Five of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes/No
Winning this argument may cost more than it is worth. Ask whether being right matters more than the relationship.
| Arcana | Minor Arcana, suit of Swords |
|---|---|
| Element | Air |
| Number | 5 |
| Astrology | Venus in Aquarius |
| Golden Dawn title | Lord of Defeat |
| Yes or no | No |
| Upright | conflict, winning at a cost, tension, ego |
| Reversed | making amends, moving past conflict, letting go |
Five of Swords symbolism
A man with a smug expression gathers three swords while two defeated figures walk away toward the sea. Two more swords lie on the ground. The sky is broken by jagged clouds.
The descriptions on this site refer to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (1909), illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith and designed with Arthur Edward Waite, which is the reference for most modern tarot. Other decks may show different imagery with a similar meaning.
Upright meaning
- conflict
- winning at a cost
- tension
- ego
The Five of Swords is winning at a cost. It shows conflict where someone gains the upper hand but loses respect, trust or relationships in the process.
The card asks whether the victory is worth it. Sometimes being right is less important than being at peace.
Reversed meaning
- making amends
- moving past conflict
- letting go
Reversed, the Five of Swords shows making amends, moving past conflict or letting go of the need to win.
It can also show lingering resentment. Choose repair over pride.
New to reversals? Our guide to reading reversed tarot cards explains the different ways readers interpret an upside-down card.
Five of Swords in love and relationships
Upright in love
In love, it can show arguments where both sides lose, or a relationship damaged by ego.
Reversed in love
Reversed in love, it shows reconciliation and apologising.
Five of Swords as feelings
As feelings, the Five of Swords means someone feels defensive or hurt after a conflict.
Career and work
At work, it indicates conflict, office politics or a win that damages relationships.
Money and finances
With money, it can show disputes over money or unfair deals.
Is Five of Swords a yes or no card?
No
The Five of Swords is a no.
Want to ask your own question? Try our yes or no tarot, which uses the same yes, no and maybe values shown on this page.
Number, element and astrology
The Five of Swords belongs to the suit of Swords (also called Blades; Spades in playing-card terms), the air suit that deals with thought, truth, communication, conflict and decisions. In tarot numerology, 5 is the number of disruption, conflict and change. The Golden Dawn assigned this card to Venus in Aquarius and gave it the title Lord of Defeat.
Five disrupts, and in air disruption becomes conflict of words and wills. Venus in Aquarius, detached relationships, captures the coldness of a victory won without regard for others. The Golden Dawn titled it Defeat, and the card asks who, in the end, really lost.
Advice from Five of Swords
Ask whether winning is worth what it costs. Peace can be the better victory.
Example reading
Illustrative example
Someone in a dispute with a sibling over an inheritance draws the Five of Swords. The reading asks whether winning the argument is worth losing the relationship.
This example is written by our editors to show how the card is read in context. It is not a real client's reading. See our tarot spreads for how positions change a card's meaning.
Related cards
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Draw three cards for your own question. Every card in your result links back to its meaning here.
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What does Five of Swords mean in tarot?
Upright, Five of Swords means conflict, winning at a cost, tension, ego. The Five of Swords is winning at a cost.
What does Five of Swords reversed mean?
Reversed, the Five of Swords shows making amends, moving past conflict or letting go of the need to win.
What does Five of Swords mean in love?
In love, it can show arguments where both sides lose, or a relationship damaged by ego. Reversed in love, it shows reconciliation and apologising.
Is Five of Swords a yes or no card?
The Five of Swords is a no.
Is the Five of Swords about betrayal?
It can relate to dishonesty or conflict, but mainly to winning at the expense of relationships.