What does the Five of Swords card mean in Tarot?

Five of Swords, Minor Arcana, Swords V

The Five of Swords can have multiple meanings, as there are three people in the card, with each one experiencing the same situation from a different angle. The way the figures are dressed, we can infer that there took place a battle between well-to-do people, probably because of greed. The dark, unshapely clouds remind us the adage, “there are no winners in war.”

The figure closest to us seems to have won the sword battle, and seems rather pleased with the outcome. The second figure seems to be walking away, having left his sword behind, and even though we don’t see his face we can infer from his body language i.e. the way he is walking that this fight was not very important to him. The third and farthest person, on the other hand, seems to have been affected by what happened. He lost the battle and this really matters to him.

What’s very interesting about Five of Swords is that any one of these figures could be representing you, depending on the other cards you get in your reading. But whether you lost or won, what you need to remember is that competition doesn’t have to be such an important part of your life. There are other, more peaceful and collaborative ways to get things done. You’re operating from fear, believing that you have to fight for everything you want.

When you’re faced with a difficult situation, your ego tends to speak first. And you tend to listen to it, overriding the suggestions of your tired heart. You’re used to fighting to get what you want – it’s how you were able to get things as a child, and you haven’t changed much, if at all, since then!

If your reading is about your career and finances, the Five of Swords shows that you’re working in a cut-throat environment that is unforgiving of any mistakes, errors in judgment, or unclear expressions. You have to be on top of everything all the time, and put your foot down when you express yourself. One mishap and others would push you out of the way. It is a very unhealthy environment, and really there’s no reason for you to have to be a part of it. Many companies today work to foster a friendly and supportive corporate culture – you can move on to one such company. You’re the one holding yourself in this unhealthy place and you’re the one who can make a change.

If your reading is about your health and well-being, the Five of Swords might suggest the possibility of having or developing addictions, or an auto-immune disease where the body mistakes itself for enemy and attacks its own organs. There are many diseases that fall in this category and Tarot isn’t a tool for diagnosing people – you should always consult your doctor if you have symptoms or suspect that something isn’t right.

What does the Five of Swords Tarot card mean for love?

For singles, having the Five of Swords in your reading might mean you make it really difficult for your dates to connect with you and enter your heart. Most likely, you do anything and everything possible to hide your vulnerability so you can look strong. You might even despise it if they seem weak. Your love of power is preventing the power of love from entering your world.

For couples, the Five of Swords might signify meaningless fights that are damaging your relationship. Yet neither of you can let go. You know those couples who fight over the same thing for fifty years and at the end there’s still no clear winner? You can be one of those, except in our day and age such fights can lead to breakups and divorce much faster than in the past. If the love between you is stronger than the anger between you, you’re likely to stay together. But if anger takes over and silences the love, you’ll run the risk of parting ways.

What does Five of Swords reversed in Tarot mean?

The Five of Swords reversed shows a heavy defeat. You fought with everything you had, tooth and nail, yet for whatever inexplicable reason, you lost. It doesn’t feel fair, and in all likelihood, it isn’t. But sometimes the feistiest fighter isn’t the one who wins; rather, it’s the one who prepares calmly, and who doesn’t even care as much, that wins. This is a difficult lesson for you to learn, but some fights are like revenge – better served cold.

Whatever happened, happened already. You might not be in the mood to look back and learn from this experience because it’s probably still too fresh and painful. But as the effects of the trauma subsides, months or years later, it would serve you to analyze the situation from a rational place to try to understand what happened exactly. The how’s and why’s of your loss, are worth exploring and learning from.

Astrological association

All sword cards in the Minor Arcana are associated with the element of air, which is associated with the astrological signs of Libra, Gemini, and Aquarius – all of whom can keep their cool for a long time, but when they explode it’s crazy! But because this card is about changing situations and fights, it has mutable energy, which brings us to Gemini.

The card could symbolize a Gemini in your life, but more likely, it symbolizes someone who’s manifesting the negative side of the Gemini energy these days. A wounded person who repeats things they know they shouldn’t, putting negativity into their relationships because they don’t know any better, a person who has lost focus and direction. They’re having difficulty hearing their heart because their ego-mind is way too active.

Five of Swords might suggest you yourself are going through such a period, or that you’re dealing with someone outside of you who’s going through this. Try not to fight them. It won’t serve anyone in the end. Find ways to connect with one another instead, because sometimes a simple statement such as “I’m really angry right now,” is all that one needs to feel heard and understood. Also, you can always work with an advisor, if you feel that things are beyond you.