Tarot Card Symbolism: The Five of Swords of the Minor Arcana

The Five of Swords of the Minor Arcana of the Tarot is the fifth card of the Suit of Swords. It follows the Four of Swords. It is the embodiment of victory and confidence.

The Symbolism of the Five of Swords Tarot Card

This card is represented by a man who appears to be victorious in battle. He is holding three swords, which he may have taken from those he has defeated. These people are seen retreating from the battlefield in the background. Two more swords can be seen on the ground at the feet of the victor.

This battle appears to have occurred on a beach. The waters may be calm, but the sky is ragged-looking, perhaps implying this battle wasn’t completely just.

The General Interpretation of the Five of Swords Card

When appearing in a spread, this card implies some kind of victory after a battle. It is likely that this victory was indeed hard-won, and that the losing parties were defeated with great effort. This may be a literal or symbolic battle, depending on the circumstances.

The Five of Swords also indicates that this battle was not won by luck alone. Instead, this victory was achieved through proper preparation and planning. This preparation inspired confidence in the individual. And it was this confidence that truly won the battle.

The Inner Meaning of the Five of Swords is Tarot

The Five of Swords is the image of potent victory, achieved by defeating opposing parties. This is not a card that inspires cooperation. Rather, it is a card of battle, and victory. And, wherever there is a victory, there must be a defeat.

The defeat parties are disillusioned after the battle. The sky above is torn and ragged-looking. This might imply that the battle was not a just one, that perhaps it could have been avoid by a moment of reflection and consideration. The Five of Swords brings a warning that one should be wary of engaging in a battle, literal or symbolic, before all the facts are obtained and considered.

Finally, this card may imply some unwilling and unnecessary contributions from the losing parties. Again, this is a warning: one ought to behave honorably towards those who have been defeated. This is an important lesson, one which should not be ignored.

The Six of Swords follows this card.