Five of Wands: tarot card meaning

Five of Wands is card 5 in the suit of Wands, associated with the element of Fire. Drawn upright it speaks of friction, passion, initiative; reversed, of passion blocked, stalled action.

Upright meaning

friction, passion, initiative

Healthy competition and lively friction -- a scuffle of ideas that, handled well, sharpens everyone.

Reversed meaning

passion blocked, stalled action

Conflict without purpose or infighting that drains the energy -- find the common aim again.

The suit of Wands belongs to Fire and to passion, initiative and growth.

In a three-card reading

In the past position Five of Wands describes the current that carried you to where you are; in the present position, what is most alive in the situation now; in the future position, the direction things tend toward if nothing changes. A reading weighs it against the other two cards rather than on its own.