Comparative Tarot

5 of Wands shows 5 brutish looking men engaged in a battle in a clearing in the woods. In the forefront of the card we see a bearded man holding his rod upright. He seems to be the butt of two of the other men's attack. These two men are behind him and hitting him with their rods. In the background stand two more men holding their rods upright. They are not presently engaged in the attack but seem ready to enter the fray if necessary. In front of the first man is a bush bearing orange flowers.

LWB says: Projects are obstructed; one gets into difficulties, which may even entail the interruption of work or activities. This is permitted if the resistance and obstacles become too big forcing a retreat. In this way, a chance exists to gather quietly forces of energy.

Bee's Buzz: This card reminds me of school bullies. Two men are ganging up on a third and the other two, rather than helping the single man, stand by watching and laughing. The fight may not be to the death but it definitely looks painful and dangerous. It is a struggle for survival and for the ability to move on, to overcome these loutish bullies and move ahead. Could this be part of some initiation process - they provoke the individual man into battle so he can prove his courage and strength. Or is this just another example of the pack mentality humans fall into so easily, picking upon the weaker to prove how strong we are? Either way this is one of the more mean-spirited 5 of Wands I've seen. It is a reminder that we can so often give in to our baser instincts rather than rising to our highest ones.

Bees Blessings
Debbie