Five of Swords
Five of Swords, minor arcana. conflict, defeat, winning at a cost, tension.
A smirking figure holds three swords and watches two others walk away, with two more swords lying on the ground under a stormy sky. The victory has come at a price.
Upright
- conflict
- defeat
- winning at a cost
- tension
A smirking figure holds three swords and watches two others walk away, with two more swords lying on the ground under a stormy sky. The victory has come at a price.
Reversed
- reconciliation
- moving on
- making amends
- lingering resentment
Putting a quarrel to rest, or refusing to let it go. Reversed, the card is about reconciliation and cutting losses.
Not every reader uses reversals. Many treat a reversed card as the same theme, blocked, delayed or turned inward.
Astrology and numerology
In the Golden Dawn scheme that most modern decks follow, each numbered minor card from two to ten is given a planet in a sign. For Five of Swords it is Venus in Aquarius. The suit's element, air, comes from Swords.
Its number reduces to 5, which numerology associates with change, freedom, curiosity. See every card that reduces to 5.
Yes or no
In yes or no tarot, Five of Swords counts as a no when upright, and as a yes when reversed. This follows a common convention and not a rule from the deck's makers.
Tarot is a tradition of symbolism. This page says what readers traditionally associate with the card. It does not predict anything and it is not advice.