Tarot Card Study - the 5's

[LisaT4P]

5 of Wands
5 of Swords
5 of Cups
5 of Pentacles

Hierophant
Temperance

Please put pictures of your favorite versions of these cards if you have them. They can all be from the same deck or different decks. If you have more than one favorite, feel free to post all of them! Part of the fun of this will be showing off our decks and the fun for others will be seeing the images!

Please discuss why this / these are your fave version(s) of the particular card. What in the card speaks the most to you? How does it relate to the other #5 cards? Can you see the Hierophant or Temperance card in the minors? The suits in the Majors? Does looking @ the cards in this way change your perspectives?

How would you interpret this card in different types of readings? What is your most frequent interpretation of this card, or what is your keyword or phrase for it?

[LisaT4P]

Here are some images from the Book of Kaos tarot.

Majors (http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b321/lkrough2/Kaos5Major.jpg)
Minors (http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b321/lkrough2/Kaos5Minor.jpg)
I love the emotion in the Wands card!

[Glory]

I gave no cards other than RWS ones to show off, but if I get my new ones in the mail this week, I'll put 'em up!

The Hierophant is one of my favourite cards (also my astrological card). Rather than an authoritive father-figure like the Emperor, he's more of a mentor of spiritual guidance. Unlike the High Priestess, he makes answers and ideas available rather than shroud them in mystery. He's is a spiritual figure, but also down to earth - he, for me, makes the connection being spiritual mind and spiritual practices in reality.

Anyway, just wanted to ramble a little about him, see what you guys think, I'll come back with something more proper when I'm not rushing out the door. :)

[Shatril]

Here are some images from the Book of Kaos tarot.

Majors (http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b321/lkrough2/Kaos5Major.jpg)
Minors (http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b321/lkrough2/Kaos5Minor.jpg)
I love the emotion in the Wands card!

That almost has the same effect that Michael Angelo's unfinished Miners Statue had on me. The agony is clear in this drawing of the 5 of Wands. Wow.

[Taliesyn]

Here's My Heirophant- I'll add the Temperance (and some fives) Later tonight!http://a691.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/64/m_e437835acec1a4bc21d4cb501634e49a.jpg
http://a757.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/35/m_792df012f372c66fdfe22c489ec92edc.jpg
http://a974.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/47/m_068a6dc3127ce61d82f064f791ed165d.jpg
http://a893.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/33/m_f0c4f33834c451a1e7a44059f3baa634.jpg

[LisaT4P]

Once again from astrology-numerology.com:

5 Positive Traits: Expansiveness, new and visionary ideas, quick thinking, versatile and ever-changing, action oriented, curious and exploring, promoting, resourceful in using freedom constructively.

5 Negative Traits: Restless, discontent, edgy temperament and speech, dissatisfaction, too many hasty decisions, impatience, lacking in application.

[Shatril]

Fives-High Priest-Temperance from The Witches Tarot

V The High Priest-This is a man with white long hair and beard in a white robe, plunging a knife into a chalice held by what appear to be a woman’s hands. This symbolism is just too obvious to most witches. This is the god fulfilling the goddess in ritual. The card is attributed to the 16th path of the tree of life which is between Chokmah and Chesed—The Wisdom of Mercy; The Mercy of Wisdom
This care easily interprets as the path of the priest. All priest/ess walk this path as the liaison between God/dess and mortals; bringing the spiritual teachings and guidance from the spiritual realm. This is the also a path for professors that teach more mundane subjects. In all cases the recipient is the benefactor of the expert wisdom of the priest, professor, or guru.

Upright-Force giving energy to form. This is a traditional ritual act of the priest giving energy to the form created by priestess. The querent is the energy behind the project. The one that will make this stuff happen, however, there will be those that will have to give form to that energy/force.

Reversed-Go with the flow. There is plenty of energy, but the querent has left behind form. Everything is in the hands of God/dess.

