Rev. Colleen Irwin

Tarot Fives: Embracing Challenge and Change

The fives in Tarot are up next!  Let’s step into the dynamic and often challenging energy of the number five in the Tarot! Following the stability of the fours, the fives often bring about instability, change, conflict, and the disruption of established structures. They represent tests, challenges, and the need to adapt to new circumstances. Think of it as the plant encountering obstacles in its growth, requiring it to find new ways to thrive.

The Major Arcana’s Five

The Hierophant – Major Arcana V

The Hierophant embodies the more structured aspects of the number five, representing established systems of belief, tradition, and authority. While it provides a framework, the Hierophant can also signify challenges to individual beliefs in the face of established norms or the need to learn and grow within existing structures. The “instability” here can arise from questioning or adhering too rigidly to tradition.

Upright Meaning: tradition, spiritual guidance, conformity, institutional learning, shared values
Reversed Meaning: rebellion, nonconformity, challenging authority, personal belief systems, dogma

Ask yourself:

• What traditions or beliefs am I being asked to examine more closely?
  Am I growing within my chosen structure or merely conforming?

Temperance – Major Arcana XIV

Numbered fourteen, which reduces to five (1+4=5), Temperance focuses on balance, moderation, and the harmonious blending of different elements. While it numerologically connects to five, its core message of finding equilibrium and integrating different aspects of oneself aligns more closely with the themes of the number six. The “resolution” here comes through finding inner balance and adapting to different influences.

Upright Meaning: harmony, balance, moderation, purpose, blending opposites
Reversed Meaning: imbalance, excess, conflict, lack of purpose, extremes

Ask yourself:

• Where in my life am I being asked to find balance?
• How can I create harmony by integrating what seems to be opposing forces?

The Fives of the Minor Arcana

The fives in each suit illustrate challenges and disruptions within the suit’s core energy:

Five of Wands

Following the harmony of the Four of Wands, the Five of Wands depicts minor conflicts, competition, and disagreements. It signifies a clash of egos or ideas—a testing of wills that can ultimately lead to growth and clarity.

Upright Meaning: competition, tension, conflict, diversity of opinions, struggle
Reversed Meaning: avoiding conflict, inner tension, compromise, resolution, indecision

Ask yourself:

• What am I fighting for, and is it worth the struggle?
• How can I learn from differing perspectives?

Five of Cups

After the potential apathy of the Four of Cups, the Five of Cups brings about feelings of loss, grief, and disappointment. It focuses on what has been lost rather than what remains.

Upright Meaning: grief, regret, sorrow, focusing on loss, emotional setback
Reversed Meaning: acceptance, healing, emotional recovery, renewed hope

Ask yourself:

• What am I mourning, and what still remains?
• How can I begin to shift my focus toward healing?

Five of Swords

Following the mental stillness of the Four of Swords, the Five of Swords represents conflict, defeat, and a sense of having won at a cost. It signifies intellectual battles that may leave someone feeling isolated.

Upright Meaning: conflict, mind games, betrayal, winning at a cost, manipulation
Reversed Meaning: reconciliation, regret, compromise, making amends, inner conflict

Ask yourself:

• Is the victory I seek worth the fallout it may bring?
• How can I handle disagreements without sacrificing integrity?

Five of Pentacles

After the security of the Four of Pentacles, the Five of Pentacles brings about feelings of lack, hardship, and insecurity. It urges us to seek support and stay hopeful.

Upright Meaning: financial loss, hardship, isolation, feeling left out, poverty mindset
Reversed Meaning: recovery, new opportunities, community support, spiritual richness

Ask yourself:

• Where am I feeling unsupported or left out?
• What resources—internal or external—am I overlooking?

The Fives are About Challenges

The number five in Tarot signifies a shift from stability into a phase of potential conflict, change, and the need for adaptation. These challenges, while sometimes difficult, often serve as catalysts for growth and can lead to new perspectives and stronger foundations in the long run. The fives remind us that life is not always smooth and that navigating obstacles is a crucial part of our journey. Growth rarely happens without discomfort—but discomfort doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re in the middle of something real.

Up next: The Sixes—What happens when we find balance again after the storm?