Queen of Pentacles (Rider Waite Tarot)
First Impressions
My favourite card. Back when I first started reading Tarot, based on what I’d read, I thought it was vitally important that I use a significator in any spread. And while astrologically I am a Fire sign and should have associated with the Queen of Wands, the Queen of Pentacles is
me. And I’ve identified with it ever since. I joke that it’s because I was born prematurely and was supposed to be born under an Earth sign (of course I don’t know anything about astrology, if it “works” like that).
There are other versions I like better. The Robin Wood Tarot (of course) is the most beautiful and I think best captures her essence, and I love the majestic and somewhat aloof contemplation of the Morgan Greer Tarot’s version. And the Full Moon Dreams Tarot’s version, an elderly peasant lady in kerchief and apron carrying a bundle of sticks against a background of Ukrainian Easter eggs, was the main reason I bought that deck when it first came out, it was so perfect. But the Rider Waite is the one I first learned, and is the one in question here. And it ain’t bad, either.
This Queen sits on a gray stone throne carved with florid patterns of fruit and cherubs and goat heads and such under an overarching spray of red rosebush that hints at a bower against a yellow sky. She’s outdoors, with scrubby grass or sandy earth underneath. There’s a confusion of greenery around her. Not a profusion, like it’s not overgrown or anything, but it’s more like the edge of a clearing than an organized field or garden. Red flowers grow around the throne’s base. A reddish-brown rabbit runs nearby. A valley is seen behind her, with a wide river running through it and what I take to be yellowing autumn trees. But nothing quite so neat as the plowed fields of the Knight and Page of this suit. I guess she leaves that to the kids. Blue mountains in the background.
The Queen of Pentacles herself wears a very simple and unadorned red gown over a white long-sleeved underrobe. It’s an interesting combination that stands out because it makes us think so unavoidably of the Magician’s attire. Especially against a yellow sky. But it’s not open at the front, the red gown, like his is; rather it’s sleeveless and full, with a V neck seemingly held together by a tie of some sort. The long sleeves of the white underrobe, at least the one I can see, are cuffed by a gold band. It seems she wears a green cloak over it, thrown back from her shoulders and extending to her feet. But it’s actually a veil, coming from her pillbox-like crown. It’s boxy and gold and reminds me of the Emperor’s crown. It’s topped by something that looks like a golden head flanked by red wings. She sits with her red-shoed feet close together and her head bent to take in the large gold pentacle on her lap. Her complexion and hair are dark, at least as dark as Pamela Colman Smith seems to make any of her characters. Her expression is calm, a little serious, but I think quietly pleased at what she sees.
What does she see, anyway? Not the rabbit, or roses, or the view over the valley. But her gaze is solely on the big golden pentacle in her lap. It rests on one knee, and one hand cups the bottom while the other steadies it carefully. It’s obviously precious to her.
I always thought that this Queen, more than any of the Queens, is interested solely in the physical world. She focuses on what’s outside, on things and surroundings, rather than thoughts and feelings and energies. The nature of the suit of Pentacles. And I think really that it’s that with which I most identify. A disinclination to look beyond the physical and tangible, a concern with comfort and security and material enjoyment.
Creator’s Notes
In
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot Waite says:
Waite said:
The face suggests that of a dark woman, whose qualities might be summed up in the idea of greatness of soul; she has also the serious cast of intelligence; she contemplates her symbol and may see worlds therein.
“Greatness of soul”; I like this a lot. Because of all the queens, the Queen of Pentacles was always supposed to be the least conventionally beautiful of the lot. She was instead the big lady, in every sense of the word. A full-figured, voluptuous woman, Mother Earth. And big in soul and spirit to match it. Her serious expression I usually assumed however to represent more intentness than intelligence, but I’ll take it. She’s intent on her pentacle; as Waite says, she sees worlds therein.
