← Encyclopedia of Tarot · lesson 73/121
Nine of Pentacles
The Nine of Pentacles describes comfort that has been earned. It is the card of self-reliance and quiet pleasure: a life, or a part of one, that someone has built for themselves and can now enjoy at leisure, on their own terms.
The image
A richly dressed woman stands alone in a vineyard heavy with grapes, nine pentacles around her and a hooded falcon on her gloved hand. A manor house rises behind. Waite saw "plenty in all things", possibly her own possession. The falcon is usually read as discipline and refinement — wildness trained, not lost.
Upright
Upright, the card is read as independence, security, good taste and the reward of patient effort. Waite gave "prudence, safety, success, accomplishment, certitude, discernment". It can describe being comfortable in one's own company, or taking time to enjoy what has been achieved.
Reversed
Waite's reversed meanings were "vain hopes", deception and bad faith. Modern readers often see comfort that is fragile, independence that has become isolation, or appearances kept up at a cost. Some readers do not use reversals.
Correspondences
A Minor Arcana card, the Nine of Pentacles, element Earth. In the Golden Dawn's attributions, which most English-language decks follow, it is the Lord of Material Gain: Venus in the second decan of Virgo, 10°–20°, in Yesod, the ninth sephirah.
In a reading
As an outcome it is a very comfortable card; as advice it can say to trust your own resources and enjoy them. Waite noted it gives "prompt fulfilment" of what neighbouring cards promise. Beside the Ten of Pentacles it moves from personal to shared, family security.
In astrology
The Golden Dawn's correspondences, which most English-language decks follow (French, Marseille-based tradition differs for some Major Arcana).
Decan: Venus in Virgo, 10°–20°
Element: Earth — the element of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn
Mode: Mutable — Virgo is a mutable sign