The Tarot of Eli 2, LLC: Rider-Waite-Smith-Five of Pentacles & The Archeon Tarot - 5 of Pentacles (Tarot birth wheel explained)

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In the RWS deck, the emphasis is unmistakably on the visible material plight. A barefoot couple, ragged and weary, trudges past a glowing church window where the five Pentacles are enshrined in stained glass. The symbolism here is clear:

• Material destitution (poverty, unemployment, physical hardship)

• Isolation from warmth and sanctuary (passing the church yet not entering)

• Exile from spiritual support (the divine presence exists, but they feel cut off from it)

It communicates in a straightforward narrative: “I have been cast out; I lack support.”

Hermetic–Qabalistic Dimension

In Hermetic Qabalah, the Fives correspond to Geburah (Severity, Strength, Mars) on the Tree of Life. When expressed through the earthy suit of Pentacles/Disks, Geburah disrupts stability and comfort in the material realm. Thus, the card becomes:

• Mars in Taurus: an energy of conflict and destruction clashing with the sign of stability, fertility, and possession.

• Result: upheaval of financial and material security, loss of bodily health or livelihood, but also a test of resilience through hardship.

Whereas Crowley’s Thoth Tarot titles this card “Worry”, the RWS chooses to manifest the same Mars–Taurus disruption through imagery of physical exclusion and suffering. Both show the imbalance of Geburah intruding into the fixed harmony of Taurus.

Key Contrast: Inner vs. Outer

• RWS Deck: Outer exile and visible hardship. It stresses circumstances. The message is, “You are out in the cold, but aid (the church) is near if you can recognize it.”

• Thoth Deck: Inner psychological struggle—“Worry.” Here, the five coins are arranged like the gears of a broken machine, emphasizing anxiety and paralysis of will. It stresses the inner condition of fear and instability that mirrors the outer world.

Both arise from the same Qabalistic truth: Geburah destabilizing Malkuth.

Hermetic Takeaway

The RWS depiction is deliberately more accessible. It grounds the esoteric doctrine in an earthly image of poverty, so even a novice can intuitively feel the card’s force. Yet for the Hermetic Magus, the deeper gnosis is that:

• The Five of Pentacles teaches that security is never permanent in the realm of form.

• Geburah burns away attachments to material comfort so that the aspirant may seek inner strength.

• The “church window” in the background whispers: Sanctuary and Spirit are always accessible, but first you must recognize that the kingdom of heaven is within, not in possessions.

Geburah: The Fifth Sephira and the Fives

In Western Hermetic Qabalah, the Fifth Sephira on the Tree of Life is Geburah (Severity, Strength, Din). It governs the Fives of the Minor Arcana.

Geburah is not “evil” or “punitive” but an intelligent corrective force. Its function is to cut away what is diseased, to destroy forms that no longer serve Spirit, and to discipline the lower nature so the Higher Will may be expressed. Thus, Geburah acts as the surgeon’s scalpel, not the executioner’s axe.

The Nature of Severity

• Corrective, not karmic: Geburah’s severity is not a punishment for past deeds (as a karmic reading might suggest) but a living, present impulse of adjustment. It is the equilibrium to unchecked expansion in Chesed (Mercy).

• Self-reflection through crisis: The disruptive experiences of the Fives serve as a mirror. They reveal attachment, fear, or complacency that must be recognized and purified.

• Mars as its planetary ruler: Mars energizes Geburah with force, courage, and destruction—but also the potential for discipline, will, and purification.

The Fives in Tarot

In the Thoth Tarot, Crowley titled the Fives with words that emphasize disruption of harmony:

• Five of Wands – Strife

• Five of Cups – Disappointment

• Five of Swords – Defeat

• Five of Disks – Worry

Each expresses Geburah breaking into its respective elemental world:

• Wands (Fire) – the ego’s will encounters opposition

• Cups (Water) – emotions sour into disappointment

• Swords (Air) – the mind is pierced by futility

• Disks (Earth) – stability collapses into anxiety and lack

In all cases, Geburah’s severity is the shock of truth: an uncompromising demand for reevaluation and growth.

The Hermetic Lesson

Geburah is the necessary counterbalance to indulgence and inertia. Its severity says: “You are more than your comfort. Let go, refine, and rise.”

• In the aspirant’s journey, the Fives represent the ordeal stage, where the masks of false identity are tested.

• To resist is to suffer. To embrace the lesson is to be purified and strengthened.

