Alright, let’s talk about the 4 of Pentacles when it shows up asking about feelings. I’ve spent some time wrestling with this one myself, trying to figure out what it really means in practice, not just in the books.
My First Encounters
So, picture this: I started doing daily draws just for myself, you know, to get a feel for the cards on a gut level. Pulled the 4 of Pentacles one morning when I asked, “What’s the main feeling I need to be aware of today?” My first thought? Ugh. Felt heavy. Like someone hoarding their toys, not wanting to share. I immediately felt kinda defensive, like, “I’m not being stingy today!”
Then, it popped up again in a reading I did for a friend. She asked how someone felt about her, and there it was. 4 of Pentacles. We both looked at it, and she was like, “So, he’s possessive? Or just doesn’t wanna commit fully, holding back?” That seemed to be the common take.
Digging Deeper – The Practice Part
But it felt too simple, too one-note negative. So, I decided to really sit with this card. I pulled it out of my deck and just looked at it for a while. Really looked. Yeah, the guy’s holding on tight. But maybe he’s not just being greedy?
Here’s what I did:
- Journaling Time: I started writing down any situation where I felt that “holding on tight” feeling. Sometimes it was about money, sure. But other times? It was about wanting stability, like gripping onto a job I didn’t love because I feared the unknown. Or holding onto a relationship past its sell-by date because the thought of being alone was scary.
- Observing Others (and Myself): I started noticing this energy around. Someone being super cautious about making plans? 4 of Pentacles vibes. Someone really digging their heels in on an opinion, not willing to see another side? Yep, felt like that card too. It wasn’t always bad, sometimes it was just… solid. Unmoving. Protective, maybe?
- Feeling Check-ins: When I felt blocked or resistant myself, I’d ask, “Is this a 4 of Pentacles feeling?” Often, it was rooted in fear. Fear of loss, fear of change, fear of vulnerability. It was about trying to control things to feel safe.
What It Feels Like Now
So, after spending time with it, my take on the 4 of Pentacles as feelings has shifted. It’s not just ‘stingy’ or ‘possessive’ anymore. It feels more like:
A need for security. Like, deep down, the person feels vulnerable and is holding on tight to whatever makes them feel stable. This could be money, a relationship, a routine, even an old hurt they won’t let go of.
Resistance to change. Things feel ‘safe’ as they are, even if they aren’t great. Letting go feels too risky. So, the feeling is one of being stuck, maybe even emotionally constipated.
Control. Sometimes it is about control, but often stemming from that fear. “If I keep everything exactly like this, nothing bad can happen.” It’s a feeling of wanting to manage every little detail.
Sometimes, simply stability. In a more positive light, it can represent a feeling of having built something solid and wanting to maintain it. A sense of “I’ve worked hard for this, and I want to keep it secure.” But even then, there’s a caution against becoming too rigid.
It’s a complex feeling, this card. It’s that knot in your stomach when you’re afraid to let go. It’s the comfort of the familiar, even when the familiar isn’t serving you. It’s that deep human need for safety, sometimes taken a bit too far. For me, practicing with it meant recognizing that feeling in myself first, the good and the bad sides of wanting to hold on tight.