Here is a link to an MW Thread where I posted a study on the RWS Hierophant some time ago. http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=54531

XIV Temperance-This is a woman dressed in red with a star on her diadem. The star has the single point up, and the top point shoots a purple light up, going clockwise from there the second point has a blue light, the next red, then green and yellow. She has a torch in her right hand and a blue vase in the left. There is a cauldron with a Mars astrological sign on it. On her right is an eagle on the left a lion. There is a part of an orange ball on the right and a green one of the left. This is the 27th path between Hod and Netzach-The glory of victory; the victory of glory. Quote from the book “This path is one of the most interesting on the Tree, in the sense of the ancient curse: ‘May you live in interesting times.’” This is moving between Netzach (the idea/congealing stage of form) fire and Hod (form in the realm of nature) water, between emotion and mind, instinct and logic, natural magic and ceremonial magic. It is the reciprocal energy running horizontally between Netzach and Hod. This is the idea taking form. This card has the idea of the purifying of iron to make steel. The iron is tempered into a stronger more refined state. This is the “trial by fire” that makes us strong and forms our being.

Upright-interpretation for this card is the marriage emotion and energy to logic. This is where you will weigh all the aspects logically, and then apply some emotion, and finally need to go with your intuition (gut feeling). Play the hunch, because it is the right thing to do. Can also mean that you are too much in your head, and you need to look more at that intuition.

Reversed-All emotion and no logic. You are going through a very emotional time, but reason/logic will arrive and bring stability to the situation.

Fives in General

These cards are attributed to the Sephirah of Geburah. Fives deal with lessons to be learned in the temporal world. These are lessons that generally are hard, but leave lasting impressions. The lessons are not necessarily negative, but they are difficult. The Qabalah of Dion Fortune describes this that Geburah is the breaking down of things, or destruction, and most people equate this to evil. However, this breaking down is of the temporal, and is moving one closer to the spiritual. “Geburah the Destroyer, the Lord of Fear and Severity, is therefore as necessary to the equilibrium of the tree as Chesed, the lord of love, and Netzach, the Lady of Beauty”, from Mystical Qabalah by Dion Fortune http://fcos.us/pdf/mystical_qabala.pdf

Five of Wands—Geburah manifesting through air, air in the sphere of restriction—This card us suffused with gold/yellow. There is an older, white haired and bearded man with a staff, obviously instructing four others with staves in their hands. This looks like a militant type of card, where the instruction is in the martial arts rather than the mystical arts, which holds with the general descriptions of fives which is lessons learned. Fortune lists this as meaning strife, and with the other meanings for the fives and the very nature of this card indicates this is strife in a very worldly/temporal fashion. This upright interpretation is the changing, blowing away of outmoded ideas. The metaphor here is the hurricane that blows away an abandon house. Take care of the details in specific areas. Reversed the card is about injustice, mental cruelty, refusal to learn the lesson. The querent is seeing everything in black and white with no gray areas.

Five of Swords—Geburah manifesting through action/will; Action /will in the sphere of restriction. Two men in red with swords face three with swords. The three are fallen or fleeing. Behind the victors huddle a woman and child, with ropes lying around them. Fortune lists this as defeat, and certainly this image does in fact show the defeat of the three fleeing. However, the other aspect of this is the freeing and protection of the defenseless, and victory by the defenders. This is the energy of the archetype of the white knight. The protector of the innocent and defenseless. The upright interpretation is tempering, purifying, cutting away. Energy, courage, defense of the wronged; might for right. See the archetypical Templar here. That which is temporal with be cut or burned away. In the reversed card one sees cruelty, want destruction, misuse of power, and with apologies to Republicans I envision George Bush right here. This is the card of what goes around comes around, however, this individual has not learned this lesson.

