Five of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

The card shows the final scene of a lost battle. An enemy soldier smirks contemptuously at his defeated opponents. They're dejected and disarmed, their swords lying on the ground or claimed by the victor, who now celebrates and profits from their misfortune. All the defeated can do is leave the battlefield in humiliation.

If the Five of Swords appears in your reading, quickly put on some armor made of patience, willpower, and courage. Don't give in to fear. Circumstances won't favor you: you'll have to endure a defeat and spend a long time recovering.

Trouble can't be avoided. Someone will deliberately draw you into a conflict, forcing you to change your plans or abandon them altogether. You'll have to take losses, retreat, and lick your wounds, dreaming of revenge and justice restored. Then again, perhaps you took on more than you could handle, failed to meet your commitments, and are now tasting the bitter results of overconfidence.

But however dark the prediction, it's too early to declare yourself utterly defeated. What matters isn't how often you fall, but how often you get up! Willpower, resilience, flexibility, and a sharp mind will soften the blow and limit your losses. Another battle lies ahead, giving you a chance to regain lost ground and turn things in a better direction.

Take the Five of Swords' warning seriously. Gather your strength and determination, and hope Lady Luck looks kindly on you.

Upright Five of Swords: Key Meanings

• Total defeat, losses, surrender, destruction, a run of troubles, and dismissal.
• Malice, low behavior, settling scores, weakness, revenge, and stress.
• Arguments, conflict, intrigue, confrontation, cruelty, aggression, insults, and contempt.
• Theft, an unfair division of property, damage, and devastation.

The Five of Swords reversed allows some hope of victory, but with a catch: winning the battle will be pointless and bring no satisfaction. The card also says you can only win through dishonest means, such as bribery, intrigue, and outright malice. None of that does your karma any favors.

The card predicts conflict at work or at home, fraud involving your property, lawsuits, dismissal, or divorce. The odds may be unequal, so prepare yourself for defeat. But stay flexible, keep some of your cards hidden, and look for a way around the problem. Even if you can't win, you can come away much less hurt. Wait for the right moment, and you can give your opponents a taste of their own medicine!

Reversed Five of Swords: Key Meanings

• Dishonest dealings, deception, cunning, behind-the-scenes intrigue, and enemies.
• Defeat and losses, but less severe than with the upright card.
• Low self-esteem, low spirits, indecision, and delay.
• Conflict, selfishness, provocation, and vicious attacks.

In a love reading, the Five of Swords upright predicts romantic plans collapsing and a separation. The cause may be a determination to win and prove a point at any cost, trampling on everyone and every ethical boundary along the way.

Two people who once loved, or at least liked, each other end up on opposite sides of the barricades. The relationship shatters beyond repair. Feelings are wounded, leaving pain, humiliation, and hostility toward the world. All that remains is to accept it and get through this unhappy moment.

Reversed, the card also means hurt and separation, but emotions run a little less hot.

How They Love

Upright, this person has a tragic romantic history. They've suffered a painful defeat in love, perhaps even betrayal or infidelity.

Reversed, it describes someone determined to get what they want in love by any means and come out on top. But the pursuit appeals to them more than the result.

In a career reading, the Five of Swords means conflicts with coworkers and business partners, defeats, and setbacks. A serious power struggle seems to be underway around you, and you're right at its center.

Opponents will go to extremes, using dirty, unprincipled methods without hesitation. Laws are broken, and anyone who objects is crushed or thrown out of a job. Winning in these conditions is impossible. Financial ruin, failed plans, and defeat lie ahead.

Reversed, the card predicts a hollow victory won through fraud: a win that costs too much and brings no satisfaction.

Upright, this is someone whose difficult circumstances have cost them their optimism and self-belief. It will take time to rebuild their confidence fully.

Reversed, it describes someone with flexible moral principles. Honesty and honor aren't fixed values for them, and they can easily overlook others' interests in pursuit of their own.

