Four of Coins

[queenofqueens]

Hi there,

 

I'm looking for some interpretations for the four of coins. I really like the wildwood interpretation of protection, as I don't relate to the fiscal quality of the four of pentacles. I was just wondering if anyone had any additional interpretations of the four of coins/ four of pentacles? Is it that we need to provide protection for ourselves and others? If its upright do you typically interpret that to mean protection for others? 

[LogicalHue]

I tend to go with the RWS idea but not necessarily about finances. It can be clinging to anything, there's something you have that you don't want to let go of or change. I can also see it as needing to think more about money and responsibility and security. 

[Arcadia]

It could even mean being possessive over something whether that's relationships or material things, depending on the cards in the reading

[Guest]

Some of the older meanings of the card include socialising and amusements (the good life). It’s also the countryside.

 

Other significations include certification and qualifications, especially right to practice. 

Edited February 2, 2021 by Guest

[WildWoman71]

For me - the 4 of Stones is also about vulnerability - whether you or someone else - and that it's times when we are most vulnerable it is important for us to not act with anger and frustration but with love and patience - be compassionate and forgiving - share that light of hope if someone is in need of that 'protection' and nurture

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

that sounds more 4 of cups WildWoman? 4 of stones/coins can be about maintaining a healthy balance  good stewardship of the material world, whether it be money, energy, community service, job, etc, Easy to fall into the overboard on any of it. 

Protection might fall in the realm of 9 of Wands to me. 

[testpattern]

Four coins are the four points that define a square. The fours in traditional cartomancy are often read as buildings, and so the "Building of Coins" becomes a bank or treasury. Hence the readings of wealth, sufficiency, miserliness, holding on to what you have. But of course this can be extended in different reasons. To be underway on a work or practical project, to have the groundwork securely established. It can be read as a house or home in the earthly, financial, or physical sense of homeownership or tenancy. Think of it as having the resources gathered for something. 

 

In Tarot de Marseille, there is often a stylized shield in the center of the four deniers, and so from a visual standpoint, we can think of that as a guarding or protecting motif. This could be partially where the clinging miser-lord of the RWS comes from, in that he is guarding what is his. I don't think that I see a traditional or a symbolic reading to get altruistic protectiveness out of this card but I could see it as meaning that blended with another card, such as the Empress, the Emperor, or the Heirophant, or with a card that is being used as a signifier.

[WildWoman71]

Quote

that sounds more 4 of cups WildWoman?

The 4 of Vessels in the WildWood Tarot - is about boredom, feeling stuck - disillusioned - needing to regain focus

[SheBeast]

For me the 4 of Pentacles is a reminder to not over value the material things in life.  That 4 might be giving me that financial success and stability that I had always dreamed would give me security and relief but in reality all of my dreams of that perfect home or new job get trapped upon release.  I can't take that next step if I'm clinging tightly to the handrail so to speak.  Stability is wonderful but with balance. 

[Dorita]

It could also be about keeping what's sacred to you.

[Grizabella]

In the Forest of Enchantment Tarot the 4 of Pentacles is called the 4 of Boons.  It depicts a gathering of troll wives who have baked up a bunch of pies for a pie sale. Trolls love money.  But then the troll wives can't bring themselves to actually give up and of their pies and they scold all their customers away only to end up keeping all their pies---way more than they can eat.  The author says this card can signify someone feeling overly attached to material possessions.  Fear of scarcity means you never feel you have enough of anything. I guess this card could signify hoarding, among other things.  (Yep, looking further down the page, that's one of the meanings given.)  

 

It's always interesting to see what a deck creator says about their cards, isn't it?  I may not always agree when it comes to an actual reading, but everything we put into our "vault" of meanings is in there and will bubble up when it's needed.

[Lucyblue]

Hi
 

I think It could be protection but protection for ones own gains or to protect your own interests maybe? 
 

personally I can’t help but associate pentacles with material things or possessions and can’t help but think there are other more appropriate cards which would point to protection? I’m still only learning so could be wrong here. 
 

I see it as being a card which indicates hoarding or over-valuing material possessions or money.
Having said that I wouldn’t necessarily always see it as a negative card though so would want to see what other cards around it pointed to to help define that. It Definitely could be involved in the building of foundations for a secure future too maybe. 😊

[kennethwattsreadings]

Hey there!

I'll just tell you what it's always meant to me, keeping in mind everything with tarot is so personal so this is just my take!

 

From a numerology perspective, 4's are structure, stability. Depending on the element that can be a good *or* bad thing. Pentacles, earth, the material world (body, money, things, etc.), already the slowest, most stable of the elements. So to me, there's already a meaning being hinted at about excessive stabilization of the material.

When you look at the image, Rider Waite-based decks (the style I learned with) depict a miser-like figure with his back to a wall clutching his coins. But.. he doesn't look comfortable or happy. He has to keep one foot on each coin, one in his hands, and one in his crown just to hold onto them all, and he's miserable (or miser-able HA!) in the process. Again, someone that's holding on too tightly to the material and causing themselves some grief in doing so.

 

ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, it's not like the card is depicting a failure. The person that gets this card is managing to successfully hold down the fort (in the material world) when this card comes up, whether that means they are managing their finances, their staff, their household, whatever. But there's still always a warning here (to me) that you're trying to exercise TOO much control and you're giving yourself a headache. There's room to relax and relinquish control for some added peace of mind. But again, to the person's credit, they *are* holding down the fort very well.

 

(Astrologically speaking, Golden Dawn assigns this Sun in Capricorn and Waite calls it Earthly Power. Waite seems to also be indicating that the person getting this card is very much successfully managing the material. And though the sun might find Capricorn to be a little serious and restrictive, I would imagine the sun would get it's most useful and purposeful work done here. Not just shining for the sake of fame or ego as the sun can indicate, but taking that sense of self and channeling it into discipline, focus, and drive as happens in Capricorn.)

Edited April 27, 2021 by kennethwattsreadings