Five of Wands 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 Wands Rider Waite Smith : meaning and interpretation
Minor
Fire
The Five of Wands is a card of conflict, tension and competition, but also of stimulation and growth through trials. It illustrates a moment of creative disorder, when energies collide, sometimes without clear direction. It is not a card of destruction, but of friction – the kind that often precedes evolution. It can herald disagreements, rivalries, or simply an inner struggle between several options. It also highlights the importance of learning to manage diverse points of view, to channel energy rather than disperse it. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or torn, this card reminds you that chaos can be fruitful, as long as it’s kept under control. It calls for clarity, patience and the courage to turn conflict into an opportunity for transformation. A challenge, to be sure, but a source of inspiration if you know how to learn from it.
RWS Tarot : Arcana Five of Wands readings
Love / Sentimental reading
with the card Five of Wands
In the sentimental domain, the Five of Wands indicates tensions, disagreements or rivalries that disrupt a relationship. This does not necessarily mean a break-up or deep drama, but rather ego conflicts, misunderstandings, or a difficulty in matching each person’s needs and desires. It could mean repeated arguments, a failure to listen, or unhealthy competition between partners. The card can also indicate outside influences: jealousies, rivalries, interference in the relationship. For singles, it indicates a period of instability or competition: perhaps you are interested in a person who is also being courted by others, or you feel pressure to seduce, to ‘perform’. It’s a card that invites you to move away from power struggles, to favour authenticity, and to better understand the hidden dynamics that fuel relationship conflicts.
Professional / Work reading
with the card Five of Wands
The Five of Wands at work evokes a competitive climate, sometimes tense, where everyone tries to defend their place or impose their ideas. It can represent rivalry between colleagues, disagreements within a team, or an overload of activities that lead to haste and stress. This card can also indicate a stimulating but energy-hungry work environment, where ideas flow but lack organisation. If you are in a start-up or transition phase, you could be faced with obstacles, competitors or criticism. However, this card is not entirely negative: it can also be seen as an invitation to assert yourself, to learn to negotiate and to handle conflicts with maturity. It encourages you to transform confrontations into opportunities for growth, by developing the ability to listen, diplomacy and adaptability.
Financial / Material / Money reading
with the card Five of Wands
In financial matters, the Five of Wands highlights tensions, challenges and even instability. This may involve disputes over money (inheritance, debts, joint expenses), or a situation where your resources are stretched to the limit, creating stress and confusion. It can also be a competitive market, where you have to fight for your share (clients, contracts, financial support). There is an energy of dispersion here: there are many efforts, but they are poorly coordinated, which can prevent real progress. This card encourages you to clarify your priorities, structure your financial management and avoid unnecessary conflicts. This is the time to regain control, to channel your energy into concrete solutions. Sometimes it’s better to cooperate than to try to win at all costs.
Family reading
with the card Five of Wands
In the family sphere, the Five of Wands represents latent or open tensions: disputes, disagreements over opinions, struggles for influence between generations or family members. This is not necessarily dramatic, but it can be wearisome if it lasts: small criticisms that accumulate, rivalries between brothers and sisters, conflicts over values or priorities. The card can also reflect a period when everyone wants to be right, when harmony takes second place to egos. It invites us to take a step back, to calm things down, and to seek dialogue rather than confrontation. Sometimes, the intervention of a mediator can be beneficial in defusing tensions. It is also possible that these conflicts are temporary, but reveal deeper dysfunctions that need to be tackled at the root if the family is to regain its equilibrium.
Spiritual reading
with the card Five of Wands
On a spiritual level, the Five of Wands represents inner chaos or a troubled quest. You may be going through a period of questioning, where several voices or beliefs are at odds within you. This may reflect conflicts between the expectations of those around you and your personal path, or a mental turmoil that is preventing you from finding inner peace. This card indicates that the spiritual path is not always linear: it includes trials, struggles and confrontations with your own shadows. However, these frictions can also lead to a deeper understanding of yourself, provided you don’t run away from the inner conflict but integrate it. The Five of Wands invites you to transform this turmoil into a driving force for self-improvement, to learn to listen to all parts of yourself, even those that contradict each other, in order to gain a broader and truer vision.
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 Wands and its positions in a 5-card draw.
Want to better understand how to interpret the card Five of Wands 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 Wands in every position of the 5-card cross spread Rider Waite.
