Five of Swords
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Attributions
Venus in Aquarius
Lord of Defeat
Swords is the suit of the intellect. It represents air, authority, thought, reason, justice, truth and ethical principles. It is knowledge, conflict, struggles and turmoil.
The number five represents disrupted stability, struggle, uncertainty, upset, change, disruption, adversity, conflict, loss, disappointment, challenge and difficulties. It also indicates something temporary or repetitive - you keep going back to the same issue over and over again.
According to Paul Foster Case the number 5 represents FEAR. We sometimes fear our own actions and must remain aware of how they affect our decisions.
Lord of Defeat
Swords is the suit of the intellect. It represents air, authority, thought, reason, justice, truth and ethical principles. It is knowledge, conflict, struggles and turmoil.
The number five represents disrupted stability, struggle, uncertainty, upset, change, disruption, adversity, conflict, loss, disappointment, challenge and difficulties. It also indicates something temporary or repetitive - you keep going back to the same issue over and over again.
According to Paul Foster Case the number 5 represents FEAR. We sometimes fear our own actions and must remain aware of how they affect our decisions.
The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite (1911)
A disdainful man looks after two retreating and dejected figures. Their swords lie upon the ground. He carries two others on his left shoulder, and a third sword is in his right hand, point to earth. He is the master in possession of the field.
Divinatory Meanings: Degradation, destruction, revocation, infamy, dishonour, loss, with the variants and analogues of these.
Reversed: The same; burial and obsequies.
Some Additional Meanings of the Lesser Arcana
Five: An attack on the fortune of the Querent.
Reversed: A sign of sorrow and mourning.
Divinatory Meanings: Degradation, destruction, revocation, infamy, dishonour, loss, with the variants and analogues of these.
Reversed: The same; burial and obsequies.
Some Additional Meanings of the Lesser Arcana
Five: An attack on the fortune of the Querent.
Reversed: A sign of sorrow and mourning.
Upright
Spoiling for a fight.
Conflict.
Danger, damage, accidents, injuries.
Cowardice, shame.
Trickery, unfair tactics, manipulation.
Decay.
Weakness.
A sworn enemy will bring shame and ruin. (Vargo)
Broken appliances, panic attacks, anxiety, depression. (Hazel)
A no-win situation.
Anger leading to defeat, loss of temper, mourning and acceptance of one's limitations.
Need to overcome a constricting fear of failure or defeat.
If you fight with fire, you end up with ashes.
A battle that is needed to clear the air.
Sometimes things need to be broken so that they may be fixed.
Heavy stress due to inner or outer conflicts.
Forces are divided and scattered. Try not to act impulsively without first assessing the situation.
You might think you have the upper hand and turn away - but his is not the final outcome.
"I'm going to show you, I'm going to show you all!"
"All mine fair and square and I'm not sharing"
"Only one of us can win"
This card is considered by some to be the nastiest card in the deck. Are you the victor, the vanquished or the one who has just given up in humiliation and sorrow?
Conflict.
Danger, damage, accidents, injuries.
Cowardice, shame.
Trickery, unfair tactics, manipulation.
Decay.
Weakness.
A sworn enemy will bring shame and ruin. (Vargo)
Broken appliances, panic attacks, anxiety, depression. (Hazel)
A no-win situation.
Anger leading to defeat, loss of temper, mourning and acceptance of one's limitations.
Need to overcome a constricting fear of failure or defeat.
If you fight with fire, you end up with ashes.
A battle that is needed to clear the air.
Sometimes things need to be broken so that they may be fixed.
Heavy stress due to inner or outer conflicts.
Forces are divided and scattered. Try not to act impulsively without first assessing the situation.
You might think you have the upper hand and turn away - but his is not the final outcome.
"I'm going to show you, I'm going to show you all!"
"All mine fair and square and I'm not sharing"
"Only one of us can win"
This card is considered by some to be the nastiest card in the deck. Are you the victor, the vanquished or the one who has just given up in humiliation and sorrow?
Reversed
Catastrophe on a large scale, especially when other negative cards are nearby.
Be more flexible and charitable.
Reaching accord after a dispute or argument.
Resolving different points of view.
Rumours and gossip, slander, spite.
Exposing a false friend.
Infamy, humiliation, degradation.
Getting fired.
A desire to create conflict.
An empty victory.
Vindication.
Loss, failure, intimidation, manipulation.
Dishonesty, deception, suspicion, paranoia.
Severe mental illness, possibly leading to confinement, restraints (Hazel)
An exclusive focus on winning (It's mine! All mine!)
A bad attitude.
Small claims court.
Be more flexible and charitable.
Reaching accord after a dispute or argument.
Resolving different points of view.
Rumours and gossip, slander, spite.
Exposing a false friend.
Infamy, humiliation, degradation.
Getting fired.
A desire to create conflict.
An empty victory.
Vindication.
Loss, failure, intimidation, manipulation.
Dishonesty, deception, suspicion, paranoia.
Severe mental illness, possibly leading to confinement, restraints (Hazel)
An exclusive focus on winning (It's mine! All mine!)
A bad attitude.
Small claims court.
Links
- Learning the Tarot
- Five of Swords from Joan Bunning's free online Course for Learning the Tarot
- Angel Paths
- Five of Swords. Tarot resources, readings, cards, decks, forums, big New Age shop, spiritual holistic healing.
- ATA
- Essay by James Rioux (The Black Shadow) about the Five of Swords
- Tarot Teachings
- Self-sacrifice, Self-remembering, or does the Five of Swords Tarot card meaning symbolize something altogether different? Gain perspective here, and draw your own conclusions.
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