Five of Wands — Rivalry, Challenge, Growth

Supervised by Usatoko WHITE
Professional tarot reader & spiritual advisor

The classic Rider–Waite–Smith Five of Wands

Nyanta

Nekosuke, can you tell me about the Five of Wands today?

Nekosuke

Of course! The Five of Wands is a card that symbolizes "change and challenge." It carries the power of the Fire element, showing that we learn and grow through difficulty and change. It's deeply connected to your motivation at work and toward your goals!

"FIVE OF WANDS" is the English name for this card.

We'll cover the core meaning of the Five of Wands — including what it means for your career — and use a beginner-friendly "Three Card" spread to show you how a real reading unfolds.

Whether the card appears upright or reversed, we'll offer gentle, encouraging advice to help you move forward in the best possible direction.

✦The Basic Meaning of the Five of Wands

The Five of Wands means "competition, challenge, creativity, and contest"

The previous card, the Four of Wands, represented stability, peace, and rest — but with the Five of Wands, the mood shifts.

Literally, "Five of Wands" translates to "five sticks." Picture five people holding sticks, all striving hard against one another — that image captures the essence of the card.

Upright, this represents "competition, challenge, creativity, contest, and rivalry." In work and love, it can be read as "the appearance of a rival who pushes you to grow in a constructive way."

Because five people are also trying to build something together with those sticks, this card can equally describe friends or rivals sharpening each other through friendly competition.

Through this process, character deepens, quality improves, and new things come into being. It also points to smoother communication and improved relationships going forward.

Either way, the energy of "competition, challenge, creativity, and contest" fuels real personal growth.

Nyanta

I heard the Five of Wands is a "trial" card... can you explain the difference between upright and reversed?

Nekosuke

You're right, the fives in tarot often signal trials or change. Upright, though, this card also hints at the strength to overcome that difficulty. Reversed, it can hide a clue for how to break free from the struggle. Let's look closer!

☀Five of Wands: Career — Upright & Reversed

Upright: A worthy rival may appear

When the Five of Wands appears upright in a career reading, someone close to you may suddenly become a rival, or a new competitor may emerge — some kind of contest is on the horizon.

It could be an internal company competition or a contest. For students, it might be a research presentation, a test, or an exam.

When there's real competition on the line, you naturally push yourself harder than usual, and that effort sharpens your skills.

Whenever an opportunity like this comes along, it's worth leaning in — it will level you up and benefit you in the long run, so approach it with an active, willing spirit.

The shortcut to progress, upright

The Five of Wands means "competition," and the following card, the Six of Wands, means "the contest is decided." So the outcome of this competition truly rests on your own effort — put in the practice and preparation now so you have no regrets later.

Believing in yourself is the real shortcut. Cast a little spell on your own heart: "I can do this."

Reversed: Things don't unfold the way you expected

When the Five of Wands appears reversed in a career reading, you might find yourself envying someone else who gets recognized instead of you.

You may feel that your own effort and ability deserve to be acknowledged too — and that's exactly what this reversed card reflects: things not turning out the way you had hoped.

But this is a constructive, meaningful kind of frustration — one that only arises because you're genuinely committed to your work or studies.

Try to accept it, for your own future benefit. Rather than worrying about others' recognition, let your track record and trustworthiness — which will surely follow — be your strength.

How to stay positive, reversed

Focus on tackling what's in front of you at your own pace. It's easy to get distracted when someone else is being praised or recognized right in front of you.

In that situation, rebuild your motivation and confidence by clearing the simple, achievable tasks first.

If you keep working steadily at your own pace, trust and recognition from those around you will follow naturally.

♡Five of Wands: Love — Their Feelings, Upright & Reversed

Upright: A time of change in the relationship ahead

When the Five of Wands appears upright in a love reading, your relationship seems ready to move forward. Lean into your strengths and simply be yourself — keep it simple, and enjoy laughing together through your days.

Advice for faster-than-expected progress, upright

If you always meet him with a warm, sunny, sparkling heart, he'll be drawn to that lovely energy in you and want to spend even more time together.

Just like the fable of the North Wind and the Sun, warmth is what truly warms both of you in return. Cast a little magic of a bright smile and sparkling heart on yourself.

Reversed: Differences of opinion between you two

When the Five of Wands appears reversed in a love reading, even amid your happy time together, small differences in taste, values, or opinions may surface.

When that happens, hold onto your own opinions while also respecting his. Doing so will make him open up and lean in closer, building an even stronger bond of trust than before.

Gently accepting "difference," reversed

Accepting differences can feel unsettling at first, but real love always includes some trials. Exchanging honest opinions about each other's values is a necessary part of building a relationship.

See it as a step toward progress and shift your thinking to enjoy the process. It's okay — these trials exist to help your relationship grow. Overcome them together, and you'll forge an even deeper bond.

