A prominence of fives suggests dramatic changes, often involving career advancement and travel opportunities. This is a time of high tension, nervous energy, hasty actions, past restrictions, and hectic change. Because of the restless nature of the fives, this is not usually a favorable time to make a major long-standing commitment.
People: Competitors, sports teams, open opponents, martial arts enthusiasts, one who instigates contention.
Situation & Advice: You may need to compete or face an exciting challenge to get what you want. Avoid passivity at this time. Success will come as a result of your assertive efforts to overcome nuisances and obstacles. Some of the strife may due to refusal to see the other person's point of view. Perhaps you have too many irons in the fire and are scattering your energy in too many directions at once; if so, you need to set priorities to avoid excessive stress.
The Five of Wands suggests that you will be dealing with contention and rivalry. Legal complications or problems are also a possibility and the need for advice is very evident. You may need to confront petty annoyances and difficulties. You are engaged in welcome competition. If your question was about romance, you may need to compete with another to win your lovers affection. If you asked about travel, expect a delay or some complication in your plans.
This card can simply indicate that you have a lot of energy to burn right now. You may need a night out with the guys or gals, as the case may be. Some may want to participate in karate or other martial arts. A sporting event or contest may be involved.
(-) Internal conflict, lack of faith, unfair tactics, legal battles, bickering, stress, unhealthy competition, hitting below the belt, malice, disagreements, problems with travel plans.
People: Malicious or secret enemies, underhanded opponents.
Situation & Advice: (+) In its positive aspect, the reversed Five of Wands means that the struggle is over and now is the time to proceed. Your fights will be constructive and you'll find a way to work out your differences using good old common sense, resulting in a constructive outcome. Everyone involved will sit down and talk about the problem, and with good energy applied in the right way; there will be victory for your goals. Compromise and negotiations are successful.
(-) In its negative aspect, this card represents unhealthy competition, petty quarrels, unfair tactics, unwelcome challenges, malicious opposition, and nasty setbacks. The Five of Wands reversed may be advising you that the daily grind has been wearing you down and taking its toll on your health. Have you been scattering your energies in too many directions? Now is the time to set your priorities and deal more effectively with stress in your life. Relief is in sight.
People: Someone who feels bitter, resentful or burned out, a pessimist, a woman who has a miscarriage, a mistreated child.
Situation & Advice: You have suffered a loss or disappointment of some kind, usually someone or something you've been attached to. When this happens, you find it difficult to explain how you feel inside; you're experiencing grief, loss, or heartache and its hard to express those painful emotions. You may feel abandoned or betrayed by a loved one. Not all is lost, however. Something remains to be salvaged from this situation. If you are involved in a painful relationship, it is best to sever the emotional tie that has led only to regret and disappointment. You need to allow the grief work to proceed and also to revise your emotional priorities. There's a time when this loss will pass and tomorrow will bring renewed interests in you loss as hard as that may be to believe right now. For now, you are engrossed in your loss and it is ok because we know that sorrow takes a while to heal.
(-) A painful ending, inevitable loss, regret, the end of a valued relationship, loss of love.
People: Old friends, lost love, a lover from the past.
Situation & Advice: (+) In its positive aspect, the Five of Cups reversed means that the emotional pain of the upright position is over. Loss is replaced by improvements. Hope and happiness return, and your energy is increasing daily. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and you're on the road to recovery from past hurts and losses. Old friends or acquaintances may call upon you and they may renew your hope in the future. A lover may return from the past. Now is the time to clear up old misunderstandings or hurt feelings. It is time for the return of good memories, new hope, renewed confidence, and just feeling back to your old self. The rapid changes in your emotional life can be a source of some discomfort.
(-) In its negative aspect, this card can represent the need to come to terms with the irrevocable ending of a valued relationship. It is time to move on. It can symbolize bereavement (sad or lonely state from death), loneliness and grief.
People: Those who lose face, sore losers, malicious gossips, saboteurs, troublemakers.
Situation & Advice: The Five of Swords warns that you, or someone around you, may be acting in a negative or destructive manner and a lack of sensitivity or concern for others. You may need to swallow your pride and admit your limitations before you can proceed. Your sense of ego may be preventing you from acknowledging that you have bitten off more than you can chew. Perhaps you are blaming others for your own mistakes.
You may be so concerned about winning that you ignore the consequences of your behavior. You may get something you thought you wanted only to realize it does not fulfill your desires. Spiteful or malicious actions will not produce the desired result. You may be listening to too many other people's opinions instead of reaching your own conclusions. You need the wisdom to accept the things that you cannot change and to acknowledge defeat before moving on. You may have won a battle but at what cost? As you emerge victorious, you ask yourself "Was it worth it?"
Legal complications often come up with card, and the cards surrounding this one tell exactly how things will turn out. You should also consider that someone near you might not deserve your trust. You may be the victim of nasty gossip or underhanded behavior. Someone may be working against your interests out of jealousy, spite, slyness, cunning or the ability to coerce others out of something. Any court cards that appear in the spread may provide further information about who is sabotaging your plans or attacking your reputation. Five of Swords represents taking what's not yours, stealing away energy, power, degradation, or worse disgrace.
People: Bullies, malicious enemies.
Situation & Advice: (+) In its positive aspect the Five of Swords reversed suggests an end to the attacks and slander of the upright position.
(-) In its negative aspect, the Five of Swords reversed suggests that you are dealing with a situation in which you are feeling humiliated, degraded, or victimized. There may be sneaky behavior or a desire to create conflict. Your self-esteem may be at a low because of a painful humiliation or defeat. Perhaps you're aware of the difficult lawsuit of ahead of you or of a certain situation that can cause all kinds of emotional problems. There's still a chance of loss, but to a lesser degree - small claims court say. You may win but it will not be what you wanted or expected. Someone may be bullying you or acting maliciously and spiteful against you along with gossiping. When you hear about it you should try to clear this up and get to the truth of the matter. This isn't an easy card to have, so it is important to study the surrounding cards to accurately describe the questions outcome.
People: The impoverished, the lonely, those who are down and out.
Situation & Advice: You may feel like you have been left out in the cold and impoverished. You may be under strain financially and may have fallen on hard times. If financially secure, you are realizing that money cannot buy you love. You may be overextending yourself. Now is the time to rid yourself of unnecessary expenditures and other confining situations in your life. This card raises the possibility that you are not putting your talents to good use. Your preoccupation with practical difficulties is preventing you from seeking spiritual guidance, comfort and neglecting your health.
If you asked about a business venture, the Five of Pentacles warns you to avoid risks because of loss of money is the likely outcome. A legal situation may result in financial loss. If you asked about a love affair, don't count on its longevity.
(-) Unemployment, frustration, adversity, despair, money problems, extreme poverty, severe deprivation.
People: Those emerging from hard times.
Situation & Advice: (+) In its positive sense, the Five of Pentacles reversed means that the poverty and deprivation of the upright position is coming to an end. There is a reversal of bad luck, and you may now find new work so that your unemployment days are over. You may feel that your courage has come back to you and that you are able to get back into action of your community or home life. You've accepted the conditions of loss and have moved onto a higher level of understanding. Though material and physical comforts may be lacking, you have a new interest in spiritual empowerment and feel more hopeful with the Five of Pentacles in this position. Courage and hope return and problems involving money, income, and business begin to clear up. Health should improve.
(-) In its negative sense, the hardship of the upright card becomes more entrenched and chronic.
