Five of Swords

This is a card of ego and defeat. It can refer to pivotal moments with business partnerships, work colleagues relationships, or family members. The Five of Swords is one of the cards that points to an overload of pride and an unwillingness to hear out the other side. While this negative attitude could be a reference to yours or somebody else’s, the saying “one bad apple spoils the bunch” is as relevant as ever here. Whoever started this distasteful way of communicating, it’s making the whole place toxic. If this card is referring to you, remember it’s not all about how you play the game. Be careful not to alienate yourself by engaging in a fight that is too intense. It’s unfortunate, but even winning may lead to losing if it affects how people feel about you.

Five of Swords Reversed

This is the card of the schoolyard bully who saw consequences for their actions, and as a result, is softening up. It’s a positive sign that a person who was once filled with hubris sees the impact their negative actions can have on others. On the negative side, for the person this card is referring to, there’s no middle ground. Either you fail, or you excel. So, if they don’t receive constant rewards for their changed attitude, they may recede back to bad acting. If this is you, recognize that you’re one of the more sensitive people of the human race. Although it may feel like the world is against you, 9 out of 10 people are actually neutral. If it helps, wait to 3 strikes to count a person as an enemy.