The Knight of Pentacles is the tarot card of steady, patient progress. It shows a knight sitting still on a heavy horse above freshly plowed fields, holding a single coin, ready to work slowly and carefully until the job is done. Upright, the Knight of Pentacles is read as hard work, reliability, routine, and commitment. Reversed, it's read as being stuck in a rut, laziness, or stubbornness that won't budge.
The Knight of Pentacles is one of the four court cards in the suit of Pentacles, the suit of money, work, the body, and the physical world. Knights are the court cards of action, so they're often read as the way you move toward a goal, and this Knight moves at a slow, sure walk.
Knight of Pentacles Keywords
The Knight of Pentacles' keywords center on patience and dependable effort. Here's how they shift when the card is reversed:
| Upright | Reversed |
|---|---|
| Hard work | Feeling stuck |
| Reliability | Laziness |
| Routine and patience | Boredom |
| Responsibility | Stubbornness |
| Slow, steady progress | Perfectionism that stalls |
What the Knight of Pentacles Card Shows
The Knight of Pentacles card shows a knight in armor sitting on a heavy black horse that's standing still, holding a pentacle up in his gloved hand, with plowed red fields stretching out below him. The best-known version is the one Pamela Colman Smith painted for the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot, first published in London in December 1909.
Arthur Edward Waite described the card in his 1910 book, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot: "He rides a slow, enduring, heavy horse, to which his own aspect corresponds. He exhibits his symbol, but does not look therein." Here's what each part of the picture is read as:
- The standing horse is read as patience. Every other knight in the tarot is on the move, but this one waits, so he's read as someone who won't be rushed.
- The heavy, dark horse is read as strength, endurance, and the ability to keep going for a long time.
- The pentacle he holds out is read as a goal or a responsibility he's committed to. Waite noted that he shows it but "does not look therein," so he's read as keeping his eyes on the work rather than on the reward.
- The plowed fields are read as work that's been done the slow, careful way, and as a harvest that's on its way.
- The oak leaves on his helmet and on the horse's head are read as strength and long, steady growth, the way an oak grows a little every year.
- His armor is read as protection and seriousness about the task.
Knight of Pentacles Upright Meaning
The Knight of Pentacles upright is read as a time for steady, patient work. It often turns up when a goal will be reached through routine and consistency, such as saving a little each month, practicing every day, or finishing a big project one piece at a time. Waite's own meanings for the card were "utility, serviceableness, interest, responsibility, rectitude," all "on the normal and external plane."
Knight of Pentacles Upright in Love
In love, the Knight of Pentacles upright is read as a loyal, devoted partner who shows love through reliability, the kind of person who shows up, keeps promises, and stays. For someone single, it's often read as a slow-building romance with someone sincere. For a couple, it's read as a relationship that grows stronger through everyday care and routine.
Knight of Pentacles Upright in Work and Money
In work, the Knight of Pentacles upright is read as diligence, a dependable job, or a project that's moving forward because you keep at it. With money, it's read as slow, steady saving and careful budgeting, with the reminder that small, regular steps add up over time.
Knight of Pentacles Upright in Spirituality
Spiritually, the Knight of Pentacles upright is read as the value of a daily practice, such as pulling a card every morning, lighting a candle at the same time each week, or tending a garden. It's read as a sign that showing up regularly matters more than doing something big once.
Knight of Pentacles Reversed Meaning
The Knight of Pentacles reversed is read as steadiness that's turned into being stuck. It often points to a routine that's become a rut, putting things off, or refusing to change even when change is needed. It can also be read as working so hard that you burn out, or as perfectionism that keeps you from finishing anything.
Waite's own list for the reversed card was "inertia, idleness, repose of that kind, stagnation; also placidity, discouragement, carelessness," so the reversed Knight has long been tied to standing still for too long.
Knight of Pentacles Reversed in Love
In love, the Knight of Pentacles reversed is read as a relationship that's grown dull or routine, or as a partner who's slow to commit or show feelings. It can also be read as one person putting in much more effort than the other.
Knight of Pentacles Reversed in Work and Money
In work, the Knight of Pentacles reversed is read as procrastination, a job that feels stuck, or overworking without much reward. With money, it's read as being too cautious to take a reasonable chance, or as careless spending that undoes your progress.
Knight of Pentacles Reversed in Spirituality
Spiritually, the Knight of Pentacles reversed is read as a practice that's become automatic, done out of habit without much feeling, and as a sign it might be time to try something new.
