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?

Five of Cups

Keywords & Phrases:
Loss. Disappointment. Emotional confusion. Regret. Feeling deprived of love. Having something taken from you. Feeling sad & grieving. Regrets over lost opportunities. Change in priorities. Acceptance of what is. Emotional resistance to change. Wishing you could change the past. Emotional imbalance. Progress hindered. Loss of harmony. Temporary delay. Learning from mistakes and experience. Crossing a bridge. Moving on. Mourning. Brooding. Overturned emotions. Poor communication. Loss of trust. Exaggerated pessimism. Anxiety over separation. Salvaging what remains. Separation. Something lost, but something remains. Recovering what was of value. Comprehension of just proportions. Bereavement.

Summary:
The subject of loss is one we don't handle very easily. This card seems negative in its associations, but there is a positive interpretation to loss, too. Again it is our projection of our fears or doubts that cause us to take this card as a bad penny when it comes up in any reading. Rather like "Death", this card suggests it is timely to let go of our attachments, to not fear the loss of one thing that will soon be replaced by another. It invites you to embrace change and go with the flow.

You have suffered a loss or disappointment. You may feel abandoned or betrayed by a loved one. Not all is lost, however. Something remains to be salvaged from the situation. You can either focus on the glass being half-empty or half-full.

The bottom line is that it's time to pick up the pieces and move on.

Even when we lose, we gain the experience of defeat and it may turn out useful for attaining future victories.

There are times when our hearts feel empty, like we've lost that which is most dear. It is best to lay with the loss, let the soul rest. Often, afterwards, we see that perhaps all was not really lost.

A happy ending is not necessarily the one we expect but can occur in a banal, more realistic way.

The Five of Cups refers to that time when the pain of a loss is most acute. In readings, the Five of Cups can alert you up the possibility of a loss and its associated emotions - sorrow, regret, denial. You may feel discouraged by this card, but it does have a positive side. Every loss opens new possibilities for growth because every loss initiates change. Loss hurts because it is our emotional resistance to change.

I am Latona, the Roman goddess of exile. First envied, then slandered and finally banished to this beach. I am far from everything but near the hopeful eyes of my children.

Questions:
What seems lost or down the drain? What do you despair over? What are you disillusioned or disappointed with? What do you feel sorry about? What are some possible alternatives to what you've lost? What awaits your attention? What have you learned from your mistakes?