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Five of Swords
minor Arcana·swords·#5
Upright Meaning
ConflictDefeatWin at all costsBetrayalHostility
A smirking figure holds three swords while two others walk away in defeat, their swords on the ground. The sky is churning and unsettled. Someone won here, but at what cost? The Five of Swords is the hollow victory — the argument you won but the relationship you lost, the battle where the spoils aren't worth the damage. This card asks you to examine whether being right is more important than being connected. The victor stands alone.
Reversed Meaning
ReconciliationMaking amendsPast resentmentMoving on
Reversed, the Five of Swords suggests the aftermath of conflict: either reconciliation or lingering resentment that poisons from within. You may be ready to make amends, or you may need to release the desire for revenge. Walking away from a fight you could win requires more strength than winning it.
Quick Reference
- Arcana
- minor
- Suit
- swords
- Number
- 5
- Element
- 💨 Air