Minor Arcana: Fives

Five of Cups, upright

  • disappointments and failures
  • abandonment, you’re being abandoned or fear it
  • missing out on opportunities because focused on losses, heartbreak, separation
  • need to build a bridge and get over it (to get to the castle/home)
  • unwilling to learn from mistakes?
  • sad, regretful as the situation didn’t turn out the way you wanted it to
  • know that self pity can only last so long
  • stuck in the past, can’t let go
  • fixed on mistakes and guilt
  • release negative emotions so you can move on and make positive change
  • forgiveness is important for you and your future
  • need to reflect on lessons learned
  • when you’re ready, see the two cups still standing? Potential awaits.
  • blessings in disguise, silver lining if you choose to see it
  • loss of job, forced to take step back
  • try to remain positive relationships with old coworkers

Five of Cups, reversed

  • worried of being a failure
  • keeping feelings to yourself
  • time to speak up! ask for help, express the pain to lessen it
  • if you made mistakes, try to move past it by forgiving yourself
  • appreciating the lessons learned
  • reminder that you can’t change the past so let go of what no longer serves you
  • after setbacks, you’re feeling more hopeful again
  • finding out how to be open, take risks again
  • acceptance, forgiveness, healing
  • beginning to see all the possibilities forward
  • ready to forgive past mistakes in a relationship, renewal
  • or maybe still holding on to unhealthy level that relationship cannot progress..
  • try to focus on what can be changed, and move on, don’t dwell
  • reengage with your creative side

Five of Swords, upright

  • things aren’t going well, battle lost
  • disagreement, conflict
  • self-sabotaging, deception, lack of communication
  • violent encounters (abuse, rape,bullying)
  • walking away with sense of sadness, loss
  • wish you could take back some of the words you said
  • fighting back, standing up for yourself
  • but either way, relations now sour
  • maybe you “won” an argument, but overall it’s a loss just as much
  • people are keeping their distance from you due to what you’ve done
  • put relationships at risk due to only caring about your views
  • negative ambition…pick your battles..not always a good idea to engage in every disagreement to prove you are right
  • try to seek forgiveness
  • tried your best, still failed..be smarter next time
  • your impressions are causing conflicts
  • finances not so well, don’t trust easily

Five of Swords, reversed

  • relief, forgiveness, reconciliation
  • realizing arguing til the end is a loss either way
  • push and push, the other person isn’t willing to hear your side, not listening
  • want this period of conflict to be over
  • want things to get back to normal, forgive and forget, focus on good
  • conflict continues to follow you, perhaps an ex still trying to ruin things so you can’t move forward
  • reopening old wounds, fear and hurt from memory coming along again
  • worried history might repeat
  • heated conversations, unresolved still so it’s hard to be harmonious
  • ready to move forward and fix negativity
  • apologize, compromise, or make amends
  • revenge, remorse, regret- someone may have cheated and have been found out
  • be careful that you are in danger of abusive relationship
  • giving people chances
  • making sacrifices to forward career

Five of Wands, upright

  • disharmony, differences, conflict
  • aggression, temper, clashing egos
  • competition, being rough, defensive
  • everyone fighting to be heard, so no one is being heard
  • many different opinions
  • impacting ability to move forward with goals
  • try to listen to what others have to say
  • they might respect you more too
  • don’t be too petty or only use your ego
  • can be helpful during brainstorming and problem-solving
  • be open to debate, each person has unique thing to bring to table
  • encourages you to be open to change
  • try to get everyone on same page
  • chaos and strike at work
  • conflict over money: overspending, working on refunds, etc

Five of Wands, reversed

  • internal conflict, unclear where you personally stand on issues
  • deciding whether to stay or leave
  • people around you have strong opinions, so it causes tension
  • someone will always disagree, so choose what’s best for you
  • tendency to avoid conflict, ignore, deflect
  • push concerns to the side instead of deal with them
  • is avoiding of conflict, which can be helpful, the best option?
  • sigh of relief after struggles
  • no need to prove yourself anymore
  • worked through problems, more secure now
  • resolution, keeping peace
  • everyone has their needs and it doesn’t make them less lovable
  • entering more stable time in financial aspects

Five of Pentacles, upright

  • deep loneliness, time of hardship, and insecurity, struggle, bad luck
  • possible loss of something significant
  • nothing is going right..so low self esteem
  • mistakes from past haunt you
  • isolation, feeling distant, rejected
  • building walls, hard to communicate honestly and connect emotionally
  • feeling ignored, unloved
  • improper relationships
  • hardships at work, feeling alone at work
  • struggle with being social, feel like outcast
  • lack of financial stability causing problems in health and relationships
  • money feels tight right now, might be in debt, causing you lots of stress
  • don’t let pride stop you from asking for help, remember the hardship will pass
  • don’t be too focused on problems to notice help, swallow your pride for a bit
  • warning to protect financial security

Five of Pentacles, reversed

  • end to difficult times, progress, recovery
  • regaining self confidence, positive change
  • hope is renewed, see a way out of problems
  • spiritually, something feels like it’s missing, but you can’t figure it out
  • feeling alone even in the company of others
  • maybe you’ve focused so much on material world you neglected yourself
  • feeling unworthy because not wealthy
  • spend only on what you truly want/need
  • remember what you do have..family, love, etc even if you’re not wealthy
  • make it happen if it matters so much
  • paying off debts
  • overcoming previous struggles, or make a decision to leave what no longer works
  • people around you more accepting, and you’re also more open to possibilities
  • return to employment
  • diagnosis/tx of health problem for peace of mind

References

Biddytarot.com
labyrinthos.co
thetarotguide.com
Dean, Liz. The Ultimate Guide to Tarot: a Beginners Guide to the Cards, Spreads, and Revealing the
Mystery of the Tarot. Fair Winds Press, 2015.
Louis, Anthony. Tarot Plain and Simple. Llewellyn Publications, 2006.
Night, Sierra. Tarot Ultimate Guide: The Supreme Guide for Learning the Art of Tarot Divination and
Readings. 2019.
Pollack, Rachel. Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: a Book of Tarot. Thorsons, 1997.