Five of Cups—Geburah manifesting through water; emotion/intuition in the sphere of restriction—A man in blue digs to widen and deepen a stream in order that it may run free enough to wash away leaves and twigs that are stopping its flow. This is about working on releasing debris and detritus from ones temporal world. The literal cleaning of ones mind of the temporal by clearing the path so the clutter can be swept away. Broadening of the mind. Upright interpretation—strong emotions, righteous anger. See the avenging angel archetype here. A relationship ends that is past its time. Work on broadening a path to allow the temporal to wash away. Reversed—It is an emotional ride down the rapids. There is an excess of emotion or intuition in this, without a thought to the more temporal information that requires consideration, and damage is done.

Five of Pentacles—Geburah manifesting through earth; the physical in the realm of restriction—A man in green is removing rocks from his path. The rocks have five pentacles on them. There are cliffs that rise on both sides of the man. He either has to clear his path, or turn around and go back. Fortune calls this earthly (temporal) trouble. Upright interpretation—This is about loss in a way that teaches a lesson. The loss could be financial, weight etc. “Any losses represented by fives are usually Karmic, and can therefore be less painful if you will strive to understand them. Restrictions of finances for the purpose of directing. Ill health that may lay the querent up for a period of time, which will give them ample time to rest, reflect and learn. This is the forced slow down that is needed to prevent a much larger problem. Stop and smell the roses. Reversed—Overuse of energy, using up reserves, stinginess, fear.

[Shatril]

Tally,

That Heirophant is wonderful. I can't wait to see it painted.

Shatril

[LisaT4P]

Oh, the fives.

Here are my keywords:

Cups: Don't cry over spilled milk
Wands: competition is fierce
Swords: C'mon now, play nice with the other kids!
Pents: Aw, crap!

:D

[Brightshores]

In a simplistic sense, to me the fives are all about some kind of conflict or tension.

The Hierophant is the tension between the past and present; between tradition and innovation.

Temperance is the tension that exists between two opposite extremes.

The 5 of Wands is pretty straightforward conflict between two or more people.
The 5 of Cups is regret, remorse, and mourning - the tension between what used to be, and what exists in the present.
The 5 of Swords is a conflict of ideas or philosophies.
The 5 of Pentacles is the tension between materialism and spirituality, between poverty and hope.

Here are the 5's from the decks I most often use.. (caution; fairly big pictures)

Goddess Deck Majors (http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w320/auraceol/goddess-m5.jpg)
In this deck, the Hierophant is renamed "Tradition" and is symbolized by Juno. The Temperance card was renamed "Balance" and is symbolized by Yemana, in what I think is one of the most beautiful pictures in this deck. I love the colors and the image of her just rising out of the waves. That card, to me, just brings a feeling of peace, balance, and tranquility, which is part of the meaning of Temperance, to me... finding the peaceful center that lies between two extremes. It's kind of like the eye of a hurricane, sometimes, though!

Goddess Deck Minors (http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w320/auraceol/goddess5.jpg)
I think all of these are pretty clear when it comes to interpreting the 5's.

Gendron Deck - Majors and Minors (http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w320/auraceol/gendron5.jpg)
In this deck, I really like the Temperance card. The Hierophant is interesting looking - kind of a cross between Buddhist, Orthodox Christian, and Egyptian iconography. There's so much symbolism in the major arcana in this deck.

The minors are a much more mixed bag in this deck; in the 5's, the 5 of Wands is pretty obviously a card of conflict and battle, and the 5 of Cups is a very evocative scene of mourning and regret. The 5 of Swords is pretty, but the picture of the woman on the stairs really doesn't help me understand the meaning of the card (which to me has more to do with intellectual disagreements and arguments). The 5 of Pentacles is just - weird. I don't understand the point of the naked lady by the waterfall, unless the artist is trying to depict poverty because the woman can't afford clothes. 8O

BTW - I love your keywords, Lisa, especially the 5 of Pents! :lol:

[Glory]

As usual, these are all RWS cards.