Others’ Interpretations
As far as divination goes, Waite says:
Waite said:
Divinatory Meanings: Opulence, generosity, magnificence, security, liberty. Reversed: Evil, suspicion, suspense, fear, mistrust.
Upright meanings? Suits her to a T. Reversed? Well, I don’t know … but I don’t think much of Waite’s reversed interpretations anyway. And I didn’t even back when I used reversals.
Another interpretation says:
paranormality.com said:
Upright - A capable and practical businesswoman, who enjoys her material comforts. She has a responsible attitude to her wealth and uses it to advance the fortunes of those in her inner circle. She is neither particularly bright nor insightful, but has depth of feeling, with an appreciation of life's pleasures.
As a Queen of Pentacles myself I take exception to being called not particularly bright, but I can’t argue with the rest of it
Symbols and Attributes
Astrologically the Queen of Pentacles is represented by Capricorn, an Earth sign that falls just after the start of Winter. Capricorn is a tenacious, practical, purposeful and steady sign, ruled by Saturn. Saturn’s influence brings a careful maintenance of material resources, earthly authority, and also speaks of inherited qualities and family structure, according to Sandra A. Thomson. Represented by a goat with the tail of a fish in the zodiac, Capricorn represents very well the blending of Earth and Water that the Queen of Pentacles (the Water of Earth) embodies. As feminine elements, Water and Earth complement one another with their receptive and nurturing energies. Water and earth are the two aspects most commonly considered when trying to make things grow. Because that’s what this Queen makes me think of - making things grow. Nurturing and developing things (children, gardens, projects, ideas) and making them grow.
Of the four Queens, I think she is the one who most closely recalls the aspects of the Empress. Both are Earth signs, both are lush and depicted in comfortable clothing in the midst of growth and nature. The implication is that the Queen of Pentacles is the one who best brings the Empress’ bountiful energy to the mundane plane. While the Empress represents creating life and life force, the Queen of Pentacles is the one who one can picture raising and feeding and clothing and disciplining the life she has brought forth.
She might share the attributes of the Empress, but I think appearance-wise she more closely resembles other archetypes from the Major Arcana. She is dressed like the Magician, in white with red over it, framed by overhanging roses against a yellow sky. Rachel Pollack suggested their connection to be:
Pollack said:
Where the Magician manipulates the forces hidden in the world, the Queen of Pentacles joins herself to those forces, allowing them to flow through her into her daily life.
The red and white attire they share are strong alchemical colours. Red for
rubedo, or reddening - the final stage of the alchemical
Magnum Opus - and white for
albedo or whitening, for purification. I don’t know a thing about alchemy, and I think this is more for the Magician than the Queen of Pentacles anyway, but it must be more than a coincidence that they both wear these colours. So let’s look at what they might mean for both of these cases.
Albedo progresses into
rubedo, the inner Light becomes the Spirit, which is reborn. A phoenix is often used to represent this, which is also red.
Alchemy aside, white is almost always considered a colour of purity. And red, being the colour of blood, is the colour of life and passion. Representing the blood of Christ in Christianity, it also represents rebirth. So the two together are a powerful Christian emblem. They represent the meeting of the spirit with the will.
So what does this mean for the Queen of Pentacles? Well, if we look at the purity of her intentions, and how it meets the strength of her will and determination, this might account for it. And the same might be said for the Magician.
Some have suggested that she bears more than a passing resemblance to the Emperor as well - both wear red, have goats (or rams) as their emblems on their thrones, and wear similarly shaped crowns. Why? Well, I think the Queen of Pentacles, as one who is very focused on her physical world, her home and hearth, is protective of it, and watchful for that which might threaten this precious security and comfort. She shares this with the Emperor.
Maybe I’m being obsessive (ya think?
