Five of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

The Five of Swords shows a man who looks satisfied with life. He’s looking at his past enemies as he has their swords. This is a good sign, showing things in life are settling. There are no more battles to carry. But the sky doesn’t look good, which means there may still be some issues.

While the Five of Swords is a card about peace after a challenge, the truth is it can hold other meanings as well. Let’s see all the possible interpretations associated with it, as well as what it’s trying to tell you when drawn.

Meaning of Upright Five of Swords

The card in an upright position shows some sort of conflict. It could be something light, like a minor fight, but it could also be a serious disagreement, which will lead to tension. It looks like you’ve won a battle, but you haven’t won the whole war. There are still some fights out there.

At this point, it’s essential to see the bigger picture. The conflict isn’t 100% finished yet, so you can still act on it. Sure, it feels like no one’s there by your side, but that’s exactly why you need to express your point of view better than before.

Upright Five of Swords in Love & Relationships

The upright Five of Swords indicates a change out of nowhere. It’s not an easy change, as it comes with a slightly negative energy. There’s a bad vibe in the air, so if you’re in a relationship, it’s perfectly normal to engage in random fights out of nowhere.

Both you and your partner are irritated by each other, hence the wide variety of conflicts. If you end up in a conflict, make sure you lose your ego and don’t fight for irrelevant things. You don’t always have to prove that you’re right. Sometimes, you have to let your partner win.

If these conflicts continue, they’ll damage your relationship. But if you sort them out nicely, they’ll spark some passion.

Tarotoo card

Upright Five of Swords in Career

Conflicts and disagreements are all around you at work. You can almost smell the hostility in the office. Arguments kick in out of nowhere. Sometimes, it’s just a misunderstanding. Other times, it could be poor communication.

In more severe cases, the upright Five of Swords could indicate a bullying situation. You may have to stand up and support your point of view, whether it’s for yourself or one of your colleagues.

No matter what happens, make sure you keep it professional. If the situation degenerates, don’t be afraid to seek help from management or even the human resources department.

Being too defensive may create a repeating cycle of intimidation. You need others to know how such issues can affect you or themselves.

Upright Five of Swords in Money

You’re not doing very well with money either, especially since your finances are affected by all the conflicts around you. Such conflicts could affect you and your partner but also your family. It’s a critical time for you, so you need to be very careful with your finances.

Trusting those around you could ruin you, so be cautious. It means you could lose a friend or two, but you have to look after yourself first.

This isn’t necessarily about family or friends who need help. It’s also about people who try to take advantage of you deliberately.

Other than that, the Five of Swords tells you to cut your expenses because your budget is a bit tight, even if you don’t see it.

Upright Five of Swords in Health

You don’t feel very well at the moment. You’ve been through a battle, so you’re wounded. Your well-being has been overlooked for too long now. It could be a recent illness, but also emotional problems like anxiety and stress. You feel drained, hence the necessity of kindness.

Look after yourself and treat yourself well. Too much pressure will negatively affect you, so you may want to step away and go on a holiday if you can afford it.

A lot of people seeing this card don’t realize that they’re sabotaging themselves with their behavior. In this case, the card is a warning. If you find peace in abuse and addictions, you may want to seek professional help.

If you’re trying to conceive, the Five of Swords tells you that you can’t do it that easily. It’s a bit of a challenge, so you may need some extra help.

If you ask about someone’s feelings, they feel irritated and stressed. Anger is part of the game, too, so there’s always the possibility of a conflict. Their energy isn’t the best, so it’s best to avoid such situations.

Their intentions aren’t the best. They know that they act out of anger, but they just can’t control it. Again, it’s better to stay away.

You are usually the irritant. That person doesn’t feel like being around you because you cause drama. They see you as a potential conflict.

What you can do is get ready for a conflict but avoid it if you can. You may also have to settle for a difficult victory.

Meaning of Reversed Five of Swords

While the upright Five of Swords shows conflict and drama, the reversed card shows a bit of peace. Some see it as a retreat. You just want to get over everything and leave the drama behind. You want to forgive everyone involved and move on.

You’re mature enough to understand that it’s not all about proving your point of view. After all, there are more important things out there. There are better ideas to focus on. Positive energies will draw you forward, while the negative ones will hold you back.

The reversed Five of Swords may also tell you that things are about to get even worse.

Reversed Five of Swords in Love & Relationships

In a love reading, the reversed Five of Swords tells you that you’re ready for peace. Both you and your partner are interested in getting there. You’re both willing to compromise because you understand there’s no real winner in a conflict.

However, work is still needed to rebuild the relationship and put it back on track.