Upright, the card advises you to accept a temporary defeat and retreat in time. Banging your head against a wall does more damage to you than to the wall.

Reversed, it asks you not to give up. Defend your interests firmly, even if it takes a lot out of you.

Upright, the outlook isn't especially favorable. You may face defeat in a particular matter.

Reversed, the outlook is mixed. You can get what you want, but only by fighting fiercely for your interests.

Mars, and Mars in Scorpio: pursuing your desires by any means, with a reminder to be cautious and sensible.

The Fool — Losing an argument, being left on the sidelines, giving up.

The Magician — Events beyond your control; profiting at someone else's expense; foul play; spite.

The High Priestess — A hopeless venture; sacrificing yourself; responsibility.

The Empress — Losing an argument, being deceived, losing authority.

The Emperor — A change in management, a failed investment or venture, missing the moment.

The Hierophant — Being humiliated, losing an argument, being seriously mistaken.

The Lovers — Dissatisfaction, a miscalculation, backing the wrong option or trusting a false authority.

The Chariot — A poor start, the reality of the situation, a hitch in your plans.

Strength — Changing someone's mind, breaking an opponent's resistance, not getting the expected benefit.

The Hermit — Letting go of the past; confession or a visit to a psychologist; gradual healing.

Wheel of Fortune — Rethinking your moral principles; taking liberties; watching from behind the scenes.

Justice — Damage to a cause or business; being wounded on duty; restrictions on your rights.

The Hanged Man — Unfounded complaints; a dressing-down; criticism from every direction.

Death — A venture that won't succeed; wasting energy; financial loss.

Temperance — Dissatisfaction with your position; knowledge you can't use; much thought and little action.

The Devil — Losing trust; damaging your standing; falling out badly with someone you love.

The Tower — A crushing disappointment; a quarrel with friends or coworkers; business agreements falling through.

The Star — Ruining a good idea; poor execution; insufficient planning; a demonstration being dispersed.

The Moon — A split within a team; changing professions; an unsuccessful business or approaching bankruptcy.

The Sun — Small setbacks on a long road; difficulties at home, work, or school; things improving with experience.

Judgment — A major deception; letting coworkers or relatives down; defeat.

The World — Genius others don't understand; a first attempt that goes wrong; testing your abilities.

Ace of Wands — Old feuds or disappointments; a long-held hurt; a mistaken forecast and a setback.

Two of Wands — Plans upset; poor preparation; unchecked information.

Three of Wands — A loss or defeat; returning to the beginning; losing trust or influence.

Four of Wands — Domestic discord; canceled plans; hopes with no foundation; betrayal by loved ones.

Five of Wands — Psychological pressure; bringing up past failures; a painful blow to pride.

Six of Wands — Setbacks in business or love; falling short of expectations; a poor start.

Seven of Wands — Recognizing an enemy too late; losing your last support; standing alone with your opinion.

Eight of Wands — Dangerously rigid certainty; falling for a provocation; no progress.

Nine of Wands — Betrayal; a negative forecast confirmed; thoughts of defeat.

Ten of Wands — Efforts going unnoticed; playing a supporting role; not receiving the recognition you deserve.

Page of Wands — Assessing losses or damage; failing an exam; making a mistake.

Knight of Wands — Losing an argument or missing out on a position; letting an opportunity pass; being left on the sidelines.

Queen of Wands — A frustrating obstacle; defeat; losing to competitors.

King of Wands — An unfortunate turn of events; haste that leads to defeat; trouble at work or loss of authority.

Ace of Swords — Losing deliberately; presenting yourself as a victim of circumstances; subtle calculation.

Two of Swords — Winning by giving ground; a reasoned argument; a fierce confrontation.

Three of Swords — Planning or carrying out revenge; acting against your conscience; an ugly act.

Four of Swords — Withdrawing as you wait for trouble; a bad feeling; nervous tension and trying to hide from the inevitable.