), but I am interested in why her red overrobe is the way it is. Why that V neck with the tie or band across it. And all this bit about alchemy clicked on the light. A V or triangle, point down, crossed by a horizontal line? It’s the alchemical symbol for Earth, for her suit’s element. Right over her breastbone. Now, I know even less about chakras than I do about alchemy (man, the stuff I end up digging into with this deck!), but wikipedia tells me this is roughly the area of her
anahata or chest chakra. It’s represented by the colour green of growth and Earth, and according to wikipedia:
wikipedia said:
Key issues involving Anahata involve complex emotions, compassion, tenderness, unconditional love, equilibrium, rejection and well-being. Physically Anahata governs circulation, emotionally it governs unconditional love for the self and others, mentally it governs passion, and spiritually it governs devotion.
Now that’s nice. I see many of these elements pertaining to the Queen of Pentacles. And the Earth symbol superimposed over this area would tie these aspects back to the practical grounded aspect of the Pentacles. Equilibrium on the physical plane - a comfortable middle ground. I can see her unconditional love for her family and loved ones expressing itself in practical and comforting ways. The type of mother who’d bring you your favourite cookies when you’re sad, if not talk about your feelings. All aspects of the
anahata chakra are tempered by Earth’s pragmatic and down-to-earth approach.
Moving on! Her shoes are red, and planted firmly on the ground. It emphasizes that while she has passion, confidence and strength of will, it is firmly grounded in practicality. They’re not covered by her gown, either, indicating that she is practical and ready to rise at a moment’s notice to deal with anything, unhampered by long and fancy impractical clothing. Her passions are grounded but she can act on them if moved to do so. Her pillbox crown, in addition to recalling that of the Emperor, reminds me of something structural and practical. It’s topped by a winged goat’s head; at least that’s what we’re told. This is spelled out in
Book T as prescribed headgear for the Queen of Pentacles in Golden Dawn decks. It looks vaguely like a phoenix to me, which could bring us back to that alchemical
rubedo can of worms if I let it, but I’ll go with what
Book T has to say. The crown also holds a long green opaque veil that extends under the Queen to the ground. Green is the colour of growth and fertility and is commonly associated with her suit. But notice that long as it is, the veil doesn’t cover the red and white. Her passion, her singularity, are still prevalent. And the fact that it doesn’t cover her, that the veil is thrown back and behind her, shows that she has no secrets, no hidden layers. No, this is a Queen who lives in the present and in the open.
She sits on her throne and holds her pentacle securely. Her whole posture is attentive to it; she stoops or bends her neck slightly toward her treasure. It emphasizes her focus, her attention on it, her protectiveness of her assets and her material security. Me, I like it. I myself tend to stoop or slouch (I have rotten posture; I blame it on having bad hearing and a best friend growing up who was eight inches shorter than me!), so I like to see this in “my” card.
Now on to the throne itself. It’s gray; either stone for the element of Earth and stability, or silver as has been suggested to emphasize the monetary connection of Pentacles. I prefer the stone theory better. It’s more stolid and practical, like the Queen herself, and ties to the Golden Dawn title for this card, the Queen of the Thrones of Earth. The throne is comfortable-looking with a high back. I can’t see beneath her green veil, but if asked I would assume that the seat is cushioned. Even if not, sitting on her veil gives a little more comfort. Because this Queen lives in the physical world, and is fond of creature comforts. The throne is carved with symbols of fruitfulness, abundance, fertility - apples, pears, leaves, cherubs or small children - as well as a goat’s head to underline the Capricorn connection.
Hanging over the Queen and her throne is a bower of roses. Just like in the Magician. Roses represent desire and passion, particularly when red. But tamed into an overhanging arch as they are, they show that the Queen of Pentacles has her sensuality in check, that she is passionate but is not ruled by her senses and instincts in this way; her desires are tamed and under control. Shaped as they are into the suggestion of an archway, they can also represent a triumphal arch, indicating all that the Queen of Pentacles has achieved, and celebrates what she has.