☀Five of Wands: Money — Upright & Reversed

Upright: Money starts to flow more freely

When the Five of Wands appears upright for finances, your savings grow, your income rises, and your financial life becomes richer and more fulfilling. This, in turn, boosts your motivation at work or in your studies, creating a positive cycle.

Advice for making things even better

Spend on things that reward your daily effort — treat yourself, or take a family trip as a gesture of everyday gratitude. Use your money on things that bring you joy.

Spending happily satisfies you and, in turn, actually makes it easier to save.

Reversed: Best to put a plan or fix in place

When the Five of Wands appears reversed for finances, you may have been treating yourself a little too generously lately. Start setting aside small savings now so you can say yes when a friend invites you out.

Tips for building savings, reversed

If there's something you want, think it over — if a cheaper alternative would satisfy you just as well, treat yourself to that instead, in service of the worthy goal of saving.

Now is a good time to build better financial habits and instincts.

☀Five of Wands: Relationships — Upright & Reversed

Upright: Exchanging opinions builds genuine relationships

When the Five of Wands appears upright for relationships, there may be moments at work or in your personal life where opinions clash. But because the other person is being sincere too, they'll genuinely listen to what you have to say.

Since exchanging opinions is what moves things forward, don't hesitate to speak your mind.

Respecting each other in meetings, upright

To value the people around you, start by respecting and empathizing with their ideas — try thinking, "that opinion is actually interesting."

Saying "thank you for sharing something so valuable" shows sincerity and makes the other person glad they spoke up. When you respect others, you'll be respected in return.

This will keep your relationships running smoothly and create a positive environment — wrap the people around you in a broad, gentle warmth.

Reversed: You need to take the initiative

When the Five of Wands appears reversed for relationships, a variety of opinions may fly around during a conversation, temporarily shifting the mood in the room.

Before that happens, take the lead yourself — be the "air purifier" for everyone and refresh the atmosphere. Offer a fun story or an amusing gesture to help everyone's tension melt away.

Getting closer to everyone, reversed

During a break, reach out first and chat about something light — hobbies, sports, or leisure. Listening and showing empathy is itself a form of respect and consideration, so lean into the other person's feelings and enjoy the conversation.

You might just end up bonding over a shared hobby or favorite sport.

✧Three-Card Reading: "Love — Their Feelings"

What is the Three Oracle (three-card draw)?

For beginners, there's the One Oracle spread — the Three Oracle is its natural extension. You only draw three cards out of 78, so it's still very approachable.

While the One Oracle answers a simple question, the Three Oracle allows for a more specific question.

The method is simple: decide on the question you want to ask the tarot, focus your mind, shuffle all 78 cards, gather them into one deck, and spread them out. Paying attention to orientation, draw three cards by intuition, and read them together.

Defining the three positions

• Card 1 = Past   Card 2 = Present   Card 3 = Future
• Card 1 = Current situation   Card 2 = Problem   Card 3 = Advice
• Card 1 = Your current state   Card 2 = Their feelings   Card 3 = Your future together

Naturally, the setup will vary depending on what you're asking about, so feel free to design your own. Let's dive into a couple of example readings.

Reading example: unrequited love

I go to cram school, and I have a crush on the boy who sits next to me. Since we're seated together, we get to talk during breaks. I casually asked if he had a girlfriend, and he said, "I don't have time for that with exams coming up." It's true exams are only a few months away, but I really want to date him. Is it okay to confess my feelings now?

For this question, let's use this setup:

Card 1: Your current state   Card 2: Their feelings   Card 3: A hint for making it happen

Card 1 — Your current state: Five of Wands (upright) / Rising to the challenge

The card shows you're feeling confident in yourself. Whether it's the energy from studying hard for exams or a strong feeling toward romance, you sense powerful energy either way.

Sitting next to each other may even feel like fate. This mindset is essential in love, and it's wonderful that you have it — keep communicating with him.

For example, ask him about a problem you don't understand, or how he's approaching exam prep — getting physically closer often brings hearts closer too. You've got what it takes! Enjoy this time with him as if you're already winning both the exam and the romance.

Card 2 — Their feelings: Justice (reversed) / A wavering heart

Upright, Justice means "sound judgment and balance," so reversed, it simply means the opposite: "wavering." In other words, even though he says he needs distance from romance to focus on exams, his true feelings may be different.

Perhaps you — always the one who reaches out to talk to him — have quietly become a source of comfort for him without him even realizing it.

Card 3 — Your future together: Temperance (upright) / Things flow smoothly

Temperance represents things naturally flowing well, like water. If you take action, you may well win his heart.

But first, respect his feeling that "exam prep leaves no room for romance" — start by having fun conversations during his study breaks. You'll enjoy pleasant moments together, encourage each other, and it will actually boost his motivation to study.

As you grow closer, you might study together, unwind with video games, and share happy moments. After that, a picture emerges of both of you having won the exam and the romance, enjoying a real, fulfilling relationship.

The nervous, fluttering time before you officially become a couple is a treasure in itself — enjoy this unrequited love slowly, without rushing, while dreaming of your future together.