Five of Swords: Biting off more than you can chew; facing something and coming up short; your own intellectual limitations are starting to manifest.

Five of Pentacles: Holding onto pain; unable to help yourself; self hate and disdain; financial loss due to your own shortcomings.

Five of Cups: the inevitable "crying over spilt milk"; unable to cut your losses and pick up where you left off; unable to see the the bright side; the cup is half empty.

Five of Wands: petty differences, fights and obstacles; short lived problems.

Five in the Minor Arcana seem pretty harsh, and also self-searching. It's like whatever is going wrong is caused by you, rather than outside influence. Soul-searching is required.

In a way, Five is sort of like the fifth point in the pagan star - Spirit. So... perhaps the fives are about introspection rather than the outside, for Spirit comes from within, unlike the outside elements.

[aluokaloo]

To be honest, I cannot stand the fives in the minor arcana of my shapeshifter deck you'll see why in a minute.

5 Wands-Struggle
5 Swords-Conflict
5 Cups-Rejection
5 Pentacles-Loneliness

5 in the Major Arcana is Knowledge I do like that one.

[Taliesyn]

The Fives.

Cups- Being obsessed with those things you have lost- especially bad relationships. I see cups as being filled with the wine of life, and here we have a man who ignores those full cups he has, locking them up in a closet, and focusing on those spilled before him. I also see in this a lack of effort to change things.
http://a974.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/47/m_068a6dc3127ce61d82f064f791ed165d.jpg
Pentacles- Destitution . being ouit in the cold. having no security, no one to count on. I chose to use native americans in this card because I remember the stories my grandfather told- he was too young to remember, but he was carried on the trail of tears. the pentacles here form a fence- cutting the people from the source of security.
http://a757.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/35/m_792df012f372c66fdfe22c489ec92edc.jpgWands- being in the middle of a conflict- but it may be more of a war of words and ideals. you are surrounded, and feel at risk, but the danger isn't really physical. In the finished card, the guys surrounding the middle figure will be wearing uniform clothing. I think it is important that even though they are threatening, they aren't actually fighting- more like posturing and intimidation.
http://a893.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/33/m_f0c4f33834c451a1e7a44059f3baa634.jpg

Swords- loss, conflict, failure- the querent is theman on hte ground- losing the battle.I am trying to capture the feeling of the areana, of a duel- you actions are stifled by another, more successful choice.
http://a799.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/47/m_663f56779f76ab3f26c630e3144f218e.jpg

I see the Fives as speaking of conflict- the cups, an internal conflict.

the Trumps
The Heirophant- Tradition, Dogma, the Illusion that keeps us in the physical world. this card has come to mean some pretty bad things to me- I think I might need to re-evaluate it. those images behind the man are in stained glass, and on his miter is the eye in the pyramid, in this case symbolising the Illuminati.
http://a691.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/64/m_e437835acec1a4bc21d4cb501634e49a.jpg

Temperance- PAtience, a merging of oppisites- a compromise. have you ever noticed that the object in the sky in the RW deck looks like a UFO? I am going to accentuate that imagery in my card, making the figure thin and pale. The energy of the situation has trancended the physical, yet is still able to function on the earth plane.
http://a967.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/54/m_5af700aece63eb910cbcb860adcde78e.jpg

[Shatril]

The Fives.

Cups- Being obsessed with those things you have lost- especially bad relationships. I see cups as being filled with the wine of life, and here we have a man who ignores those full cups he has, locking them up in a closet, and focusing on those spilled before him. I also see in this a lack of effort to change things.
http://a974.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/47/m_068a6dc3127ce61d82f064f791ed165d.jpg
Pentacles- Destitution . being ouit in the cold. having no security, no one to count on. I chose to use native americans in this card because I remember the stories my grandfather told- he was too young to remember, but he was carried on the trail of tears. the pentacles here form a fence- cutting the people from the source of security.
http://a757.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/35/m_792df012f372c66fdfe22c489ec92edc.jpgWands- being in the middle of a conflict- but it may be more of a war of words and ideals. you are surrounded, and feel at risk, but the danger isn't really physical. In the finished card, the guys surrounding the middle figure will be wearing uniform clothing. I think it is important that even though they are threatening, they aren't actually fighting- more like posturing and intimidation.
http://a893.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/33/m_f0c4f33834c451a1e7a44059f3baa634.jpg

