The Five of Wands emerges as a powerful symbol of challenge, competition, and dynamic tension within the realm of Tarot. This card is fundamentally understood as a challenge, a strength test, and a sporting competition card, depicting situations that compel individuals to prove their strength and capabilities. It is characterized as a test of strength that arises from teasing and cheerful scabies, manifesting in competition-like or all-encompassing tasks. The card carries a playful character that only becomes serious in a few unfavorable situations. The experience presented by this card should not be avoided, as it represents a good and generally exciting opportunity to raise awareness of one's skills. In the context of the Crowley Thoth Tarot, it is identified as the Root of The Powers of Fire and explicitly titled Strife. The introduction of the number Five in the Naples arrangement signifies the idea of motion coming to the aid of matter, representing a revolutionary conception that results in a complete upset of the statically stabilized system, bringing storm and stress. This disturbance is not inherently evil; rather, it represents a natural reluctance to transition from comfort back to work, an idea implicit in the Buddhist doctrine of Sorrow, which characterizes peace through inertia and insensitiveness. The Adepts of the White School, for whom the Tarot is the sacred book, do not agree with such a simplification of existence, viewing every phenomenon as a sacrament. Despite this, a disturbance remains a disturbance, and the card is called Strife.
The number five itself represents change and instability, which naturally lead to conflict. Since the Wands represent passion, feelings, inspiration, and movement, the combination suggests a turbulent experience. In relationship readings, the Five of Wands can indicate petty bickering or major disagreements based on differing values. It may appear when families are fighting or when the problem is one of diversity. Different opinions, goals, people, or religions all cause and result in strife. However, this strife is sometimes necessary. The card encourages individuals to re-examine what they are fighting for, questioning if it is true, right, necessary, and kind. To prevail in the fight this card presages, one must be fully informed. Strife serves as an opportunity to grow. When fully believing in the rightness of one's cause, it is valuable to dig deeper into why there is opposition, moving beyond dismissive thoughts of ignorance or stupidity to understand the underlying fear. For instance, racism often stems from an either-or worldview and a fear of being treated the same way the racist treats others. While not an excuse for behavior, this understanding helps disengage from messy strife, realize shouting is ineffective, and pivot to supportive actions. In the workplace, the Five of Wands signifies strife between management and workers, the executive suite versus labor, or the little guy against the government. Imagery in different decks triggers various associations: the Light Seer’s Tarot might remind one of winning a client over competition, the Modern Witch Tarot suggests work meetings, and the Gregory Scott version feels like fighting against the establishment.
To move from strife to peace, examining the adjacent cards is helpful. The Four of Wands represents stability and harmony, like the four corners of a room. Moving from strife to stability may require releasing something, walking away, and taking a different approach later. The Six of Wands represents public victory and accomplishment, suggesting the need to add something, such as compromise, and include the other party's wants to achieve victory. The Five of Wands is associated with Geburah of the suit of Fire. Geburah itself is fiery, a purely active force, also ruled by Saturn and Leo. Leo shows the element of Fire at its strongest and most balanced, while Saturn tends to weigh it down and embitter it. There is no limit to the scope of this volcanic energy. The symbol represents the wand of the Chief Adept, indicating authority is derived from superiors; without this, the card would be thoroughly disastrous. There are also wands of the Second, or Major Adept, with heads of the Phoenix, giving the idea of destruction or purgation through fire and the resurrection of energy from ashes. Additionally, there are wands of the Third, or Minor, Adept, daughters of the wands in the Three of Wands, where there is the mitigating influence of the Mother. One of the most difficult doctrines of Geburah is that while it represents tameless irrational energy and disturbance, it derives from the benign and gentle influence of the feminine. This doctrine was understood perfectly by the Egyptians, whose Lion goddess, Pasht, was hailed as saeva and ferox, even called "red in tooth and claw." The idea of sexual cruelty is often inherent in the highest divine nature, comparable to Bhavani and Kali in the Hindu system and the Shiva-Sakti coition portrayed on Tibetan banners. Like all Fives, the Five of Wands stands for Geburah—motion, changing, and the powers of destruction—and 5 is the number that breaks the stability and structure of the Four. Fire is not meant for settling and resting; flames burn high to break out of their own realm of the Four, meaning revolutionary movements and aggressive renewals, which are not always pleasant. Identifying what energizes you, what you would fight for, and what you are passionate about—even when tired or discouraged—is crucial. Making that the centerpiece of your mission helps find your livelihood and establish your path of service.
Tarot Guidance in the Context of Holistic Energy
Tarot reading serves as a vital tool for holistic energy harmonization, offering insights into the dynamic forces at play in one's life. The Five of Wands, specifically, acts as a mirror to internal and external conflicts that disrupt energy flow. In the framework of holistic well-being, understanding the nature of this strife allows individuals to address energetic blockages. The card’s association with fire and motion suggests that energy is agitated and seeking release. For homeowners and business owners, recognizing these patterns can be the first step toward optimizing environments. When this card appears, it indicates that the current energy is volatile, much like the revolutionary movements described in the source material. This volatility is not necessarily negative; it is a catalyst for breaking down stagnant structures (the Four) to allow for new growth (the Six).