Reading example: dating someone popular

I'm dating someone from the same department at work. It's known within the office, so we're both careful not to let it affect our jobs while enjoying our relationship. Just as we've both started thinking about marriage, a female colleague from my graduating class transferred into our department this month. She seems aware of him — I often see the two of them talking closely, even right in front of me. I've been anxious for days wondering whether it's just her friendly personality or whether she's making a move on him. Will anything happen in our relationship?

This is a serious concern, so let's do a reading right away to resolve it. For this question, let's use this setup:

Card 1: Her feelings   Card 2: His feelings   Card 3: How to handle it

Card 1 — Her feelings: Five of Wands (reversed) / Rival

A clear answer here. It does seem she has feelings for him and wants to grow closer and date him. But now that she's become a rival, it's a reminder of just how attractive he really is — you can feel proud that you fell for someone so popular.

Card 2 — His feelings: The High Priestess (reversed) / Good judgment, intelligence

Rest assured. He's listening to her properly and treating her kindly, as any considerate person would — and that's part of what makes him attractive and popular in the first place.

He's mannered, thoughtful, and generous of spirit — a keeper, really. Continue to treasure him. Even if she does try to approach him, he'll handle it with integrity. His sincerity is part of his charm — trust him wholeheartedly.

Card 3 — How to handle it: Wheel of Fortune (upright) / Major change and progress

Her appearance may push him to make a big decision, precisely so he doesn't leave you feeling insecure any longer. There's a good chance he'll move toward marriage and propose sooner than you expect.

Her presence in the picture might just be fate's clever way of nudging you two together faster — a helpful catalyst, in other words. Look forward to a major commitment in your future together.

His feelings for you are unwavering, and he'll keep working to build a happy home with you. In turn, wrap him in your own generous, warm love.

☀Money Advice from the Five of Wands

Upright: Money luck

A period where competition itself fuels growth. A rival's presence becomes healthy stimulation — just be careful not to get drawn into a "spending contest."

Reversed: Money luck

Avoiding unnecessary conflict helps you cut costs. Building cooperative relationships is the more economically sound path right now.

✧Five of Wands Combined with Other Cards

Here are some representative interpretations of the Five of Wands appearing alongside other cards.

Five of Wands × Five of Swords

Conflict may intensify. Keep your composure and aim for constructive discussion rather than escalation.

Five of Wands × Strength

Inner strength to overcome a difficult competition. Patience and self-confidence will carry you to victory.

Nyanta

The Five of Wands is kind of a tough card, but I get it now!

Nekosuke

The fives do point to trials, but they're really a step toward growth. When the Five of Wands shows up, don't lose your passion — trust in who you'll become after making it through the challenge!

✦Five of Wands Keywords

These are the essential keywords that capture the core of the Five of Wands. Use them as a quick reference during a reading.

• Competition
• Conflict
• Clashing opinions

⚖Five of Wands YES/NO Reading

Here's how to read the Five of Wands for a YES/NO question.

♡Their Feelings When the Five of Wands Appears

Here's what the Five of Wands suggests about the other person's feelings in a love reading, upright and reversed.

Upright

Under the theme of "competition," the other person is experiencing emotions shaped by the influence of Wands — passion, action, and creativity. The messages of competition, conflict, and clashing opinions are showing up in their true feelings.

Reversed

Reversed, the same emotions from the upright meaning are weakened or left unexpressed. Their feelings may be turned inward rather than shown outwardly.

✦Frequently Asked Questions About the Five of Wands

✦Summary

We've now covered the meaning and reading of the minor arcana Five of Wands. In essence, the Five of Wands represents competition and contest.

The appearance of a rival means you're about to face some kind of challenge together. But it comes with meaningful growth — self-improvement, sharpening each other through friendly rivalry, and real development. It's a challenge worth taking.

The more effort you put in, the more it comes back to you — just like a ball bounces back higher the further it's dropped from, so you can face this with confidence.

You may also encounter moments of disagreement in discussions. But by sincerely listening to the other person's opinions, they'll listen to yours in turn — building the kind of relationship where you truly respect each other. Recognizing one another is important in every relationship.

If you're struggling with communication or feel like your relationships aren't going smoothly, start by reaching out to the people around you.

Create opportunities for conversation, recreation, or games together, and show your appreciation and respect for the people around you. The way others respond and treat you afterward is likely to change for the better, leading to healthier relationships.

The scene ahead of you is full of brightness. In the end, competing and challenging one another is how people create new things, move things forward, and grow. Because mutual respect underlies it all, some kind of challenge may well be on its way.

When it arrives, sincerely recognize the other person's strength, celebrate each other, and build something wonderful together.

Reviewed by

Usatoko WHITE

Professional fortune teller specialising in tarot, oracle and Lenormand reading. Usatoko supervises every divination guide at Luna Factory to keep them accurate and beginner-friendly.

Written by the Luna Factory Editorial Team