Five of Wands
The Five of Wands signifies conflict, scattered energy, and competitive friction arising from clashing desires. It marks a primary obstacle in the suit of fire, manifesting as arguments, ego-battles, or internal Thunderdome struggles driven by comparison and self-sabotage. It can also point to a lack of direction where parties work at cross-purposes due to unacknowledged needs. Resolution requires disarming the ego, actively listening to opposing viewpoints, and shifting toward collaboration rather than competition.
Keywords
Keywords
Battle of wills, competitiveness, disorder, entropy, conflicted desires or motivations.
Meaning
At the midpoint of the journey from Ace to 10, we meet our first big challenge. All Fives mark a primary obstacle in the realm of their suit, and in the suit of fire, of passions and wills and desires, this obstacle is conflict.
Scattered Energy
The scattered and chaotic energy of the 5 of Wands often erupts in arguments and ego-battles between ourselves and others, or in battles contained entirely to the Thunderdome of our own heads. In this gladiator arena of conflicted desires and self-sabotage, we often get caught in the twin toxic grips of ego and comparison, perceiving a need to compete with our peers, to prove ourselves, or to be first in a race where there are no winners.
Lack of Direction and Resolution
Alternately, the 5 of Wands can signal a general lack of direction, all parties involved working at cross-purposes to one another. Whatever the case, the underlying cause usually lies with a conflict of desires and needs that aren't being acknowledged. In order to work things out, we must disarm our smarting egos, actively listen to opposing viewpoints, and work toward collaboration instead of competition.
Imagery
In our card, five wooden objects of various types are crossed in combat or disarray. Whether these items have been weaponized in a grab-what-you-can melee, or are striking at (and missing) the wasp nest, or are just jumbled up in chaos, it is unclear. What is clear is that these items aren't being very useful, while the wasps above them continue at their work, building something fine and functional together.
Trailing Colon
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Visual Description
A cluster of five wooden implements — a pitchfork, a bat, a plank, a branch, and a staff with a flaming end — are arranged in a crossed, chaotic pile at the center of the card. Above them hangs a papery wasp nest attached to a twig, with several wasps flying around it and small red berries and leaves on the branch. A thin hand-drawn border surrounds the cream background, and a Roman numeral V appears centered at the bottom. Faint white watermark text reading "FIFTH SPIRIT @ CLAIRE BURGESS" is visible across the lower midsection.
Fifth Spirit tarot
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