Five of Wands: Tarot Card Meaning

Meaning of the Five of Wands card upright

Five young men swing their staffs in a muddled scuffle, none of them clearly winning. The card shows competition and the clash of opinions where everyone insists on their own way. This kind of friction can be useful if it sharpens ideas and is not turned into a fight for its own sake.

Five of Wands reversed

• avoiding conflict
• a peaceful solution
• a fading quarrel

Reversed, the Five points to an effort to avoid conflict, a truce or a quarrel that is dying down. Perhaps the time has come to find a compromise, or you are suppressing a disagreement that needs to be aired.

Five of Wands in love and relationships

In love it means arguments, rivalry or an energetic relationship where partners often disagree. Reversed, reconciliation or a conflict avoided at the expense of honesty.

Five of Wands in work and finances

At work this is competition, a noisy team, disagreement over how to proceed. Healthy rivalry can bring results. Reversed, resolved tension or a silent conflict.

Symbolism of the Five of Wands card

The five crossed staffs are five different wills. The young men in different clothes show that no common aim has yet been set. The cloudless sky suggests that the conflict is energetic rather than dangerous.

Five of Wands in a yes or no reading

In yes or no spreads, Five of Wands upright reads as “no” and reversed as “maybe”. The answer comes from the general meaning of the card (competition, argument), so always take the wording of the question and the neighbouring cards into account. Try a yes or no reading.