Thus, the Fives should be read not as misfortune alone but as opportunities for conscious transformation, where the Magus learns the art of strength tempered with wisdom.

Both numerology and gematria attribute distinct yet interconnected characteristics to the number 5, each within their respective traditions. Here’s an overview of the number 5's characteristics in both systems:

Numerology

In numerology, numbers are seen as symbols that carry specific vibrations and meanings. The number 5 is often associated with:

1. Freedom and Adventure:

   • The number 5 is considered the number of freedom, adventure, and change. It is dynamic and full of energy, symbolizing the pursuit of new experiences and the desire for independence.
   • Individuals influenced by the number 5 are often seen as explorers, curious and eager to embrace life's variety. They tend to resist routine and seek excitement and diversity in their experiences.

2. Versatility and Adaptability:

   • The number 5 is also linked to adaptability and versatility. People with this number in their numerological chart are usually quick to adapt to new circumstances and are comfortable with change.
   • This number reflects a flexible and resourceful nature, capable of handling different situations with ease.

3. Sensuality and the Physical Experience:

   • The number 5 is closely associated with the five senses, symbolizing the physical experience and the pleasures of the material world. It represents a deep appreciation for sensory experiences, including taste, touch, sight, sound, and smell.
   • This connection to the senses also ties the number 5 to creativity and expression through various forms of art and physical activity.

4. Restlessness and Impulsiveness:

   • The energy of the number 5 can also manifest as restlessness or impulsiveness. People under its influence might struggle with consistency or long-term commitments, as they are driven by the need for constant stimulation and new experiences.

Gematria

In Western Hermetic gematria, each Hebrew letter corresponds to a number, and these numbers carry deep mystical significance. The number 5, represented by the Hebrew letter "ה" (Heh), has its own set of meanings:

1. Divine Grace and Creation:

   • The letter Heh is associated with divine grace and the breath of life. It is often seen as a symbol of creation, as it represents the breath of God that brings life into existence.
   • In Kabbalistic thought, Heh's connection to creation makes the number 5 a symbol of divine intervention and the manifestation of spiritual energy in the material world.

2. Names of God and Holiness:

   • The number 5 is significant in the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), the ineffable name of God, where the letter Heh appears twice. This repetition emphasizes the sacred nature of the number and its association with holiness.
   • In this context, the number 5 represents the presence of God in the world and the sanctity of creation.

3. Pentateuch (Five Books of Moses):

   • The number 5 corresponds to the five books of Moses, also known as the Torah, which are central to Jewish religious teachings. This connection reinforces the number's association with divine wisdom, law, and spiritual guidance.
   • The number 5, therefore, represents the foundation of spiritual knowledge and the covenant between God and humanity.

4. Geburah - Strength and Judgment:

   • In Kabbalah, the fifth sephirah on the Tree of Life is Geburah, meaning "Strength" or "Severity." Geburah represents the force of judgment, discipline, and the application of justice.
   • The number 5, in this context, is connected to the energies of Mars, symbolizing courage, action, and sometimes conflict. It represents the necessary power to enforce boundaries and uphold divine order.

Comparative Summary

• Freedom and Adventure vs. Divine Grace: Numerology emphasizes the number 5's association with freedom, change, and adventure, while gematria focuses on its connection to divine grace, creation, and the breath of life.

• Versatility vs. Holiness: In numerology, 5 signifies versatility and adaptability, while in gematria, it relates to holiness and the sacred names of God.

• Sensuality vs. Spiritual Law: Numerology links 5 to the physical senses and sensual experiences, whereas gematria ties it to the Torah and spiritual law.

• Restlessness vs. Strength and Judgment: The potential for restlessness in numerology contrasts with the disciplined strength and judgment represented by Geburah in gematria.

Both systems highlight the transformative and dynamic qualities of the number 5, whether through the lens of personal freedom and exploration or through spiritual creation and divine order.

The Archeon Tarot – Five of Pentacles

In the Archeon Tarot, the Five of Pentacles departs sharply from the traditional Rider–Waite–Smith depiction of poverty and exclusion. Instead, we are presented with five pentacles in two unbalanced pillars of pentacles, a subtle architectural symbol that suggests instability or a missing harmony. At the center of this imbalance sits an angelic woman, poised as if on the threshold of time and space.

Her facial expression is serene, contemplative, and inward-turned. She does not appear destitute, but rather as if she holds vigil—awaiting a revelation, a turning of the cycle, or the unfolding of a hidden truth. This suggests that the “poverty” here is not material but existential or emotional—a poverty of passion, vitality, or forward movement.

