Five of Wands Tarot Card Meaning

Five of Wands Keywords

Conflict, competition, struggle, strain, tension, aggression, fighting, arguing, pressure, opposition

Five of Wands Numerology

5

Five of Wands Astrology Zodiac

Fire: Leo

Five of Wands Tarot Suit

Minor Arcana, Suit of Pentacles

Journal Prompts for Five of Wands Tarot Card

– How do I feel about addressing conflict?

– Do I tend to avoid or confront difficult situations? (And why?)

Five of Wands Card Meaning

Five men are gathered in an open field surrounded by blue skies. They are dressed casually in various colors and patterns, none of them are wearing armor or any form of protective gear. Each of the men are wielding a wand of their own.

They appear to be caught up in a group struggle of some kind. From afar, it may seem as though there is a big fight taking place. However, upon closer observation they are not directly hitting each other. As they interact, they strike their wands in the air, almost as though they are practicing for a fight and are intentionally avoiding direct contact.

*Based on the Rider Waite Tarot Deck

Five of Wands Upright

Generally speaking, the Five of Wands upright in a tarot reading can represent struggle, strife and/or conflict of some kind. Whether such intense energies are occurring internally, externally or both; tensions and/or some form of strained effort may be experienced when this card appears.

Due to the nature of wands representing the element of fire, this card may appear especially during times when a situation can be felt or sensed energetically, more than expressed or spoken aloud. This card could also be an indication of an actual physical fight, altercation and/or outward aggressive action(s), so just be aware.

There may be disagreements among yourself and another (or others). Someone could be acting passive aggressively instead of communicating directly. For example, this card could represent that someone is/will be throwing or slamming things. Whether this is acted out alone/in privacy out of self-frustration; in front of others (when it has nothing to do with anyone but the self); or as a reaction to a disagreement with another. 

This card may appear during situations where you are working to better yourself and/or further develop your skill(s). For example, the phrase “practice makes perfect” could be applicable to your circumstances. 

The upright Five of Wands could also mean that you may need to really exert and/or assert yourself in order to move beyond any tension(s) or strife being felt or experienced. You may be in a position of having to push through and/or push past opposition in order to overcome obstacles or challenges. 

Whether it deals with love, friendship, family or even co-workers, etc, you and/or others could be struggling to get on the same page; and/or to see the situation from each other’s perspective. Each of you could be feeling very strongly about your point of view, so coming together harmoniously may present a bit of an obstacle.

In matters of love, you may find yourself in competition with others in terms of claiming attention and/or affection(s) from a particular love-interest. If you are in a committed relationship, you and/or your partner may be competing for each other’s attention, time, etc. Whether you are competing with friends, work, hobbies, etc–you may be finding it difficult to make time for each other. You and your partner may also be going back and forth, arguing and/or struggling to come to an agreement.

Where money matters are concerned, this may be a period of having to stay focused so as to not scatter your efforts or energy. You may have a lot on your plate, so delegation and/or compartmentalization may be difficult as you could feel as though you are being pulled in various directions all at once. You could be struggling with money when the Five of Wands appears, so do your best to be mindful of your finances.

Co-workers may not be very friendly at this time. You and/or your co-workers may be acting competitively. There could be competition over the same position, client, etc. If you are all working on something together, not everyone may be agreeable or amenable.

Five of Wands Reversed

The reversed Five of Wands may appear when you and/or others are avoiding or simply not addressing conflict(s). This energy can be relatable to the “fight or flight” reflex. In this case, a person would elect to go with “flight-mode” over the latter, as a way of deflecting from problems. Whether this relates to love, family, friendship or work, you and/or someone else may decide to flee from a tense situation rather than to deal with it, head on.

For example, if you and someone else are not able to come to an agreeable solution, rather than argue or spar over the situation, one or both of you may decide to just walk away. However, make sure that the avoidance is not something that creates resentment or increased tension(s), only making things worse in the long run. Instead, choose to deescalate any disharmony by stepping back and away, if only for the moment. Take a breath and allow for the anger, misunderstanding(s), frustrations, etc to dissipate, so that you can both properly address and get through any discord. Do your best to work on effective problem-solving, in order to move forward.

That being said, this card may be revealed in a tarot card reading as a sign that you have managed to get past and/or push through any tension(s) or obstacles. If you have been working to overcome a personal challenge (whether internally or externally), the Five of Wands reversed could mean that you are and/or will manage to succeed.

If you have been experiencing stress and/or hardship around your finances, this card appears as an indication that your tough times are coming to an end. If it has been difficult for you to make any headway where money is concerned, here is your sign that you have made it through. 

With the reversed Five of Wands present, all parties involved should be willing to address the issues in a healthy, respectful way. Otherwise, you should be in a position to improve communication(s) and interaction(s) if there has been strain or struggle.

On a positive note, this card may come as a sign of relief, especially if you have been faced with moving through difficult circumstances. Any struggle or strain should be shifting. Where there have been disagreements or opposition(s), resolution is likely underway. Unfriendly attitudes should also be shifting into a more peaceful state.

Overall, the Five of Wands reversed is an acknowledgement that things are getting better.