| Arcana | Minor |
| Suit | Swords |
| Element | Air |
| Attribution | Venus in Aquarius |
5 of Swords
Five of Swords
In shortYou can win this, and it will cost more than it is worth.
Upright
hollow victorywinning at a costconflictself-interestdefeat
This is the argument won by fighting dirty, the point proved at the expense of a relationship, the victory that leaves you standing alone in a field. Sometimes the card puts you on the losing side instead. Either way the advice is the same: consider letting this one go.
Reversed
making amendswalking awayreleasing a grudgeopen conflict
The conflict resolves or you escape it. Amends made, a grudge dropped, a fight walked away from before it became unwinnable. Less happily, it can mean hostility that was covert is about to come out into the open.
In the pictureA smirking figure gathers up the swords while two others walk away, heads down. The sky is ragged and torn. He has all the weapons and no company — the image is very clear about which is worth more.
The turn
Concede the point. Being right is currently the expensive option.