Five of Swords in the Rider Waite Tarot
Table of contents
Table of contents
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
Five of Swords Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Minor
Air
In general, the Five of Swords is the card of conflict, discord, mental tension and meaningless victories. It refers to situations where everyone wants to impose their point of view, to the detriment of the relationship or peace. It is a card that confronts us with the question: ‘Is it better to be right or to be at peace?’ It highlights power dynamics, sometimes violent, sometimes subtle, where the ego takes over. It often brings regret, bitterness or loneliness resulting from confrontation. But it is also a call to evolve: to choose your battles wisely, to exercise discernment, to pick yourself up after an argument, and to understand that true strength lies in self-control. The Five of Swords is an invitation to grow through conflict — not to get lost in it.
RWS Tarot : Arcana Five of Swords readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card Five of Swords
In matters of the heart, the Five of Swords is a card of conflict, resentment or bitter victory. It often signals an argument in which one partner seeks to ‘win’ at all costs, to the detriment of the relationship itself. This card highlights power dynamics, manipulation or pride that damage trust. You may feel humiliated, misunderstood, or that you have hurt the other person without meaning to. For single people, it may indicate a love lost in conflict or a situation where you have been verbally or emotionally betrayed. It invites you to ask yourself, ‘Have I really won if I have hurt the other person or myself in the process?’ The Five of Swords calls for taking a step back, easing tensions and deciding whether it is better to rebuild… or to walk away to protect yourself.
Professional / Work reading
with the card Five of Swords
Professionally, the Five of Swords evokes interpersonal tensions, ego conflicts, or an unhealthy competitive atmosphere. You may find yourself in a situation where collaboration is difficult, where colleagues seek to undermine you, or where you yourself are tempted to respond sharply. This card may also reflect frustration with unfair decisions, hurtful comments or a defensive attitude. Even if you ‘win’ an argument or a project, the taste of victory may be bitter if it creates isolation or resentment around you. It calls for discernment: is confrontation necessary, or can you defuse the situation? Sometimes it is wiser to choose peace than to be right. The key is to protect your integrity while remaining strategic.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card Five of Swords
In material matters, the Five of Swords highlights conflicts of interest, tensions surrounding money, or a sense of financial injustice. This may involve the division of an inheritance, a legal matter, or a situation where you feel you have been wronged. This card also evokes broken agreements, deceptive transactions, or expenses made under duress. It warns you against dubious strategies, dishonest negotiations, or overly individualistic calculations. The advice here is to avoid power struggles in financial matters. A victory achieved by dubious means will have consequences. Conversely, if you have been the victim of injustice, it is time to re-evaluate your limits and defend your interests intelligently, but without entering into a spiral of revenge.
Family reading
with the card Five of Swords
In the family sphere, the Five of Swords signals quarrels, deep misunderstandings or breakdowns in communication. It is the card of the wrong word, the hurtful gesture, the pride that prevents reconciliation. It can reflect a tense atmosphere where everyone is digging in their heels, making dialogue difficult. Sometimes, this card evokes old arguments that continue to cast a shadow over current relationships. There may be unspoken words, accumulated resentment or intergenerational conflicts. The Five of Swords invites us to reflect on what is really important: preserving the bond or defending our point of view at all costs? It is time to adopt a wiser stance, acknowledge any wrongdoing, or consciously choose peace, even if it means setting healthy boundaries in certain toxic relationships.
Spiritual reading
with the card Five of Swords
Spiritually, the Five of Swords represents an inner struggle between the ego and the soul, between the will to win and the need for peace. It can illustrate a period when you are at war with yourself: you judge yourself harshly, reject your mistakes or struggle with an inner truth that is difficult to accept. This card teaches that true spiritual victory does not lie in control, but in reconciliation: with yourself, with others, and with your flaws. It invites you to examine your relationship with power, pride, and the need to be right. The Five of Swords calls for disarming your mind, cultivating humility, and recognising that some battles are not worth fighting. On a spiritual level, it is sometimes more powerful to withdraw, remain silent, and choose inner peace over external confrontation.
See another card
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor IV
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
5-Card spread
Five of Swords and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card Five of Swords according to its position in a cross drawing? What does it symbolise as a situation, obstacle, resource, piece of advice or way out? Explore its many facets and find a detailed reading of the card Five of Swords in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
