Five of Wands

Keywords & Phrases:
Competition. Rivalry. Minor setbacks. Disagreement. Quarreling over nothing. Feeling you don't know where you stand. Indulging in competition. Feeling challenged. Trying to defend yourself. Frustrating circumstances. Friendly competition. Exercise. A mock battle. An exciting challenge. Conflict. Struggle. The need to prove oneself. Assertiveness. Faith in one's ability to compete. Sparring. Success through formidable effort. Exchanging of ideas - sometimes heated. Energetic and competitive games. Confronting obstacles. Brainstorming. Problem-solving. Conflicting desires.

Summary:
The Five of Wands conveys that there's a struggle of some kind, yet it is hard to know who is going to come out the winner. Similarly, when you draw the Five of Wands you may feel as if you have to pick a fight, perhaps mentally within yourself, or else challenge someone out there in the external world.

Others want what you want and the contest is likely to be exciting and heated, filled with action and rivalry. Don't allow your competitors to gain the advantage. Be firm, stand your ground, don't give in. Despite the uphill battle, you overcome the competition. You rise to the challenge.

Even when we confront others, it is not necessary to fight nastily. To desire victory, and to do everything possible in order to obtain it, does not prevent us from being friends with our opponents and from seeing conflict as an occasion for reciprocal growth rather than a breach of trust. Furthermore, this card recalls the need to continually keep in shape and to never cease if we want to be ready and able when we really need to be.

You may need to compete or face an exciting challenge to get what you want. Avoid passivity at this time. Success will come as a result of your assertive efforts to overcome nuisances and obstacles. Some of the strife may be due to your refusal to see the other person's point of view. Perhaps you have too many irons in the fire and are scattering your energy in too many directions at once; if so, you need to set priorities to avoid excessive stress.

The figures in the Five of Wands card may be fighting or struggling against one another, they may be engaged in a competitive sport, or they may be working together to build something with their wands. These interpretations all imply a goal-oriented struggle, but important issues to consider are whether the struggle is internal or external, constructive or destructive, friendly or antagonistic. This card urges us to consider that if there is negative strife going on, wouldn't it be better to try to convert that energy into positive energy that works towards a common goal?

Working together to achieve something more than ourselves allows us to be part of something great. It allows us to see how difficult such things are. It's an opportunity for growth.

I am the explosive force of the earth that trembles, the absolute power of the lava that annihilates everything that it encounters. Challenge me if you are a lunatic or have great courage. I am Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes.

Questions:
Can I let go of petty differences? Do I need to reorganize my priorities? How and with whom are you competing? What obstacles are you confronting? How do you present your ideas to others? With whom are you quarreling or arguing, and over what? What are you so excited about? What games are you playing?