Strife is the first word that comes to mind when I see the Five of Wands. The number five itself represents change and instability, both of which can lead to conflict. Since the Wands represent passion, feelings, inspiration, and movement, you can already see that this card is going to be a pretty rough one.
Strife in Relationships
Most depictions of the Five of Wands show five people battling with staves. Sometimes, as in the Light Seer’s Tarot, strife is depicted as “exertion or contention for superiority”[source]. In this card, the five individuals are trying to climb up toward the light, but are failing. The steps they attempt to climb seem loose and disorderly and the individuals are all out for their own goals, not working together. When I look at this card I remember working in the corporate world with co-workers jostling for their own piece, elbowing out anyone in their way. Can you see how selfishness comes through in this card?
As always, the exact meaning of the card changes with the question asked. In a relationship reading it might mean petty bickering or major disagreements based on differing values. Once this card appeared in a reading where, unknown to me at the time of the reading, the families of the couple were fighting.
Strife in Diversity
Modern Witch Tarot
This card appears as well when the problem is one of diversity. Different opinions, different goals, diverse people, or diversity in religion, all cause strife. all result in strife. But sometimes that strife is necessary. At times you may have to fight for what you believe in and this card reminds you to re-examine what you are fighting for.
Is it true? Is it right? Is it necessary? Is it kind? If you need to prevail in the fight that this card presages, you need to be fully informed.
Strife as an Opportunity
Strife is a chance to grow. If you fully believe you are fighting for the right thing, you can dig deeper into why your belief has opposition. Dig below the layer of “Oh, they are just ignorant XXX” or “They’re stupid”. Really try and understand where your opposition is coming from. Usually, it is fear. For example, everything I’ve experienced about racism leads me to believe that racists live in an either-or world. They fear being treated the same way they treat those they are against.
Gregory Scott Tarot
This obviously is NOT an excuse for racist behavior! Instead, let it help you disengage, realize that this messy strife you’re neck-deep in isn’t going to resolve by shouting, and pivot towards actions you can take, such as supporting the victims.
Strife in the Workplace
The Five of Wands in the Gregory Scott Tarot really stands out for me. I see in this card strife between management and workers, executive suite vs. labor, or the “little guy” against the government.Look at the Five of Wands from the different decks in this post. Can you see how imagery triggers different associations? You may look at the first card, from the Light Seer’s Tarot, and be reminded of your attempt to win a client over the competition. The second card, from the Modern Witch Tarot, usually makes me think of work meetings. The Gregory Scott version feels more like fighting against the establishment.
Turning the Card From Strife to Peace
When you get a Minor Arcana card you don’t like in Tarot it can be helpful to look at, or think about, the cards on either side of it. The Four of Wands is solid and harmonious. Think of the four corners of a room or a platform. Four is stable. How can you move from strife to stability? Perhaps you need to release something, walk away, and take a different approach later. On the other side, the Six of Wands is about victory, an accomplishment recognized publically. In this case, you need to add something, perhaps compromise with the other party, and include some of their wants to achieve victory.
What Clients are Saying about Sophrosyne Tarot
I was advised to ask open-ended questions instead of predictive questions which I thought was helpful because I never would have known if it weren’t for the reader. The reader provided the reading along with some advice too so the entire reading was very thorough and explained in an understandable manner.
Everything said was accurate and helpful for me to identify my flaws in order to grow as a person. I have learned a lot about tarot and what it does to help me.
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