Card 54 • swords

Five of Swords

Brief Description

The Five of Blades card involves themes of victory through harsh means, slander, introspection, and potential hollow victories. Invoking this card typically signals overcoming enemies with possible unfair tactics, while banishing it points to victories pursued through pride that ultimately harm oneself. The card encourages evaluating the fairness of one's actions and warns of potential spiritual damage or funerals.

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INVOKED

Vanquishing of enemies; slander; cruelty; competition; defeat; failure; unfair treatment.

BANISHED

Pridefulness; funeral; truce; hollow victory; chance of defeat.

Image Description

A demon sits atop a church, watching the parishioners enter. They call him “evil” but he sees their wickedness, that despite their false morality they are the ones who are defeated, losing the battle with salvation. Their slander against him and his kind, against his witches, is empty. He knows he is Truth, that they and their kind act without compassion, with cruelty to others, and it is they who slander their neighbors. He has defeated them and they will only realize it at the hour of their death.

DIVINATORY MEANING

Are you the victor or the conquered? Invoking the Five of Blades indicates a victory, but the cards around it will indicate who won. It is a favorable sign that you have overcome your enemies but were you just and fair? Because it is a card of questions, it represents introspection, and the cards around it are the scales that weigh your intentions. It is a card of slander and cruelty, both of which you are capable of, and both of which are capable of being done to you. If your intentions are pure and just, it bodes well, but if you have doubts or guilt, it could signal a crushing defeat.

Banishing Meaning

You've won, but at what cost? And you gained nothing. Banishing the Five of Blades indicates you engaged in battle due to pride and for no other reason. You had the opportunity to walk away or ignore the situation but your ego had something to prove and your victory is spiritually damaging. It could signal that although you believe you are the victor, you still have a chance to be overcome by your enemy, most likely as a result of your pridefulness. It would do best to call a truce before you are crushed under the weight of your own confidence. Depending on the surrounding cards, it may also indicate you will be called to a funeral.

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✍️ Deck author(s): Allan Sriers

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