Five of Pentacles
The card depicts two Vikings caught in a winter storm among barren trees and shattered shields, evoking damage, vulnerability, and the aftermath of conflict. One figure sets out to seek aid while the other sits wounded and bandaged, emphasizing exhaustion, loss of faith, and feelings of being cold and forgotten. Reversed, it counsels reaching out—asking for help, depending on others, and remaining open to omens—while warning against an inability to recognize what you already have and fears of impoverishment. The Bind Rune's instruction to always be giving to others reframes the hardship as a call to mutual support and generosity as a path through adversity.
Keywords
Description
Two Vikings got caught in a winter storm without shelter. Trees are barren, and the ground is hard. Five broken shields appear haphazardly strewn over a tree from an old battle. Two appear in a tree, broken and pierced with arrows. Three are on the ground, also split and shattered. One Viking holds a staff and has their back turned. They appear to be walking out to find help. Another Viking sits on the cold winter ground. Bandages appear on their left hand and eye.
Upright
uncertainty, loss of faith, hopelessness, feeling cold and forgotten.
Reversed
ask for help, open to omens, depend on others, inability to see what you do have, fear of poverty.
Bind Rune
always be giving to others.
Visual Description
A snow-swept scene shows a wounded, cloaked man in the foreground with bandages and a wooden pipe or stick held to his mouth. Scattered around him and embedded in the ground and tree are five round shields marked with runes, several pierced by arrows. Another hooded figure stands farther back leaning on a staff, facing away toward a bleak, mountainous horizon. A bare tree looms to the right with a faint glowing rune carved into its trunk, and a circular medallion with the numeral 5 appears at the top of the image.
Runic tarot
💜 Please support creators. Buy official decks.
ℹ️ Disclaimer
All card images and descriptions are taken from public sources. They are used for review purposes only. All rights to these images and descriptions belong to their creators. If you believe there is a copyright infringement, please contact us at [email protected].