Upright Meaning

Unlike the RWS card’s stark exile imagery, the Archeon emphasizes inner repose and waiting:

• Rest and respite after struggle

• Meditation and contemplation on life’s deeper currents

• Relief from worldly strain, a needed pause in the cycle

• Sweetness and sincerity, as one who lives gently on the threshold of mystery

• Serenity in the face of imbalance, recognizing that not all answers arrive at once

Thus, this Five points not toward deprivation, but toward the grace of stillness when action cannot be forced.

Reversed/Inverted Meaning

When reversed, the card loses its sense of placid waiting and drifts into stagnation and depletion:

• Weariness and exhaustion

• Illness or bodily weakness

• Withdrawal into isolation rather than healthy retreat

• Rejection, alienation, or avoidance of life’s demands

In this form, the card signals the danger of remaining too long at the edge of time, where waiting becomes avoidance and contemplation turns into inertia.

Hermetic–Qabalistic Insight

As with all Fives, the current of Geburah flows beneath this image. Geburah disrupts and demands correction—but in the Archeon vision, this disruption is muted into a suspension, a momentary still point before the storm of change. The angelic woman personifies Binah’s reflection within Geburah—the archetype of Severitas softened by Understanding, a serenity that can hold imbalance without immediate collapse.

This card therefore whispers: “Wait. In stillness, strength is reborn. Do not act until you know the true pulse of your Soul.”

Comparative Note

• RWS Five of Pentacles: Poverty, exile, external hardship.

• Thoth Five of Disks (Worry): Inner anxiety, systemic breakdown of security.

• Archeon Five of Pentacles: Suspension, meditation, inner waiting—the poverty of passion rather than possessions.

Together, they reveal the many faces of Geburah in Earth: the crisis of survival, the corrosion of confidence, and the stillness of enforced waiting.

What is traditionally assigned to this card is Mercury in the house of Taurus which combines the communicative and analytical qualities of Mercury with the stable and sensual nature of Taurus. Here are some key characteristics:

1. Practical Communication: Mercury in Taurus brings a practical and grounded communication style. Ideas are expressed in a clear, straightforward manner, focusing on tangible and realistic aspects.

2. Stability in Thought: Taurus is an earth sign associated with stability, and when Mercury is in Taurus, there is a preference for well-thought-out and steady ideas. Decisions are made after careful consideration, avoiding impulsiveness.

3. Thorough Thinking: Mercury in Taurus individuals tend to be thorough thinkers. They take their time to process information, ensuring a deep understanding before forming opinions or making decisions.

4. Reliable Communication: There's a reliability in communication. People with this placement value consistency and are likely to follow through on their words. They may not be as quick to change their minds once they've formed an opinion.

5. Sensual Expression: Taurus is associated with sensuality and the enjoyment of physical experiences. Mercury in Taurus individuals may express themselves in a tangible and sensory way, appreciating aesthetics and the beauty of language.

6. Resistance to Change: Taurus is known for its resistance to change, and this influence can be seen in Mercury's communication style. These individuals may be more resistant to altering their perspectives and can sometimes be perceived as stubborn.

7. Attention to Detail: There's an attention to detail in both thinking and communication. Mercury in Taurus individuals often notice and appreciate the finer points, whether in language, art, or practical matters.

8. Financial Focus: Taurus is associated with material possessions and financial stability. When Mercury is in Taurus, there may be a practical focus on financial matters, and individuals may communicate about money matters in a grounded manner.

It's important to consider the entire birth chart for a comprehensive understanding, as other planetary placements and aspects can modify these general characteristics.

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When the Divination brings up the Five of Pentacles the querent is going through:

• A period of rumination, anxiety, or concern.
• Feelings of being left out of social events because of lack of money. 
• Challenges of insecurity, deprivation, and even exclusion.  
•  The mind is focused on survival issues and thus stopping creativity dead in its tracks as a feeling of helplessness and inertia take over. 
• A foretelling of material trouble for the next 5 weeks or 5 months. 
• This card reminds us that by focusing on what we have lost or don't have, we cannot create more. We need to focus on what we do have, and on the thing, we can do; just a baby step is all we have, but that is motion and is enough to get us going again. 
• The axiom, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" may be the solution to this worrying problem that confronts the querent's intellect.

If reversed, it implies:

• Failure.
• Collapse.
• Despair. 

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