The land on which her throne sits is a little scrubby, I think. Not full putting-green rich grass, nor arable plowed earth, but somewhere in between. The grass is sparse, and it makes me think of the tall and sharp grass that grows just at the outer edges of a sandy beach. Where Earth meets Water. Red flowers around the edges might be more crudely drawn roses, but I think more of the wildflowers that we saw around the Page of Pentacles’ feet. But while the Page was oblivious to them, I like to think that the Queen can see them, can sense their beauty, from her peripheral vision. She’s not insensible to the beauty of nature, for all that she seems to look so intently at her pentacle.
Off to one side, just in the grass, is a brown rabbit. It’s an old Earth symbol, and represents fertility. Fast to breed and bear litters, it’s not for nothing they say that people might go at it like rabbits (or, as MercyMe put it in a thread discussing the card, “f&$! like bunnies.”)! It emphasizes the earthly sexuality of the Queen of Pentacles, and the sexual appetites she works to keep in check.
Behind her, a valley with a river running through it and blue mountains in the distance. The valley represents something that she can look over, indicating that she sees all and is a full overseer of her physical domain. She keeps a close eye on everything. The trees in the valley below seem to be turning brown and orange and yellow, an autumnal scene. I always considered that autumn and Pentacles went hand in hand; the time of harvest and the suit of fruitful prosperity, of reaping what you have sown. The river running through it ties this card to the Empress, whose river runs directly behind her. In this case, and with the blue mountains of spiritual quest and accomplishment, it shows how far she’s come. And how far she still has to go.
The yellow sky behind her is representative of contentment and intelligence. So there, for the Queen of Pentacles not being overly bright!
My Interpretations
Well, the Queen of Pentacles is sexier than I thought! She’s got the strong physical (ie, sexual) appetite of the suit of Pentacles, fond of the pleasures of the flesh. The breeze on her face, the heady scent of the roses, the comfort of luxurious fabrics against her skin, the gleam of her golden pentacle in the daylight, the juiciness of ripe fruit, and, yes, the tactile pleasure and release of sex.
But she’s practical, this Queen. Well grounded. With her feet firmly planted in the dirt, she doesn’t lose herself in enjoyment of these things. She knows there’s a time and a place for such matters, and now might not be the time. To achieve these comforts, to afford the luxury of time to sit under the roses, to afford to buy the soft fabrics and golden pentacle, she has had to work hard. And so if she wants to indulge a little, who can naysay her? Although she’s at rest now, the Queen of Pentacles really has boundless energy to create, to build, to maintain, and the willpower to create it and keep it running. And with the hard work she’s willing to put into it, everything she touches turns to gold.
With the Water element meeting the Earth element in this card, there’s a great deal of feminine energy about her; borrowing from the Empress she so closely resembles, this takes the form of nurturing. The Queen of Pentacles is very good at nursing things along. Children, yes, but also gardens, homes, finances and projects. Because when the practical and financial aspects of the suit of Pentacles come into play, the nurturing of the Queen focuses on practical advice and work rather than the warm and fuzzies. She aims for tangible results, on nurturing with a practical goal in mind. A well-adjusted family with healthy and well-schooled children (and a satisfied husband, given her appetites!), a bumper crop, a clean and comfortable home, a tidy nest egg for retirement, a promotion at work or a new contract for the business she runs herself. Whatever she turns her hand to, the Queen of Pentacles is prepared to put a lot of hard work into, and the results are very good.
If this card came up in a reading that doesn’t pertain to actual people, I would see it as relating to projects and ideas that need shepherding, that need time and attention to come to fruition. Being a Pentacles card, they would relate to tangibles: matters of money, property, work and possessions.
As advice I would take it in one of two ways. First, it may advise a querent to take time out; if you’ve been working hard, don’t forget to take time out. Stop and smell the roses. Alternately, it may remind you that these perks - the throne, the clothes, the roses - don’t come for free. Don’t forget to put in the work that’s necessary to achieve what you want in life.
