AUTHOR’S NOTE: I first want to mention that in some systems of numerological thought Five is the number of humanity (five senses, five extremities, five fingers, five toes, etc). For this reason I’m relating it to “people” for the purpose of this essay. The difficult disposition of the title can appear in these individuals as either directly confrontational or annoyingly avoidant.
Among the tarot’s Minor Arcana, Five is generally seen as an unfortunate card, with the titles of “Strife” (5 of Wands); “Disappointment” (5 of Cups); “Defeat” (5 of Swords); and “Worry” (5 of Pentacles/Disks). In Qabalistic number theory, Five represents “disruption” because it sits on the Tree of Life’s Pillar of Severity in the sphere of volatile Mars. (The keywords are from the Thoth Tarot and the titles shown in the image below are from the Golden Dawn’s Liber T tarot curriculum.)
Over the last few weeks I’ve had two occasions to recognize this quality of the Fives in social and relationship matters, and felt that it deserves a more thorough examination. Here I will address it suit-by-suit:
5 of Wands (Strife): People who are signified by this card in a reading can be abrasive and contentious. (Another take is that they can be compulsively driven by their ambitions, making them insufferable for more laid-back types.) In cinematic terms, a number of Danny DeVito’s unpleasant characters would fit this stereotype. Astrologically, Aries can be aggressive and Leo can be arrogant.
5 of Cups (Disappointment): This card identifies people who can be emotionally needy whiners. There can be a “woe-is-me” negativity behind their public persona. This characteristic typifies the “Eeyore” temperament that sometimes adheres to both the Pisces and Virgo astrological makeup.
5 of Swords (Defeat): A “bad attitude” can typify people represented by this card. They may be constantly looking for an argument and are suspicious of the motives of others. Astrologically, Gemini natives can be argumentative while the Scorpio personality is often suspicious.
5 of Pentacles/Disks (Worry): This card is detrimental to a person’s sense of self-worth and can result in excessive pessimism. Trying futilely to measure up to expectations can be a persistent theme. In natal astrology, the Virgo individual can sometimes exhibit what I call an overly-submissive “doormat” mentality that invites being walked all over. There can also be a passive/aggressive sidestepping of conflict that Virgo shares with its opposite sign, Pisces.
When a Five is reversed, the associated flaws can be concealed behind a facade of coping mechanisms such as avoidance or false positivity. Those who must deal with them may be challenged to find the real person behind the strategic mask. The cards following the Five can reveal whether the individual will continue to get away with this behavior or will have to “own up.”
I’m never happy to see a Five appear in a reading because I know that something is amiss. At its most positive it can deliver necessary change by overthrowing the stagnation of the Four, but it is very seldom pretty. In the past I’ve likened the Five to a “can-opener” or “nut-cracker” that releases the stale atmosphere of the previous card in its suit, clearing the way like a “bulldozer” for further progress toward the harmony and equilibrium of the Six. Another metaphor I’ve used is “You can’t make omelettes without breaking eggs,” and the Five is certainly up to the task. But at its worst it is just a pain in the ass, and a person it stands for in a reading will be no exception.
