Five of Swords as a Person (Upright & Reversed) Tarot Card Meaning

The Five of Swords is the card of conflicts, arguments, disputes, fights, and stress. The card shows a man picking up three swords from the ground. Behind him, two men are walking away from their swords. A battle has been fought and lost. There is conflict and strife. Even though the fighting has stopped for the time being, the air has not been cleared. 

The Five of Swords reminds us that conflict is a part of every relationship. Wherever there are people, conflict will always exist. Conflict can even be beneficial to a relationship, as it establishes boundaries and tells us when our needs are not being met. However, it is how we respond to conflict that matters. Conflicts can explode into strife, but they can also be worked through amicably. 

Upright Five of Swords as a Person

If the Five of Swords appears in a Tarot spread as a person, that means that this person is hostile and thrives on conflict. Everywhere they go, there’s always drama, and the common denominator is them. This is a “red flag” card. Tread with caution, or just avoid them altogether. It is astrologically associated with Venus in Aquarius. Because Venus is quintessentially feminine while Aquarius is a masculine sign, this card carries an equal balance of active, assertive as well as passive, receptive energy. We all have a little bit of both energies expressed in a balanced way, regardless of which gender we identify as.

For physical characteristics, the Five of Swords as a person represents someone who dresses a certain way just to spite others. Although technically this is a card of selfishness, in traditional depictions of this card, the figure is never alone. This person may dress to make others envious. Another way this might manifest is they may steal ideas from others and claim it as their own. 

For emotional characteristics, the Five of Swords as a person represents someone who enjoys conflict. However, rather than openly fighting other people, this person is more manipulative and subtle. They have a tendency to gaslight others. They can also be selfish, greedy, and are determined to win at all costs. When it comes to love and money, this person may be particularly selfish and inconsiderate. Their Aquarian energy can make them particularly hostile in online communications, especially when anonymous. 

For careers, the Five of Swords can represent someone who works in a hostile work environment. This “hostility” may manifest in different ways. In some cases, ability may be a result of dysfunction at the workplace, mainly caused by the person you’re inquiring about. They may be ultra competitive when that mentality is not necessary. In other cases, the cutthroat, dog-eat-dog environment along with the selfishness that comes with it is part of their industry’s culture. For example, they could be a litigation lawyer, professional martial arts, boxer, a trader, or a highly competitive industry such as entertainment. 

The Five of Swords as a person represents someone who makes you feel attacked. You may feel like you’re being targeted by them. Whatever the nature of your relationship with this person, be it romantic, platonic, familial, professional, it will be stressful. Even if they don’t appear to be your typical drama queen, they will usually have a cruel streak. They love using cutting words and underhanded compliments to make you question your self worth. 

Reversed Five of Swords as a Person

If the Five of Swords reversed appears in a Tarot spread as a person, that means that this person is passive-aggressive. Just because they are averse to direct confrontation doesn’t mean that the words will hurt any less. Because this is a Minor Arcana card, some of these traits will not be inherent aspects of their identity. If they are behaving unfavorably, they might just be going through a temporary phase. It may be a behavioral pattern that they can still unlearn, if they choose to. Good or bad, nobody is perfect, and people can use their free will to change for the better.

For physical characteristics, the Five of Swords reversed as a person represents someone who, like the Five of Swords in the upright position, may also have a sharp tongue. However, in the reverse this person is incapable of living up to the standards that they impose on others. They are either hypocrites, or they become overly hard on themselves. When a card is drawn in the reverse, sometimes the energy becomes more internalized. They may be aggressively competitive. This is the type of person who turns everything into a competition. 

For emotional characteristics, the Five of Swords reversed as a person represents someone who is fighting inner demons. But instead of doing shadow work or trying to heal their inner child, they project their inner turmoil onto others. You may notice that this person accuses you of things they do themselves. They love to project their own insecurities onto others. If you’re romantically involved with this person, you need to learn what an abusive or toxic relationship looks like. Know when to walk away from a toxic situation, because your mental health is sacred.

For careers, the Five of Swords reversed can represent someone who plays dirty at work, even if they don’t work in a highly competitive field. This person will go to extreme lengths to beat their competition. This person is not above making false accusations, lying, stealing, or cheating. This person loves making the workplace as unbearable and miserable as possible. They might be the most toxic coworker you will ever experience.

The Five of Swords reversed as a person represents someone who makes you feel as if you are the problem. They love to give backhanded compliments and take passive aggressive jabs at you. Gaslighting is their favorite form of abuse. Stay away from this person for the sake of your mental health. This is that fake “friend” who’s always trying to put you down because they secretly hate you. In fact, this person may not just secretly hate you, they hate everyone.

Conclusion

For love readings, the Five of Swords represents conflict. Conflict will always exist, wherever people exist. Conflict is important, because it tells us when something is not right. It’s how we deal with conflict in relationships that matters. The choice is on us, whether we want to take it as an opportunity to explode or see it as potential to grow. 

If you find yourself needing further clarity in your relationship matters that go beyond reading for yourself, Sibyl offers unlimited tarot readings on love & relationships, as a neutral and objective third party.