In some cases, if the relationship is ruined, the card symbolizes walking away. You’re getting out of it because reconciliation won’t take you anywhere. While this can be painful, it’s sometimes the wiser thing to do. You’re basically cutting your losses and doing some damage control.

Reversed Five of Swords in Career

In your career, things are improving in your environment. Despite the stress and tensions, you’ve been through, everyone is ready to find peace. You and your colleagues have put down the swords and can restart working together.

Open communication is clearly a plus.

If you haven’t experienced such challenges in work, the reversed Five of Swords tells you that you’re about to. Someone could also bully you or even try to get you sacked. Don’t hesitate to bring any unprofessional behavior to the management.

On the same note, you should also act professionally.

Reversed Five of Swords in Money

There’s good news for your money. No matter what tensions and issues you’ve been through, you’ll see the air is clear now. Problems are slowly fading away and you’re gaining control over your finances. It’s finally time to relax a bit.

Most issues have been caused by people trying to take advantage of you. Unfortunately, these people could be your friends or family. Some of them will distance themselves from the situation. It might feel painful, but it’s understandable.

Reversed Five of Swords in Health

In a health reading, the reversed Five of Swords refers to a constant struggle. It’s usually because of an illness that’s been bothering you for a while, such as an injury. The good news is you’ll finally find a way to overcome it.

It won’t go by itself, though. You’ll need to make a compromise. Basically, you have to sacrifice something in order to feel fit and healthy again.

It’s not always a bad thing. For example, it could indicate a food allergy. You may have to give up on one of your favorite foods or perhaps adjust your gym regime.

To conceive, you’ll need to change something. You’re ready to do it and all odds are for you, but you may still need to do some work. If there’s already a pregnancy in your couple, it should be relatively easy if you seek professional help.

When you ask about someone’s feelings, that person may need to walk away. They feel like they have to cut their losses. They fought for their vision, but they need to leave it now because it’s not worth it anymore.

Intentions aren’t very positive, as that person plans to walk away. They know when to give up and throw in the towel.

They see you as a major loss in their life. They don’t want to be pulled behind by a relationship with no future.

As for actions, seek reconciliation. Find peace, it’s the best way to move forward. Otherwise, you’ll only waste your time.

Numerological Meaning of Five of Swords

Associated with the number 5, the Five of Swords symbolizes both conflict and change. There’s a conflict going on or perhaps you’ve just left one, which will change the way you see life, as well as your interpersonal connections. It’s also associated with instability.

You find yourself in a struggle, and sometimes, it feels like you’re losing control. This will make you even more ambitious.

The number 5 brings in a change that feels uncomfortable at first. But then, once you embrace it, you’ll realize it’s the only way to grow.

Astrological Meaning of Five of Swords

Associated with the element of air from an astrological point of view, the Five of Swords also relates to Uranus. Uranus may have some positive characteristics, but it can also indicate negativity. In this particular case, it shows rebellion.

Sure, it represents change as well, but it’s mainly about conflict. Luckily, the air represents communication and a clear mind.

All these energies will affect your conflicts throughout this period of time.

Zodiac Correspondence of the Five of Swords

The air association expands in the zodiac relationship, too. Normally, swords are related to the zodiac signs of the air, such as Libra, Gemini, and Aquarius. The Five of Swords is mainly interpreted as an Aquarius mix.

Like other air signs, the Aquarius association makes things move. The air represents the wind of change. There are conflicts, but they fade away and things change, leading to a better outcome.

The air energy is also communicative, so people with these zodiac signs prefer exchanging ideas rather than insults.

Yes or No Meaning for the Five of Swords

Asking a yes or no question? Most interpretations relate to the actual conflict. Generally speaking, the Five of Swords indicates a no. It could be your defeat in a conflict or a challenge. You have to be cautious when dealing with the outcome.

Things could go in different directions based on the position of the card.

If upright, you’re in a conflict. Again, it’s a no. But it could become a yes if you manage to see the bigger image. Conflict is part of life, what truly matters is how you react to it. If it leads to constructive feedback, for example, the card could be a yes.

When you draw it in a reversed position, it’s a cautious no that could become a yes. You’re tired of fighting. You need peace, but this could come in many forms. Maybe you should just move on to cut your losses and leave it all behind.

In this particular case, yes and no questions tend to revolve around the conflict rather than the action you should take.

Key Actions for the Five of Swords

The road ahead of you isn’t smooth, but you can’t change it. You need some action here. Most of it implies assessing the situation to find the best possible outcome rather than acting out of emotions and feelings.

If you see it reversed, it’s time to rest. Seek reconciliation and make peace. You can’t change the past, so focus on the future instead.

Full list of swords cards: