The Card of the Day: The Five of Swords

 “Don’t get defeated, get organized.”

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The Five of Swords warns not to take on more than you can handle. Its message is that of pacing yourself. Less gets accomplished (not more), when you are spread too thin. Procrastinating will not help you manifest your dreams, but neither will inundating yourself with the present task (which is the opposite extreme). The Five of Swords encourages you to get organized in your thinking and break the task down into smaller pieces that can be accomplished over time. This will aid you in replenishing self-esteem and personal power.

Is there a huge task looming in your mind that is giving you anxiety? Are you already so overwhelmed with current tasks and “to-do” lists that it’s hard to see how it will all get done? Do you feel spread too thin?

The Five of Swords depicts three squires, all trying to secure the job of assisting a brave knight. The two squires in the background are defeated. They are focused on the sea, the element of water, which is a symbol for their “feelings.” They couldn’t handle all five swords at once, and the knight’s horse, and the knight’s armor, and the knight’s demands, and, and, and........... Aggghh! It’s just too stressful! They quit!

A fresh breeze blows through the hair of the squire in the foreground. The brisk winds are dispersing the gray clouds in the sky above. This symbolizes the element of air, which in turn represents reason, logic, and intelligence. This squire finds that he can easily complete the tasks required by getting organized. Instead of seizing all the swords at once, he will collect only the amount he can carry. He can come back to the other two heavy swords lying on the ground once he gets the first task completed. In this way, he will do each task well.

The Five of Swords advises you not to waste another minute resisting your tasks with avoidance, exasperation, or procrastination. Get organized in your thinking! Pull out your calendar. Partition off one sacred hour a day, for seven days, to plug away at the task. Keep your commitment to yourself. Once it’s in the calendar it must be done! This is a sacred contract with your integrity and will systematically help you regain self-esteem. If something comes up in life (as sometimes happens), schedule a make-up hour to keep your commitment to yourself. Open yourself to the fresh breezes of action, to break up the grey clouds of indecision.

As you keep your commitment to yourself a strange thing will happen. You will look forward to working on your task, because confronting it will continue to make you feel powerful. You can achieve your dreams, but first you must schedule the time to work on them.

The Five of Swords also warns you not to take on too much of other people’s issues. You may have to let others do their own work, without your coming to the rescue. Maintain healthy boundaries.

*Five of Swords in a Love Reading

New Relationship

The Five of Swords can represent a new love interest who is a “fixer-upper.” They might meet many of your standards, but certainly not all of them. Your strong feelings may rationalize away their flaws. Beware of tolerating more of this person’s issues than you can handle. This card can also signify someone who isn’t quite ready for a commitment yet. Be honest, clear, and direct.

Long Term Partnership

The Five of Swords can signify a partnership of conflicting opposites. One partner may be cool and cerebral, while the other partner is sensitive and volatile. It may seem as if you speak two different languages altogether. Counseling or other resources may help you both clarify what you are attempting to communicate to the other.

Seeking Romance

If you are single, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the messiness of dating. Past nightmare scenarios may have left you feeling defeated or disheartened. Take your time before diving into the next emotionally intense situation. Walk into new partnerships with clear, and sensible boundaries. Make sure your standards are being respected.

*This excerpt is a sneak peek at my upcoming book “Tarot in Love: Consulting the Cards in Matters of the Heart” from Llewellyn Books and available for preorder Fall 2022!

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