Five of Wands

Upright Meaning

Five figures brandish wands against each other in what appears to be chaotic combat — but look closer and no one is actually being struck. This is competition, not war. The Five of Wands represents creative tension, rivalry, and the friction that arises when multiple strong wills collide. It may manifest as workplace competition, disagreements within a group, or the internal struggle of competing priorities. The chaos is uncomfortable but productive — it forces you to sharpen your position.

Reversed Meaning

Reversed, the Five of Wands can indicate either conflict avoidance or the end of a struggle. You may be suppressing legitimate disagreements to keep the peace, or the competitive tension may finally be resolving. Ask yourself: is the peace real, or are you just too tired to fight? Sometimes the reversed Five means the competition is now internal — you're fighting yourself.

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