In personal growth strategies, the Five of Wands prompts a re-evaluation of one’s energetic investments. The card asks if the struggle is worth the expenditure of vital force. The concept of strife as an opportunity to grow aligns with the holistic principle that challenges are essential for spiritual evolution. By analyzing the source of conflict—whether it stems from fear, diversity of opinion, or competition—individuals can channel the volcanic energy of Geburah into productive endeavors. The card’s connection to Saturn and Leo adds layers to this analysis. Saturn imposes restriction and heaviness, potentially turning the fire of Leo into a bitter, destructive force if not managed. Holistic energy balancing, therefore, might involve grounding practices to mitigate Saturn's heaviness while allowing Leo’s strength to shine.
Navigating Workplace and Relationship Dynamics
The imagery of the Five of Wands provides specific guidance for workplace and relationship environments. In a commercial setting, the card is a clear indicator of competition and internal strife. The source data mentions the struggle between management and workers or the little guy against the government. For business owners, this signals a need to address the root causes of discord. Is the strife a necessary "sporting competition" that drives innovation, or has it turned into destructive conflict? The card suggests that diversity in the workplace—different opinions and goals—causes strife. However, this diversity is also a source of strength if managed correctly. The holistic approach involves recognizing that the "storm and stress" of the Five of Wands is a natural part of a dynamic system. Instead of suppressing it, the energy should be directed toward a common goal. The reference to the card being the Root of The Powers of Fire implies that the energy present in the workplace is foundational and potent. Harnessing this requires leadership derived from "superiors" (the Chief Adept's wand), ensuring authority is respected and direction is clear.
In relationships, the Five of Wands highlights friction. It appears when there are petty bickering or major disagreements based on differing values. The card’s appearance in a reading where families were fighting illustrates its direct correlation to interpersonal conflict. The holistic remedy suggested by the card’s adjacent cards is instructive. The Four of Wands, representing stability and the "four corners of a room," suggests that establishing a solid foundation is necessary to move away from strife. This might mean taking a break from the conflict (walking away) to regain perspective. Conversely, the Six of Wands, representing public victory, suggests that compromise is the key to success. Including the other party's desires transforms the fight into a shared victory. The card encourages individuals to ask if their fight is "true, right, necessary, and kind." This introspection is a form of energy balancing, ensuring that one’s passion (Wands) is not wasted on futile battles.
The Philosophical Underpinnings of Strife and Energy
The Five of Wands is deeply rooted in esoteric philosophy, specifically the concepts of Geburah and the nature of destruction. The card represents Geburah in the suit of Fire, a purely active force. The source material explains that Geburah derives from the benign and gentle influence of the feminine, despite its violent appearance. This paradox is central to understanding the card’s energy. It is not merely aggression; it is the necessary destruction that precedes creation, akin to the Phoenix rising from ashes. The Egyptian goddess Pasht and the Hindu deities Bhavani and Kali are cited as examples of this divine ferocity. For spiritual seekers, the Five of Wands invites an acceptance of this darker, more aggressive aspect of the divine and the self. It teaches that peace is not always the absence of conflict but sometimes the mastery of it.
The "Naples arrangement" reference highlights that the number Five introduces motion to matter, causing a "complete upset of the statically stabilized system." This is a fundamental principle in holistic energy work: energy must move. Stagnation is akin to the inertia described in the Buddhist doctrine of Sorrow. The Five of Wands is the force that breaks this inertia. It is the "reluctance of people to get up from lunch and go back to the job." This mundane description belies a profound spiritual truth: growth requires effort and the discomfort of transition. The card assures that while the disturbance is real, it is part of a larger sacramental view of existence. Every phenomenon, even strife, holds a sacred purpose. The volcanic energy of Leo and Saturn suggests that this force is immense and potentially overwhelming, but the presence of the wands of the Third Adept (the mitigating influence of the Mother) indicates that there is always a path to balance and integration.
Practical Application in Holistic Living
For those seeking balance and success, the Five of Wands offers actionable insights. It suggests that conflict is an inevitable part of pursuing passion and movement. When this card appears in a reading concerning residential planning or commercial success, it advises preparing for competition and internal friction. It does not suggest avoidance but engagement with full awareness. The card’s message is to identify what energizes you and what you are willing to fight for. This identification is the centerpiece of establishing a path of service and livelihood. The card encourages digging beneath the surface of conflict to understand the fears driving opposition. This deep understanding allows for disengagement from unproductive strife and pivoting toward constructive action.
The imagery of the card, showing individuals trying to climb toward the light but failing due to disorder and selfishness, serves as a cautionary tale. It warns against working in isolation or for purely selfish goals. Holistic energy harmonization requires recognizing that we are part of a collective system. The strife in the Five of Wands often arises when individual desires clash with the collective good. To turn this card toward peace, one must look to the stability of the Four of Wands or the victory of the Six. This might mean stabilizing the environment first before attempting to conquer the challenge, or finding a compromise that allows all parties to succeed. The card is a call to action, a reminder that while the path may be stormy, the energy available is sufficient to navigate it, provided it is channeled correctly and derived from a place of true authority and passion.
Conclusion
The Five of Wands is a complex card representing strife, competition, and the necessary disruption of stability. It signifies the volcanic energy of Geburah, driven by the active forces of fire, Saturn, and Leo. While it indicates conflict in relationships, diversity, and the workplace, it also presents these struggles as opportunities for growth and awareness. The card teaches that strife is a natural part of breaking the inertia of the Four to reach the victory of the Six. It encourages individuals to fight for what is true and necessary, to understand the fears underlying opposition, and to channel passionate energy into constructive missions. By embracing the disturbance and understanding its roots in the feminine influence of Geburah, one can transform the storm and stress into a sacrament of progress and personal power.