Five of Swords
The Five of Swords indicates a concluded conflict with clear winners and losers, where one person walks away with the spoils while others are left with regret and resentment. Even the apparent victor may have sacrificed something important—honor, integrity, values, or friendships—so the win can carry hidden losses. The situation is confused, making it difficult to know the best course of action. The card advises making restorations and moves toward peace if the battle is over, or seeking a less harmful solution if it has not yet occurred. Reversed, it warns of a costly victory, dishonor, and shameful behavior.
Keywords
Divinatory meaning
A battle is over, complete with a winner and losers. Someone is walking away with all the prizes as well as confirmed enemies. Others are walking away with regrets, bad feelings, strong judgments, and probably with a taste for revenge. Although he may not know it yet, the victor has also lost something valuable, perhaps his honor, integrity, values, or friends. This situation is confused and that makes it hard to know what to do.
Advice
If it is too late and the battle happened already, make whatever restorations and moves toward peace that you can. If it hasn't happened yet, try to figure out a better way to solve the conflict.
Reversed
A costly victory, dishonor, shameful behavior.
Visual Description
A tall figure with red hair and a fur-collared cloak stands in the foreground holding a long sword and smiling, while two other figures walk away across a reflective shoreline. Several swords lie on the wet ground, their blades catching the pale light of a dramatic sunset sky filled with amber and pink clouds. The card border shows a black oval at the top with the Roman numeral V, and crescent moon/star motifs in the corners. The scene emphasizes distance between the standing figure and the two retreating ones, with long shadows stretching across the damp sand.
Mystical Manga tarot
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