. It could even be mutual, and the autopilot you’re both on is causing a rift between you. 

It may be that one person in the relationship doesn’t notice the little details and is causing the other person to feel unseen and unheard, which can also drive a wedge between two people. The little things snowball into the big things when they go unchecked. 

The Eight of Pentacles reversed implies that you’re struggling with disconnection, dissatisfaction, or boredom in your relationship. If you’re settling for who you’re with, you probably feel these feelings strongly. Ask yourself if you’re complacent with someone.

Career and Work – Reversed, The Eight of Pentacles

When it comes to career, the reversed Eight of Pentacles is trying to warn you that you are lacking focus, and it’s likely showing or is about to. When others notice you sleepwalking through your work, you might receive a talking-to from the boss.

The reversed Eight of Pentacles wants you to be able to avoid this! You need to reignite your ambition to stave off the dissatisfaction, lackluster performance, or lack of skills that are present when the Eight of Pentacles is reversed.

Alternatively, you could be working too hard, working too often, or acting in ways that benefit your career life but are exhausting you. Find time to rest; it’s important.

It could also mean that someone in your workplace is acting this way, floating through life at your shared job, and is content to show up as the most uncaring version of themselves. Don’t let this person hold you back from what you know you can be!

Health and Wellness – Reversed, The Eight of Pentacles

The Eight of Pentacles reversed in a health reading can let you know that you need to put in more effort regarding your health. You might feel like you can do whatever you want, whenever you want, but that attitude may be affecting your health. 

You might tell yourself that you’ll sleep when you’re dead or too motivated to slow down, but sometimes you need to slow down. You can’t accomplish all the goals that you want to accomplish if you’re working yourself into the ground!

You’ll likely see much more success once you commit to slowing down, being more disciplined, and being consistent in your health. 

Spiritual Context – Reversed, The Eight of Pentacles

You may feel emotionally worn out when the Eight of Pentacles appears reversed in a spiritual reading. You’ve been trying to be consistent but almost ready to throw in the towel.

If you aren’t grounding yourself, you might find distractions and shortcuts that will keep your mind off the work you’re not doing. This isn’t a good long-term strategy, as the work that you need to do will pile up. Go ahead and work through what needs working through. 

You might be disconnected from your inner self or not committed to spiritual growth and can’t understand why you’re not feeling fulfilled. If you’ve been ignoring your spiritual health to the point where you’re spiritually stagnant, it’s time to make a change. 

When the Eight of Pentacles is reversed, this is your cue to reevaluate your focus, work, and dedication. 

The Eight of Pentacles: Yes or No

The Eight of Pentacles typically says yes and wants you to know that you might have to work hard to get what you’re asking about. You likely have to be consistent with honing a craft or spiritually growing. 

You likely aren’t going to get effortless results when you see the Eight of Pentacles in a yes or no reading, but you are likely to get what you want if you work for it. It’s positive, but you’re not getting it without showing that you want it with your efforts.

When the Eight of Pentacles is here, the answer is yes, if you’re willing to work for it. 

The Eight of Pentacles and Astrology

The hard-working, consistent Eight of Pentacles is associated with Virgo in astrology. Mercury rules Virgo and shares the same dependability and ambition as the Eight of Pentacles.

The Eight of Pentacles’s energy will likely feel more natural to Virgos, and similarly, earth signs, as Taurus will understand dedication and desire for the best, Virgo will align with organization and perfectionism, and Capricorn will understand strength and ambition. 

The earth signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn will emotionally identify with the Eight of Pentacles!

The Eight of Pentacles and Numerology

In numerology, the Eight of Pentacles is represented by the number 8. 8 represents diligence, mastery, ambition, and abundance. 

The number 8 is no slouch, asking you to put in that extra effort and keep being ambitious. Your fire can dim after you’ve been consistent for a while, and you might feel like your efforts aren’t getting you anywhere, but they are. 

Financial success and building structures are indicated with the number 8, so don’t be afraid of embracing your inner boss when this number shows up for you. 

Number 8 helps us to stick with it when we feel like giving up because it reminds us what we’re really working toward.

The Eight of Pentacles as a Daily Card

The Eight of Pentacles is reminding you to give it your all! Seeing this card as your daily card inspires your ambition and encourages you to work diligently to succeed today.

This card tells you to work hard, learn a skill, or create a foundation for yourself to feel more steady. Finding your way in the world can be confusing, and the Eight of Pentacles wants you to be able to depend on yourself and your own efforts.

As always, too much work can also be harmful, so balance your approach to working now. Don’t burn yourself out, but don’t procrastinate the things that you have on your to-do list, either. 

The Eight of Pentacles wants you to be dedicated and effortfully do so in a balanced way.

The Eight of Pentacles in Relation to Other Cards

All tarot cards have other major and minor arcana cards that back them up by complementing their energy or that challenge them by contrasting their energy. Are you doubling down or finding a balance? Let’s find out!

• Eight of Pentacles’s skills + The Empress’s creativity = Honing creative skills or learning to be a nurturer
• Eight of Pentacles’s hard work + The Three of Cups’s teamwork = Working hard with others, sharing skills with others
• Eight of Pentacles’s dedication + The Four of Swords’s rest = The need to rest, even when you’re dedicated to a project or cause
• Eight of Pentacles’s focus + The Seven of Cups’s dreaminess = A reminder to stay grounded instead of daydreaming

Complementary Cards

Complementary cards to the Eight of Pentacles include cards that emphasize the value of discipline, hard work, and continuous growth.

These may include the:

• The Ace of Pentacles: The Eight of Pentacles shares the dedication, opportunity for skilled work, and ambition with The Ace of Pentacles
• The Three of Pentacles: The Eight of Pentacles has the same work ethic, collaboration and teachable nature as The Three of Pentacles
• The Page of Pentacles: The Eight of Pentacles has a shared curiosity and consistency with the Page of Pentacles
• The World: The Eight of Pentacles shares all-encompassing energy, fulfillment, and mastery with The World
• The Nine of Wands: The Eight of Pentacles has a similar preparedness, awareness, and desire to protect like the Nine of Wands

Contrasting Cards

Contrasting cards to the Eight of Pentacles may include those that highlight a lack of focus, laziness, or resistance to change.

These cards may serve as a reminder for the seeker to overcome obstacles, reestablish their commitment, or seek new methods to propel themselves forward.

Examples of contrasting cards may include:

• The Five of Cups: The Eight of Pentacles isn’t as regretful or stagnant as The Five of Cups, indicating a need to be grateful or look to the future. 
• Death: The Eight of Pentacles isn’t about endings or closure like Death, indicating a need to be willing to finish what you started before moving on
• The Seven of Swords: The Eight of Pentacles isn’t as deceitful or conniving as the Seven of Swords, indicating a need to be more straightforward and honest
• The Wheel of Fortune: The Eight of Pentacles isn’t as uncertain or spontaneous as The Wheel of Fortune, indicating a need to find a balance between spontaneity and planning

When the card in the Eight of Pentacles is with a complementary card, it might be telling you to go for it, but in a specific way! If a card in the Eight of Pentacles is with a contrasting card, figure out what needs balancing out.

Conclusion

The Eight of Pentacles wants you to work for what you want in life and knows you can be a master of your craft, a leader, and a successful person. He knows that you have the same dedication as he does deep down. 

He knows you can be committed to a project or person from start to finish and shouldn’t run away from a difficult situation without finding a solution. You know what you want; now run towards it, not away!

The Eight of Pentacles is ready to work alongside you to find the best results possible. Let him work his magic while you work your hardest!

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