Five of Swords
The Five of Swords depicts a hollow victory where the winner gains very little and the losers suffer. It suggests conflict and the aftermath of such a conflict, urging a reflection on its true worth and the cost it brought to everyone involved.
Keywords
General Meaning
All fives show conflict or misery. In this case, the figure in the foreground has won. He has defeated his enemies and taken their swords. At first glance we see a victory, but that victory is hollow. He doesn’t need all those swords. He can’t even hold all of them! The unfortunate losers weep in the background. The man has won, but he was a jerk about it.
Application
When the Five of Swords comes up for you, there is a conflict involved. If you identify with the figure in the foreground, you will win, but the cost will be heavy. You’ll probably feel quite mixed up about it at the end. Alternatively, you may be one of the crying figures in the background, in which case, someone is about to screw you over.
Advice
If conflict is brewing, maybe cut your losses now and leave the situation. No matter who wins, everyone is going to lose. If the conflict has already happened, you are likely starting to realize that you lost as much as or more than your opponent. The Five of Swords urges you to re-evaluate why and if winning was worth it, and if not, to find a way to make it right.
This might hurt tarot
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