Six of Swords — Knowing how to avoid danger; a talent for not being left with the blame; avoiding direct confrontation and staying in the background.

Seven of Swords — Using cunning to shift blame; profiting from someone else's loss; following your own plan and remaining unnoticed.

Eight of Swords — Being trapped by public opinion; giving up under the weight of past failures; no faith in your abilities.

Nine of Swords — Expecting failure; mourning a mistake; blaming yourself or judging yourself too harshly.

Ten of Swords — One setback after another; a curse or the evil eye at work; the need for radical changes in life and thinking.

Page of Swords — A quarrelsome nature; foolish criticism; an inability to hold a constructive conversation.

Knight of Swords — Open conflict; a furious falling-out; saying everything you've been holding in; breaking familiar ties.

Queen of Swords — Stopping and calming down at the last moment; the risk of crossing a line; frayed nerves.

King of Swords — Taking your hurt out on others; trying to shed blame or responsibility; legal proceedings over a fight or insults.

Ace of Cups — A hard lesson in betrayal; learning from life; recognizing defeat.

Two of Cups — Encountering selfishness; a broken agreement; falling victim to a confidence trick.

Three of Cups — Learning an important lesson; facing justified criticism; a negative forecast coming true.

Four of Cups — Being burdened by someone else's secret; knowing and concealing the truth; covering up another person's wrongdoing.

Five of Cups — Assessing the situation; losing; enduring failure and loneliness.

Six of Cups — An unsuccessful experiment; rejection and criticism from others; a failed project.

Seven of Cups — Desires that exceed your abilities; a lack of leadership skills; distrust from coworkers or friends.

Eight of Cups — Digesting a bad experience; letting someone down; a dubious venture that brings neither profit nor a good name.

Nine of Cups — Losing your power to persuade; an unexpected defeat; a bad reputation.

Ten of Cups — Letting loved ones down; disgracing yourself; failing to meet expectations.

Page of Cups — Accepting defeat; recognizing your mistakes and missteps; foreseeing a loss.

Knight of Cups — Losing to a better-informed opponent; insufficient qualifications; plans that don't match reality.

Queen of Cups — Feeling unprepared for a clash; sensing failure in advance; doubts about your ideals.

King of Cups — Starting an argument at home or a confrontation at work; losing to a competitor or rival; proving less clever than you'd hoped.

Ace of Pentacles — Losing a property dispute; being left with nothing; receiving less than you're entitled to.

Two of Pentacles — Immoral behavior; bringing up old debts; trying to forget yourself; a bad mood; pouring out your troubles to a friend.

Three of Pentacles — Growing competition; workplace problems or betrayal by coworkers; fewer clients.

Four of Pentacles — Concern for safety; attempts at revenge or fraud; a dangerous situation.

Five of Pentacles — Losing a lawsuit; property confiscated; time and energy wasted on a pointless confrontation.

Six of Pentacles — Support payments, a fine, or a court-ordered payment; a costly loss or substantial debt.

Seven of Pentacles — Settling a conflict after defeat; a quiet spell to rethink events; nursing a grudge for a long time.

Eight of Pentacles — An attempt to seize a business; someone trying to take your position or set you up; the risk of losing a profitable job.

Nine of Pentacles — Unwelcome attention toward a profitable project; your own business failing to take off; victory for a business competitor or romantic rival.

Ten of Pentacles — Inner conflicts or family confrontation; rivalry with coworkers; losing to someone else's authority.

Page of Pentacles — Proving your idea is viable; trying to earn trust; a chance to meet a good partner.

Knight of Pentacles — Abandoning a bad venture; withdrawing from an empty project; finding your own path to prosperity.

Queen of Pentacles — Missing a chance at love; courting a woman for money; a bored wealthy woman.

King of Pentacles — Trying to attract a wealthy suitor; depending on other people's approval; being easily influenced.