Five of Wands
The Five of Wands represents frustration and competition. It depicts a struggle where individuals are surrounded by obstacles and are unable to communicate or collaborate effectively. In competition, it suggests that all parties are equally matched, and success depends on effort and strategy. Inverted, it indicates a choice to disengage from conflict and seek peace instead.
Keywords
Frustration and Competition
There are a few ways to look at the Five of Wands. One is frustration, and the other is competition.
Obstacles and Impasse
The person in the middle is completely surrounded by obstacles and has nowhere to turn, and no one seems interested in helping. It’s difficult to see who’s on the same team or if all of them are fighting each other. No one is going anywhere because all conversation is blocked. No one wants to talk—it’s all stick waving, and what would Freud say about that? No one is willing to concede an inch of ground, and so they’re at an impasse. How freaking frustrating.
Spirit of Competition
If you look at this card in the spirit of competition, you get a completely different feel for it. All of the men are equally matched, and the one who’s worked the hardest and trained the most will be victorious. This card is very subjective, and it really depends on the question asked, the position of the card, and the client. This is a struggle that he’s gone into voluntarily or in which he’s suddenly found himself. In this situation, you’ve got to decide whether it benefits you more to continue fighting upstream or to relax and go with the crowd. Get your stick out of my face! Get your face out of my stick! This is the tarot equivalent of a slap fight. You’re trying to go one way, everyone else is going another, and they won’t stop messing with you. Either way, it’s annoying and taking time away from your forward movement.
Five of Wands Inverted
The reverse of the Five of Wands is not so much agreement or the opposite of the upright version. It’s more like deciding that this fight is not worth your time. I don’t get into a lot of personal drama because I don’t tell lies and I don’t gossip. You’d be amazed how helpful that is in the “I don’t like conflicts” area of my life. I seriously need peace, and in order to receive that, I place myself in positions to honor my requirements.
Four Ways Tarot
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