The deck · Pentacles · Earth

Two of Pentacles, from the 1909 Rider-Waite-Smith deck

Two of Pentacles

GaietyRecreationMessages in writingAgitation

Upright

On the one hand it is represented as a card of gaiety, recreation and its connexions, which is the subject of the design; but it is read also as news and messages in writing, as obstacles, agitation, trouble, embroilment.

Reversed

Enforced gaiety, simulated enjoyment, literal sense, handwriting, composition, letters of exchange.

A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911), Part III §2

The picture

A young man, in the act of dancing, has a pentacle in either hand, and they are joined by that endless cord which is like the number 8 reversed.

A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911), Part III §2

Older readings

Troubles are more imaginary than real. Reversed: Bad omen, ignorance, injustice.

A. E. Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911), Part III §4. Waite collected these and says they often disagree with the main meanings.

Waite wrote in 1911 and some of his meanings show it. Tarot is a tradition of reflection, not a prediction, and no card decides anything for you.