Five of Swords in Tarot – What are their meanings?

In Tarot, the Suit of Swords governs the intellect, the mind and, above all, conflicts with ourselves and others. When it comes to disagreement and its negative consequences, the Five of Swords has the word: this is the card of aggression, intimidation and hostility.

Want to find out how to interpret this Minor Arcana in a print about love, work or money, and their meanings in normal or inverted position? Keep reading!

Five of Swords Meaning

Disagreements, arguments, fights… The meaning of the Five of Swords in Tarot is closely linked to the disagreements of life. More than that, the letter also carries a heavy energy of hostility and aggression: the words, here, are said with the intention of hurting.

Thus, it is not difficult to understand how the strength of the Five of Swords also results in the isolation that follows these conflicts. Actions and words almost always precede the withdrawal of the other.

Also related to its hostility, the Five of Swords also symbolizes ambition in its most negative form. Decisions here are made regardless of the consequences: the priority is to be right, no matter the other side.

How to Interpret the Five of Swords in Tarot

In a Tarot edition, the Five of Swords is an indication of conflicts and disagreements with other people, creating a climate of tension and hostility.

The letter also shows that the apparent victory didn’t bring the satisfaction you were hoping for: in the process, you may have ignored the feelings of the other person you fought with, hurting them.

Rather than being carried away by blind ambition, which ignores consequences, the Five of Swords asks you to consider those around you. In addition, the letter also carries a request: there is still time to reconnect with those you have quarreled with.

The Five of Swords’ advice is simple: choose wisely what you want to fight for. Sometimes going out of your way to be right or to make sure things go your way can be tempting.

Be aware: the consequences of these choices are almost always negative: you can lose the trust and consideration of those around you. On the other hand, learning to let go and stand up for what you truly believe in will bring more peace and stability to your relationships.

Are you having relationship problems and don’t know how to deal with them? Check out 3 steps to face and overcome obstacles with each other!

Additionally, the Five of Swords is also a reminder not to be afraid to accept defeat, and that there is nothing wrong with apologizing and admitting that you were wrong.

In the Yes or No Tarot, the Five of Swords responds very negatively to your question.

Five of Swords in love, work and finance

In a print on matters of the heart, the Five of Swords shows a lack of communication and an explosive energy: any spark is enough to generate disagreements and fights.

If you are in a relationship, the card indicates that both you and your partner have been easily irritated, which favors fights between the two of you. Think carefully before pushing into an argument: is there a reason, or do you just want to be right?

At work, the Five of Swords is a sign of a hostile and aggressive professional environment, resulting from simple disagreements to intimidation and harassment. It may be necessary to help or enlist the help of other colleagues to deal with this situation.

On the other hand, this card can also indicate a tendency to act based on self-defense and victimization where it is not necessary. Analyze the situation calmly and with common sense, and make sure that conflicts really do have a sensible cause.

Financially, the Five of Swords indicates conflicts with people close to you over money. The letter’s tip is to be careful when lending money so you don’t get scammed! Another possible interpretation is that the budget is more unfair: you may have to leave some luxuries aside until the situation normalizes.

Want to find out what Tarot has to say about your life? Talk to one of our tarologists and clear all your doubts from the comfort of your home, via chat, phone or email.

Inverted Five of Swords Meaning

When in an inverted position, the Five of Swords reveals a better understanding of conflicts and their consequences: you come to realize that having the last word is not everything. Now, the goal is to get through this period as quickly as possible, forgive what needs to be forgiven, and leave the tension behind.

If you continue to hold on to negative feelings, chances are good that this resentment will affect your relationships and your life in general for the worse.

On the other hand, the inverted Five of Swords can also mean that the situation can and will become even more tense: neither side is willing to listen to the other, and neither will emerge from the conflict intact. Perhaps neither wins, perhaps victory is bitter.

Another possible interpretation of this inverted card is that, despite your attempts to leave tension behind, conflicts continue to accompany you. In this way, old resentments can come back into your life, making your journey of overcoming difficult.

How to play the inverted Five of Swords

In a print about love, the inverted Five of Swords is a sign that forgiveness and reconciliation are finally possible after a phase of conflict. When in a relationship, the two are willing to talk and find a compromise.

On the other hand, the letter can also indicate that a peace agreement is not possible and the only possibility is to end the relationship. It can be a drastic and painful measure, but the best option so that neither of you continue to suffer.

At work, the inverted Five of Swords is a sign of progress in a professional environment, where everyone is willing to talk and resolve conflicts. On a more pessimistic reading, the card could indicate that hostility is only increasing, and could even lead to boycott attempts.

Financially, the inverted Five of Swords is a light at the end of the tunnel if conflicts over money are happening: the tendency is for tensions to begin to ease. Also, in case you are experiencing financial difficulties, the letter indicates a solution.

The Five of Swords in a run can be a negative presence, indicating conflict and aggression. However, you need to consider the context of the print run by looking at the other cards.

To help you better understand what the Minor Arcana means in a game, we have prepared the Minor Arcana course! Throughout it, you will discover the meanings of each suit and each of the 56 cards, in addition to learning drawing techniques. Check out the course presentation in the video below!