Five of Swords
The Five of Swords depicts a solitary armored warrior after a conflict, symbolizing victories that come at a cost. Upright, it warns of winning by any means—clever tactics, sharp words, or taking spoils—leaving a hollow prize and diminished company. It advises protecting boundaries but cautions against savoring another's loss and recommends choosing battles wisely or laying down the blade when costs outweigh the cause. Reversed, the card encourages reconciliation, apologies, and stepping away from toxic rivalry, signaling recovery, learning from mistakes, and reclaiming honor through honesty.
Keywords
Visual description
An armored warrior in chainmail stands holding a sword over his shoulder and resting a gloved hand on a large wooden shield marked with two crossed blades. Two more swords lie on the ground at his feet among stones and scrub. In the distance, two helmeted figures move away across the rocky ground, one hunched low, beneath a brooding sky. Bare branches and uneven terrain frame the scene.
Meaning
On a bleak steppe, the mail-clad bogatyr recalls the byliny's guardian of the Kalinov Bridge, and the hush after the clash rings louder than steel. Upright, the Five of Swords speaks of winning by any means—clever tactics, sharp words, or taking what others drop—yet the prize feels thin and the circle smaller. You can protect yourself and set firm boundaries, but savoring another's loss leaves a bitter aftertaste. Choose arguments worth having, and lay down the blade when the cost outweighs the cause. Reversed, the card invites reconciliation, an apology, or walking away from toxic rivalry; pride loosens and the air clears. It marks recovery after conflict, learning from missteps, and reclaiming honor through honesty. Use strategy, not spite, and let wisdom turn a narrow victory into a truer path.
Slavic Legends Tarot
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