Why the Number 5 in Tarot Cards Represents Life's Most Transformative (and Challenging) Moments.

The Minor Arcana Fives. From The Falling Card Tarot. https://www.jennimclaughlinart.com/product-page/tarot-card-deck-original-illustrated-tarot-cards-the-falling-card-tarot

When tarot readers encounter fives in our spreads, we often feel the urge to abandon the reading, reshuffle and hope we get a more palatable card, something happy like the Three of Cups. The fives don't spare the reader's feelings, they dwell in that uncomfortable space between stability and completion, bringing chaos and conflict to our otherwise pleasant reading. But here's the thing about fives that many people miss, they're absolutely essential for growth.

The number five in tarot represents conflict, challenge, and change, but not the destructive kind (unless we also see The Tower in our reading, in that case, yikes!). Let's think of it as life's way of saying, "Get up out of that armchair, time to shake things up!" If tarot cards could give us a gentle (sometimes not so gentle) push out of our comfort zone, the fives would be doing exactly that.

When Fives Appear in Tarot Readings, Expect Transformation

Each suit expresses the themes of the five differently, but they all share the common thread of necessary disruption. Different tarot deck styles capture these nuances in their own unique ways, showing us that even challenging cards contain seeds of wisdom.

The Five of Cups deals with emotional disappointment and loss. The Rider Waite Smith card shows a figure mourning over spilled cups while two remain standing behind them. This card indicates that grief is valid, but hope still exists when we're ready to turn around and see it.

The Five of Wands brings conflict and competition into our creative and passionate endeavours. Perhaps even a little disorganisation. In the RWS deck, five figures brandish their wands in apparent chaos, but if we look closer we can see that they're actually engaged in healthy competition that pushes everyone to be better.

The Five of Swords presents us with the aftermath of mental conflict and the hollow victory of winning at any cost. Sometimes being right isn't worth the relationships we damage along the way.

The Five of Pentacles indicates a feeling of poverty, hardship and disconnection. No one wants to experience the Dickensian drudgery illustrated in this Five. It's not a fun card. Yet even this bleak card reminds us that help is often closer than we realise.

Why Understanding Tarot Card Meanings Helps Navigate Life's Challenges

It's important to remember that the challenges found in the fives aren't some kind of cruel and ironic punishment, they're all about growth. They appear when we need to break out of stagnant patterns and embrace change, even when it's uncomfortable.

The next time you pull a five in your tarot reading, don't panic. Instead, ask yourself "What needs to change in my life right now?" The cards are mirrors, not judges. Except, of course, maybe Judgement. We'll explore that card later, and no, it's not really about being judged.

-Jenni Mclaughlin Art.