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.
If you choose to use reversed meanings in your Tarot spreads, the Four of Swords in its reversed position indicates that a struggle is coming. Whether you have to fight to achieve something or your battle is against an illness, it will take time for the matter to be resolved. You'll face a choice, but if you choose to give up, you'll never achieve any sort of victory.
The Four of Swords of the Minor Arcana of the Tarot is the fourth card of the Suit of Swords. It follows the Three of Swords. It is the embodiment of withdrawal and inward focus, often suggesting a time for reflection.
The Symbolism of the Four of Swords Tarot Card
This card is represented by what appears to be a sarcophagus. The man shown on this sarcophagus has an expression of calm serenity upon his face, frozen in time. He holds his hands in a position which seems to indicate prayer or tranquility. There is a stained glass window behind the sarcophagus.
Mounted on the wall behind the sarcophagus are three swords, all with blades pointing downwards. The fourth sword is a part of the sarcophagus itself.
The General Interpretation of the Four of Swords Card
When appearing in a spread, this card implies a sense of peace and stillness. This might refer to an actual place, such as a church, temple, or any place where the individual feels at peace. This card may suggest a withdrawal to this place, to focus and gather scattered thoughts.
However, it may also refer to an inner sense of peace. In this case, the Four of Swords represents a time to find that inner sense of peace that can be so often be elusive. It is a card that embraces the idea of inner stillness, and encourages the individual to seek it out, wherever it may be.
The Inner Meaning of the Four of Swords in Tarot
The Four of Swords is the image of inner withdrawal and retreat. This is not negative in any way. Instead, this card represents a time when one must get away from everyday life. It can signal to the individual that the time has come to shift one’s focus, to look inward. This will not last forever, but it is necessary.
After the trauma of the Three of Swords, this card encourages a time to retreat from the world. The purpose here is to recover, to allow a little healing to take place. Healing takes time, and in this case, true healing will only occur when inner peace and stillness have been obtained.
On a more superficial level, it can mean a time to leave a social circle, at least for a time.
The Five of Swords follows this card.
The Three of Swords is almost universally considered a negative omen. However, in its reversed position, this card appearing in a Tarot spread can indicate the light at the end of the tunnel. An end of heartache is in sight and you will come to terms with loss of rejection, learning to accept that which you cannot change. A minor surgical procedure is possible, as is going to a funeral.
