The Five Of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

Have you had a Five Of Swords Tarot card in your reading and want to know what it could mean? Maybe you were offered an interpretation but want to know what else it could mean?

Today, we are here with the answers you need. Keep reading to find out what the Five Of Swords Tarot Card means! We have a complete list of all the possible meanings for the upright and reversed card to help you determine what the cards are telling you. 

Upright Five Of Swords Tarot Card General Meaning 

Let’s start with the general meaning of the upright Five of Swords card! Generally, the card isn’t a good omen. It represents walking away, surrendering, or defeat.

The card is also known for self-sabotage, deception, a lack of communication, or underhanded behavior. The card can represent conflict and stress too. 

The Five of Swords can also suggest aggression, hostility, intimation, and violence. It represents situations we don’t want to encounter in our lives. These include abuse, assault, bullying, crime, theft, murder, and rape. This is not the card you want to see in your reading. 

The card does have an alternative meaning, though. It can represent the action you need to take to stop being challenged by others. The card can suggest you need to fight back and stand up for yourself.

The Five of Swords can indicate victory, although the victory will be hard won. 

Now that we have looked at the general meaning of the card, let’s move on to look at the meanings in closer detail. 

Health

Health-wise, the card suggests you are feeling battle weary when it comes to your health. This could be anxiety, stress, or a recent illness. These challenges you have or are currently experiencing are likely to have drained your energy. 

Here you want to be kind to yourself. Avoid putting too much pressure on yourself and allow your body and mind to recover from your ill health.

The Five of Swords also warns against self-sabotaging behavior. If you are struggling to cope, this card is a warning not to use drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. This could have bad consequences for you at this time. 

Love And Relationships

The Five of Swords can suggest hostility, arguments, and conflict due to a lack of communication in your relationship.  It is the card of self-sabotaging behavior and deception, suggesting cheating and infidelity in relationships. 

The card also suggests separation or divorce, as it represents walking away or defeat. In extreme cases, the card suggests abuse, assault, bullying, intimidation, rape, murder, and violence.

Remember, you should not fear your partner. If you do, this is a sign that something is seriously wrong in your relationship. 

If your partner is abusive, you need to realize the severity of the situation and reach out for support. Contact family and friends that you trust or organizations that can offer the support you need to help you walk away.

Remember, if your partner truly loved you, they would not treat you this way. 

If you are single, the Five of Swords suggests you are seeking out relationships with people that could be dangerous or deceptive. These people have a dark side and should be avoided when possible.

In extreme cases, the card suggests you could find yourself in terrible situations you want to avoid so make sure you are taking the correct safety precautions at all times! 

Money And Career

Career-wise, the Tarot card suggests there is conflict in your workplace. You can expect stress, arguments, tension, and hostility. This is generally caused by a lack of or poor communication in the workplace.

This conflict will leave you feeling like you should walk away, change careers, or feel defeated. 

In extreme cases, the card can suggest harassment, bullying, or intimidation. There might also be underhanded behavior or deception going on. you might also end up in a position where you need to stand up for or defend yourself. 

Make sure you stay calm and rational at this time. The card can also suggest self-sabotage and you don’t want to do anything that could negatively impact you in the long term!

Remember to look at your own actions surrounding the situation to ensure you are not part of the problem.  

Financially, the card suggests there could be some underhand dealings or deception happening. Consider carefully who you are involved with and ensure that your money is being handled legally and fairly. 

Any financial issues you might have will leave you feeling defeated. Take this time to consider how this financial situation has occurred. Was it self-sabotage?

If so, acknowledge your mistakes and learn from them rather than spend time dwelling on them. You might need to sacrifice some things until your finances improve, like holidays or fancy skincare. 

Spirituality 

Spiritually, the card suggests there are challenges you have overcome. These challenges have provided you with the strength, wisdom, and empathy needed to help others heal.

The card also suggests change, so you might find yourself wanting to pursue a new spiritual path. 

Reversed Five Of Swords Tarot Card General Meaning 

The reversed Five of Swords Tarot card has a slightly different meaning, so let’s take a look at what the card can mean when you see it in your reading. Generally, the card is a good omen.

It tends to signify a peaceful resolution to a situation, ending any conflict or tension you might have been experiencing. 

It is the card of compromise, communication, overcoming challenges, and releasing stress. So you can expect the tense and difficult times to come to an end soon! 

However, the card can also signify the situation escalating to revenge or violence. The reversed Five of Swords also suggests risking everything, not listening to warnings, surrendering to challenges, or being relentless.

This could lead you to a difficult or dangerous situation, so be sure to be mindful of your actions when you see the card. 

The Five of Swords reversed also suggests someone will be held accountable. There could be arrests, crimes being uncovered, humiliation, regret, remorse, public humiliation, and shame.

Make sure your actions could not be exposed or held against you in any way, now is not the time for shady deals! 

Now that we have looked at the general meaning of the reversed Five of Swords Tarot card, let’s move on to look at some of these meanings in closer detail. 

Health

Health-wise, the reversed Five of Swords suggests you will find a solution to recurring or ongoing health issues you have had. This could be a sacrifice or compromise, like having to give up your favorite food you have found out you are allergic to or adjusting a fitness routine to work with an injury.

It can be tough, but by making these sacrifices you will prioritize your health and begin to heal. 

Love And Relationships

The reversed Five of Swords suggests you and your partner are ending the conflict in your relationship. You could be learning to compromise, overcome challenges, or letting go of arguments out of respect for one another.

You will also be communicating better with one another. For this period of peace to last though, you both need to work at it! A return to previous patterns would ruin all the hard work and progress you have made! 

The card can also suggest a breakdown of communication and challenges that threaten to ruin the relationship. If anyone has been underhanded or unfaithful in the relationship, you will be publicly exposed!

The card indicates regret, public shaming, revenge, and remorse. 

If your relationship is abusive, this card is a warning to say you are in danger. Now is the time to leave before the relationship escalates and you find yourself in serious danger. 

If you are single, the card suggests you will realize that you have been too dismissive or critical of a potential partner. Now you will be willing to give them another chance.

The reversed Five of Swords also suggests you have decided that a potential partner is not right for you and are freeing them to find their right partner. 

Money And Career

Career-wise, the reversed Five of Swords suggests a conflict in the workplace is coming to an end. Any tension will be released, compromises offered, and a resolution is on the horizon! 

You should notice that communication opens up, allowing the resolution to happen. 

The Five of Swords also suggests conflict escalating as someone attempts to sabotage you. Supporting cards in your reading will confirm this for you. If there have been any underhanded business deals or deception, the card suggests those responsible will be held accountable, shamed, or fired. 

Financially, the card suggests any dodgy financial deals will be exposed. If someone has tried to deceive you and your money, they will be held accountable. Make sure you are acting with integrity to avoid anything coming back to haunt you! 

The card also suggests a release of financial tension. If you have struggled to manage your money, a resolution is on its way to you! 

Spirituality 

Spiritually, the card suggests you have overcome a hurdle in your spiritual path. This might have required a large sacrifice, like parting way with old traditions or a belief system.

Although it can be hard to do, you are now able to move forward in a spiritual direction that works for you! 

Final Thoughts 

And there you have it, all the possible meanings of the Five of Swords card! No matter the reading you see the card in now, you will be able to see what the cards are telling you and take action.

Remember to consider the other cards in your reading too and whether the Five of Swords is upright or reversed to understand the meaning and move forward in your life. 

Although the card has some dark meanings, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t forget to seek out help and support where needed, especially if you are preparing to leave a dangerous situation. 

Zhara O’Brien
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