Five of Swords

On the Five of Swords, we see a total of three figures, but two of them do not hold any of the swords found in the scene. Three swords are held in their hands by the man seen in the foreground. One is leaning against the ground and two are leaning against his left shoulder. He is dressed in a red outfit and a green tunic, and a mocking smile is painted on his face. He is looking over his shoulder at the distant figures, and looks as if he has just had a fight in which he may not have followed all the rules. The other two swords lie on the ground behind him and look as if they have been abandoned or even lost by the two people closer to the seashore. On this card, we see mountains in the distance and the sky itself is quite unsettled and even stormy, further emphasizing the message of this image. The Five of Swords is itself a card not only of struggle, but also of a Pyrrhic victory, that is, one that was achieved by disproportionate action to the expected results. The Five of Swords is also a card of defeat, and it all depends on which character on the card describes you. However, like all of the Swords, it indicates strength of mind.

The Five of Swords in an upright position is one of the more difficult cards in Tarot always indicating some sort of loss regardless of which side of the conflict you find yourself on. However, it should be noted that with the Five of Swords in an upright position, some gains can be made as a result of cleverness, but also sensible and most importantly planned action. The card may portend domination over your opponent, but achieved in a way that is at least not entirely fair. The upright Five of Swords may also speak of some new insights provided that you are not the victim of these events. If this is the case, the Five of Swords in an upright position will foretell defeat, failure, and even some sort of humiliation that could lead you to despair. When you see this card it is also very likely that you will become a victim of gossip and false people around you who can only wait for you to stumble. For this reason the upright Five of Swords is telling you to be careful not to succumb to the deception and fraud that may be going on around you. The upright Five of Swords also symbolizes conflict, communication problems, and sometimes even giving up without a fight.

The reversed Five of Swords may have some aspect of a positive message indicating the resolution of a conflict or a period of relative calm after recent events. In this situation the Five of Swords reversed will speak of compromise and dialogue between you and the other person. In this case, only two people on the card are already losers, while the one in the foreground has somehow defended itself against unfair action. However, this does not mean that the danger is over, so the Five of Swords reversed is still telling you to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the upcoming events. The reversed Five of Swords suggests that you could experience shame and humiliation, as well as painful actions from those around you. The Five of Swords reversed is also a card of revenge against those you feel may have previously caused you harm. All of this can lead to a situation where all moral boundaries are crossed. The Five of Swords reversed is a card of cruel deeds and even crimes that will never be forgiven.

The upright Five of Swords in relationship matters is one of the worse cards you may discover for your question. Not only does it not bring any good news in this field, but it also indicates an impending conflict in both personal and business relationships. The Five of Swords in an upright position primarily informs you of problems in communication between partners, which can lead to serious conflict. The card itself is also a symbol of deception and loss which will actually be a loss for both parties. Thus, the upright Five of Swords may foretell events such as the end of a relationship or even the breakup of a marriage, and it is very likely that another person will be involved as well. The Five of Swords in an upright position is one of the few Tarot cards that recommends extreme caution in relation to those around you, as there is a great risk of experiencing psychological as well as physical violence. The drawing of the Five of Swords in an upright position thus portends emotional despair, but also a sense of surrender without a fight that had no chance of winning anyway. For single people, the upright Five of Swords indicates that you should be wary of new people you meet, who may be dangerous or deceptive to you. Also remember to be honest with others.

In love matters the reversed Five of Swords may predict an improvement of the current situation, or even an attempt to mend a relationship damaged during a fight. The reversed Five of Swords may indicate a time when you are overcoming obstacles together and facing unfavorable environment. So this will definitely be a positive sign that can bring some spark of hope into your emotional life. The reversed Five of Swords also indicates that things are on the right track at the moment and will remain so as long as you both persist in your resolutions. However, keep in mind that sometimes breaking free from a problematic relationship is only possible by putting it behind you and moving on. However, if this happens then it will no longer cause you pain and you will even feel relieved afterwards. The Five of Swords in the reversed position can therefore also signify a complete breakdown of communication and no further desire to fight for this relationship. However, it also predicts a time when true intentions will finally be revealed, and the guilty party will have to pay for their past actions. The reversed Five of Swords encourages you to learn from recent experiences. Acknowledge your failure and purge yourself of revenge and regret.