This is the 8th card in the suit of Pentacles, and it is the card of apprenticeship. It signifies that the time is right to learn new skills, begin the Great Work and lay the foundations of your life’s work.

The Eight of Pentacles [Upright]

In this card we again see a predominantly grey sky signifying a lot of work that is ahead of the reader/asker. But this time around, there are much more vibrant colors. In the background, there’s a castle, greenery and a road leading to it. This symbolizes that there’s meaning and reason behind the work being done.

The beggar from the 5 and 6 of Pentacles has turned into a proper apprentice and he has attained some skills, and now is the time for him to hone them. He is dressed in blue, red and black representing his rise through the classes, as he has “unlocked” a working-class, and is getting closer to becoming a master of his craft.

There is one pentacle beneath his working bench, he is working on the second which is in his hands, and the other six are before him, waiting for his steady hands to get to them. There’s much work to be done, but this is secure work, our protagonist is assured of his claim over the pentacles and is working his hardest to make them his.

Eight of Pentacles Keywords [Upright]

• Learning skills
• Talent
• Expertise
• Mastery
• Commitment
• Discipline
• Creation
• Dedication

Eight of Pentacles Meaning [Upright]

This is the card of Sun in Virgo (meticulousness, perfectionism, craftsmanship) and Lord of Prudence. 8 of Pentacles combines the qualities of Mercury with the Earth element and makes those under its influence do hard and focused work, honing their skills and creating their Grand Design.

This is the card of students, apprentices and those who seek to achieve any form of excellence. But this is also the card for those who honor and respect their inner calling and follow their vision.

This is the card whose influence can also be felt through dreams, if you’re constantly dreaming that you’re being late for something, or you’ve forgotten your suitcase/passport, and you’re hurrying somewhere, then know that you’re under the influence of 8 of Pentacles, and you’ve been called to do your Great Work and create your own masterpiece with the skills only available to you.

Key Points – Love [Upright]

• 8 of Pentacles coming up in a love reading can signify a disciplined union that has come together in order to make you and your partner learn a lot from each other.
• Adversely, it can signify that one of you is working for the other, and you should put your ego to the side and focus on learning useful skills.
• This can also mean that you will fall in love with your professor, manager or superior and that the union will be quite useful and fruitful.

Key Points – Money [Upright]

• 8 of Pentacles in a money reading signifies that you will receive a nice prize for your upgraded skills and for honing your work.
• It’s a card that can signify working parallel with studying or improving yourself in some way in order to be able to get a higher pay raise and be more satisfied with your work.

Key Points - Career [Upright]

• This is a great card to have in a career reading, as it implies further progress, learning from the best and in the end, getting that high-ranked position you wanted thanks to your own dedication, discipline and extra hours you’ve put into perfecting your technique and improving yourself, all in all.