Five of Swords Tarot: Meaning, Symbolism and Reversed Meaning

In brief: name, number and keywords

The Five of Swords is the card of conflict and its aftermath. Five is a number of crisis and movement; in the suit of air, it means a face-off, a quarrel, a victory that leaves a bitter taste. The image invites you to ask yourself what you have gained and what you have lost.

It carries the number 5. In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, it is the Five of Swords.

Keywords: conflict, bitter victory, defeat, pride, rivalry, giving up.

The image in the Marseille tarot

In the Tarot de Marseille, the Five of Swords is a pip card: five curved blades, usually four at the corners and one at the centre, interlaced with leafy stems. It is the cross arrangement of the five on a die, the most compact in the deck. No figure.

Here we read the number: five is the number of tension, which comes after the order of four and heralds the search for harmony of six.

The scene in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck

In the foreground, a man with a sly smile holds three swords: one in his right hand, point towards the ground, and two others on his left shoulder. Two more swords lie on the ground in front of him.

In the background, two figures walk away towards the sea, heads bowed, without weapons. The sky is torn by dark clouds, swept by the wind. The victor does not look at the vanquished: he looks elsewhere, as if satisfied.

Symbolism of the elements of the scene

A few details that come up in readings. These are starting points, not definitions.

• The smile in the foreground: the satisfaction of having won, with a touch of contempt; it is a reminder that winning can isolate.
• The swords gathered up: the other person's weapons have been taken; the victory has a price, perhaps that of the relationship.
• The figures walking away: those who give up, who leave, who lose. They can also be those who choose to leave the quarrel.
• The troubled sky: the tension of the air, the harsh words that leave marks.
• The sea in the background: the emotion that waits, after the conflict.

Upright meaning

Upright, the Five of Swords traditionally evokes a conflict, a rivalry, a quarrel in which one wants to be right, or a victory that leaves a bitter taste. The card can describe the winner just as well as the loser: it depends on which position you take in the image.

It invites you to ask: was this battle worth it? In a spread, it can highlight a moment when you win an argument while losing a relationship, or when it is wiser to let go than to insist. It predicts no conflict.

Reversed: schools that differ

School 1: reconciliation. Reversed, the Five of Swords would signal the end of the tension: you lay down your arms, you apologise, you look for common ground, or you have had enough of fighting.

School 2: the conflict goes on. Others see a lingering resentment, a regret, a quarrel that drags on or falls silent without being settled. Many tarot readers do not read the reversed side.

Traditional correspondences and numerology

According to the Golden Dawn, which assigns a decan to each card from 2 to 10, here are the most frequently cited reference points (dates give or take a day).

Numerology of 5. Five is the number of movement and crisis: it is the midpoint of the series from one to nine, a point of balance that can tip over. In every suit, the Five is the card of trial or disorder. In the Golden Dawn's Kabbalistic reading, it corresponds to Geburah, Severity.

The Golden Dawn's title, “Lord of Defeat”, is a 19th-century occult convention; it casts the card as an image of the loser, whereas Waite's scene mainly shows the winner.

Common areas of reading

Tarot does not say what is going to happen: it offers images to reflect on. Here is what this card can bring to mind, in symbolic terms.

• Personal reflection: noticing where you need to be right. A possible question: what do I really gain if the other person loses?
• Relationships: a quarrel, a rivalry, a power struggle; or a time when you accept not winning.
• Work: competition, a team disagreement, tension with a colleague; the value of choosing your battles.
• Money: a dispute, a power struggle over a contract; a qualified adviser is better than a tarot reading.

Combinations with other cards

A card is rarely read on its own: its neighbours nuance it. A few simple pairings, to be taken as starting points.

• The Four of Swords: a pause before the conflict resumes.
• The Six of Swords: moving away from the conflict, moving on.
• Justice: seeking a fair settlement rather than a victory.
• Temperance: bringing back measure and flexibility.

To practise reading cards together, try the three-card spread. To see the whole suit, read the page on the swords.

Common beginner mistakes

• Thinking the card points to a real opponent: it describes a dynamic of conflict, not a person.
• Keeping only the winner in view: the two figures walking away are part of the image.
• Believing it announces a future quarrel: tarot predicts nothing; it puts images on what is happening.

Reflection questions and keyword of the day

Keyword of the day: Let go. Choose a disagreement that is occupying you and ask yourself honestly whether it deserves your energy today.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Which battle am I continuing out of pride?
• What am I at risk of losing by winning this time?
• What would I say if I did not have to be right?

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Guide to the Minor Arcana.