Swords- loss, conflict, failure- the querent is theman on hte ground- losing the battle.I am trying to capture the feeling of the areana, of a duel- you actions are stifled by another, more successful choice.
http://a799.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/47/m_663f56779f76ab3f26c630e3144f218e.jpg

I see the Fives as speaking of conflict- the cups, an internal conflict.

the Trumps
The Heirophant- Tradition, Dogma, the Illusion that keeps us in the physical world. this card has come to mean some pretty bad things to me- I think I might need to re-evaluate it. those images behind the man are in stained glass, and on his miter is the eye in the pyramid, in this case symbolising the Illuminati.
http://a691.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/64/m_e437835acec1a4bc21d4cb501634e49a.jpg

Temperance- PAtience, a merging of oppisites- a compromise. have you ever noticed that the object in the sky in the RW deck looks like a UFO? I am going to accentuate that imagery in my card, making the figure thin and pale. The energy of the situation has trancended the physical, yet is still able to function on the earth plane.
http://a967.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/54/m_5af700aece63eb910cbcb860adcde78e.jpg

My God/dess Teliesyn these cards of yours are absolutely profound. The use of the indians, and the reference to the Trail of Tears makes that card so much more vivid, and it would make it extremely easy to interpret. I just can wait to see how the turn out painted. The imagery is so profound. I guess it make a lot of difference why you are actually in contact with the creator and understand why they used the imagery they did.

Shatril

[Taliesyn]

thank you shatril- but it also help me to conceptualize this stuff now, before I getthe deck done! I have an idea- maybe I can strat a thread for my cards, where I only posthte finished ones- then all of you can interpret the symbols and post your own meaning for each of them- that way when it's done, we'd have a big book of interpretations!

I am really flattered by the praise- I posted the cards mainly to show the imagery that I have. I still think I fall short with the Heirophant, though.

[Shatril]

thank you shatril- but it also help me to conceptualize this stuff now, before I getthe deck done! I have an idea- maybe I can strat a thread for my cards, where I only posthte finished ones- then all of you can interpret the symbols and post your own meaning for each of them- that way when it's done, we'd have a big book of interpretations!

I am really flattered by the praise- I posted the cards mainly to show the imagery that I have. I still think I fall short with the Heirophant, though.


Oh a thread for the cards would be grand. I would love to see and comment on them. The comments may be a good way to get more depth to the LWB you make with the cards. LOL:hahugh: Are you planning to publish those?

As for the Heirophant, maybe you need to meditate on what you want to do there. When you are done then, go right to the drawing board and let'er ripe. I get my best insights that way. However, the card and imagery is great now, but I can appreciate what you say about it not having the right feel for "you". You're the one that counts here, my opinion means nothing in the long run when it comes to your own personal satisfaction with the job.

Shatril

[LisaT4P]

I have an idea- maybe I can strat a thread for my cards, where I only posthte finished ones- then all of you can interpret the symbols and post your own meaning for each of them- that way when it's done, we'd have a big book of interpretations!FABULOUS idea! I love that.

And I agree with Shatril, it is always a treat when a book that comes with a deck reveals all the layers of imagery that the artist chose. It makes the deck much more rich and enticing. :)

[Brightshores]

I agree with Shatril and LisaT4P. Taliesyn, your cards are lovely. I think I'm going to be thinking of your 5 of Pentacles when I next see that card in a spread! The use of the pentacles as the fence itself is particularly profound.