A querent pulls the Five of Swords and the Six of Pentacles in the same spread. The cards sit side by side, one showing a man clutching three swords while two lie abandoned on the ground, the other depicting a merchant weighing coins as a beggar kneels before him. The question is not which card is better. It is which story the querent is living right now.
The Five of Swords and Six of Pentacles represent opposing approaches to power and resources: the first takes through conflict, the second gives through generosity. Their comparison illuminates a central tension in human life: the choice between self-interest and communal support.
The Definition: Two Cards on Opposite Ends of a Moral Axis
The Five of Swords belongs to the suit of Swords, which governs intellect, conflict, and the mind. It depicts a hollow victory: a man stands with three swords, his back to a weeping figure who walks away, while two more swords lie on the ground. The sky is turbulent. The card signals a win that costs more than it returns.
The Six of Pentacles belongs to the suit of Pentacles, which rules material resources, work, and the body. It shows a merchant holding a scale, distributing coins to a beggar. The scene is balanced, calm. The card signals generosity, charity, or a fair exchange of resources.
Together they frame a question every reader encounters: do you take what you want, or do you share what you have?
History and Origins: Where These Images Came From
Both cards as we know them come from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, published in 1909 by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith. Waite described his intentions in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910). For the Five of Swords, he wrote: “a man who has gained a victory, but at the cost of his own integrity.” For the Six of Pentacles: “a merchant weighing money, distributing alms to the needy.”
Earlier decks did not use narrative scenes. The Tarot de Marseille (17th–18th centuries) showed the Five of Swords as five swords arranged in a pattern, no human figures. The Six of Pentacles showed six pentacles arranged symmetrically. Smith’s innovation was to turn each pip card into a dramatic moment. That shift made the cards far more readable for storytelling but also introduced moral judgments that earlier decks lacked.
The Thoth deck, designed by Aleister Crowley and painted by Lady Frieda Harris (published 1944), renamed the Six of Pentacles “Success” and the Five of Swords “Defeat.” Crowley’s interpretations leaned heavily on alchemical and astrological correspondences. He saw the Five of Swords as the card of “the defeat of the intellect by pride,” and the Six of Pentacles as “the balance of forces leading to material success.” His system is more abstract than Waite’s, but the core opposition remains.
Symbolism and Meaning: What the Details Say
The Five of Swords is a card of Pyrrhic victory. The man holds three swords, but two are left behind. The figure walking away has his head down, shoulders slumped. The clouds are ragged. The man’s expression is not triumphant but contemptuous. He won, but no one celebrates with him. The card asks: was it worth it?
In readings, the Five of Swords appears when a querent has won an argument, a lawsuit, or a competition but damaged a relationship in the process. It can also indicate bullying, manipulation, or a refusal to compromise. The suit of Swords cuts. This card cuts deepest.
The Six of Pentacles shows a balanced exchange. The merchant holds a scale, suggesting fairness. One coin is being handed to the beggar; the beggar’s hands are open. The merchant’s robe is red, the color of action and generosity. The beggar’s clothes are plain. The card does not show the merchant’s face clearly, only his gesture. It is a moment of giving, but also of power: the giver is elevated, the receiver is low.
The Six of Pentacles can indicate charity, a loan, a gift, or a fair payment. It can also indicate a relationship where one person holds the resources and the other depends on them. The card is not purely positive. It carries the tension of inequality.
Practices and Traditions: How These Cards Are Used
In a reading, the Five of Swords and Six of Pentacles are often compared in ethics spreads or relationship spreads. A common question is: “Am I taking too much or giving too little?” The Five of Swords warns against overreach. The Six of Pentacles encourages generosity but also warns against creating dependency.
Reversals change the meaning significantly. The Five of Swords reversed can indicate reconciliation, letting go of a grudge, or a decision to walk away from a fight. The Six of Pentacles reversed suggests strings attached to a gift, unpaid debts, or a power imbalance that has turned exploitative.
We have seen these cards appear together in readings about inheritance disputes, business partnerships, and romantic breakups. The Five of Swords describes the fight itself. The Six of Pentacles describes what was at stake: resources, love, time.
In the Thoth tradition, the Five of Swords (Defeat) is associated with the planet Venus in Aquarius, which Crowley interpreted as “the victory of the intellect over emotion, but at a cost.” The Six of Pentacles (Success) is associated with the Moon in Taurus, indicating material growth through patience and balance. These astrological correspondences add another layer: the Five of Swords is airy and detached, the Six of Pentacles earthy and grounded.
Comparisons: How They Relate to Other Cards
The Five of Swords is often compared to the Five of Wands (conflict for its own sake) and the Seven of Swords (deception and theft). But the Five of Swords is more about an open victory that leaves a trail of resentment. The Six of Pentacles is often compared to the Four of Pentacles (hoarding) and the Ten of Pentacles (inherited wealth). The Six of Pentacles is the moment of circulation, not accumulation.
The two cards also mirror each other in their numerology. Five is the number of conflict, disruption, and the breaking of stability. Six is the number of harmony, balance, and cooperation. The Swords suit amplifies the conflict of five; the Pentacles suit grounds the harmony of six.
In the Marseille tradition, where the cards lack narrative scenes, the comparison is less dramatic. The Five of Swords simply shows five swords, suggesting a clash of ideas. The Six of Pentacles shows six coins, suggesting material stability. The moral dimension is absent. Waite and Smith added it deliberately, drawing on medieval morality plays and the concept of the Seven Deadly Sins (pride in the Five of Swords, greed in the negative Six of Pentacles).
Common Misconceptions
That the Five of Swords is always negative. It can be a card of necessary boundaries. Sometimes walking away with a partial victory is the only option. The card asks you to examine the cost, not to avoid conflict entirely.
That the Six of Pentacles is always positive. It can indicate a relationship where one person holds all the power. Charity can be a form of control. The card asks you to look at the balance: is the giving genuine, or is it a transaction?
That these cards are opposites. They are not opposites in the sense of good versus evil. They are different strategies for dealing with limited resources. One takes, one gives. Both can be used wisely or poorly.
That the Six of Pentacles is only about money. It applies to time, attention, emotional support, and knowledge. The coins are a symbol for any resource.
FAQ
What does the Five of Swords mean in love?
It often indicates a relationship where one partner has “won” an argument but damaged trust. It can also warn against manipulation or a breakup that leaves bitterness.
Is the Six of Pentacles a good card for money?
Yes, but with a caveat. It suggests receiving help or giving it. It is positive for loans, gifts, or fair wages, but can also indicate dependency if reversed.
Can the Five of Swords indicate a necessary ending?
Yes. Sometimes a conflict is required to sever a toxic tie. The card does not judge the necessity; it only shows the cost.
How do these cards interact in a reading?
They often appear together when a querent must choose between winning at someone’s expense or sharing resources. The spread may show a transition from the Five of Swords (conflict) to the Six of Pentacles (resolution through generosity).
Closing
The Five of Swords and Six of Pentacles are not just opposites. They are two sides of the same question: how do we use what we have? For a deeper look at the suits they belong to, see our guide to the minor arcana. For the symbolism of the sword and the coin, visit the glossary of tarot symbols. And for a focused reading on the Six of Pentacles in practice, read our guide to the Pentacles suit.