Knight of Pentacles as a Person
As a person, the Knight of Pentacles is read as a hard-working, dependable, and serious person, often a young adult who's practical and steady beyond their years. Wikipedia's article on the suit of coins says the Knight of Coins "may also represent someone who is stubborn or hard-working, serious, or set in their ways." They're loyal and patient, though they can be cautious, slow to change, and not very spontaneous.
Knight of Pentacles as Feelings
As feelings, the Knight of Pentacles upright is read as someone whose feelings are steady and sincere, who wants to take things slowly and prove themselves through actions rather than words. Reversed, it's read as someone who feels stuck, unsure, or unwilling to move the relationship forward.
Is the Knight of Pentacles a Yes or No Card?
The Knight of Pentacles upright is usually read as a yes, with the note that it will take time and steady effort. Reversed, it's usually read as a no for now, or "not until something changes."
Knight of Pentacles Correspondences
The Knight of Pentacles takes its correspondences from its suit and its rank:
| Knight of Pentacles | |
|---|---|
| Suit | Pentacles (also called Coins or Disks) |
| Element | Earth |
| Court rank | Knight |
| Arcana | Minor Arcana |
| Zodiac sign | None of its own; it shares Earth with Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn |
In tarot reading, the suit of coins, or pentacles, is connected with the classical element of Earth, the physical body, and possessions or wealth. Wikipedia notes that the Rider-Waite deck added armor to the traditional pictures of the knights, and that tarot's knights, except the Knight of Swords, are often read as defensive. The Knight of Pentacles has no zodiac sign of its own, but its element, Earth, is the element of the earth signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
How to Work With the Knight of Pentacles
The Knight of Pentacles is a good card to work with whenever you're building a habit or working toward a goal that needs steady effort, such as saving money, exercising, studying, or finishing a long project. Many practitioners keep it where they'll see it every day. Here's a simple practice for steady progress.
You'll need:
- The Knight of Pentacles card from your deck, such as the Gold Rider-Waite tarot deck
- A small clear jar with a lid
- A handful of small green stones, such as green aventurine chips
- A small slip of paper and a pen
- Write your habit or goal on the slip of paper, in one plain sentence, and drop it into the empty jar.
- Set the jar in front of the Knight of Pentacles card, somewhere you'll see it every day.
- Keep the green stones in a dish beside the jar.
- Each day you do the work, drop one stone into the jar and recite:
Step by step and day by day,
Steady hands will make the way. - On days you miss, don't take any stones out; just start again the next day.
- When the jar is full or the goal is reached, empty the stones back into the dish and start a new goal.
If you keep a tarot journal, the Knight of Pentacles is a good card to write about when you pull it. A few prompts to try:
- What goal would I reach if I worked on it for 15 minutes every day?
- Where in my life have I become stuck in a routine that no longer helps me?
- What does steady progress look like for me this month?
Our guide to keeping a tarot journal has a free printable page for it. For the meanings of all 78 cards in one place, see our guide to tarot card meanings, and for the youngest card in the same suit, see our guide to the Page of Pentacles.
Knight of Pentacles FAQ
What does the Knight of Pentacles mean?
The Knight of Pentacles is the tarot card of steady, patient progress. Upright, it's read as hard work, reliability, routine, and commitment. Reversed, it's read as being stuck in a rut, laziness, or stubbornness.
What does the Knight of Pentacles reversed mean?
The Knight of Pentacles reversed is read as steadiness that's turned into being stuck, such as a routine that's become a rut, procrastination, or refusing to change when change is needed.
Is the Knight of Pentacles a yes or no card?
The Knight of Pentacles upright is usually read as a yes, with the note that it will take time and steady effort. Reversed, it's usually read as a no for now.
What does the Knight of Pentacles mean in love?
In love, the Knight of Pentacles upright is read as a loyal, devoted partner who shows love through reliability. Reversed, it's read as a relationship that's grown dull, or a partner who's slow to commit.
What does the Knight of Pentacles mean as feelings?
As feelings, the Knight of Pentacles upright is read as someone whose feelings are steady and sincere and who wants to prove themselves through actions. Reversed, it's read as someone who feels stuck or unsure.
Who is the Knight of Pentacles as a person?
As a person, the Knight of Pentacles is read as a hard-working, dependable, serious person who's practical and steady, though sometimes stubborn or set in their ways.
What zodiac sign is the Knight of Pentacles?
The Knight of Pentacles has no zodiac sign of its own. Its element is Earth, the element of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
Why is the Knight of Pentacles' horse standing still?
Every other knight in the tarot is moving, but the Knight of Pentacles' horse stands still, which is read as patience and care. Waite described it as "a slow, enduring, heavy horse, to which his own aspect corresponds."
