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Introduction

The Five of Swords is a card of conflict with an uneven outcome.

Something has happened where:

• one side benefits more than the other
• communication breaks down
• or a situation ends in a way that feels unresolved, unfair, or hollow

This card is not about open, constructive conflict.

It often appears when:

• someone feels taken advantage of
• an argument leaves emotional distance behind
• or a situation “ends,” but doesn’t feel settled

In these exercises, you’ll work with situations where your client is not just dealing with conflict — but with the emotional aftermath of it.

Your role as a reader is to help them understand:
👉 what actually happened beneath the surface
👉 what the cost of this situation is
👉 and what continuing in it would mean

Exercise 1

📝 Fictional client email:

Hi,

I’ve been going back and forth about something that happened recently, and I can’t seem to settle on how I actually feel about it.

I had an argument with someone I care about. It wasn’t explosive, but it was intense in a different way. Things were said that felt… nasty. And even though the conversation ended, and we technically “moved on,” something doesn’t feel right.

I keep replaying it, not because I want to argue again, but because I can’t shake the feeling that something about the situation was unfair. Part of me wonders if I overreacted. Another part of me feels like I let something slide that I shouldn’t have. And now I don’t know if I should bring it up again, leave it as it is, or just distance myself.

It’s not the argument itself that’s bothering me. It’s how it ended. So I guess my question is… what actually happened here, and what should I do with it now?

– Alina

💬 Let’s look at what’s happening here:

Alina is not stuck in the argument.

She’s stuck in the aftertaste.

The Five of Swords often appears when:
👉 something ended
👉 but not in a way that feels clean or mutual

As a reader, your role is not to escalate the conflict again.

It’s to help her understand:
👉 why it feels unresolved
👉 and what continuing in this dynamic would actually mean

🎯 Your Exercise:

For this reading, you draw The Five of Swords.

Write your response to Alina as if you were answering her professionally.

• Acknowledge the discomfort of the situation
• Help her understand what made this interaction feel off
• Don’t push her into confrontation, but don’t dismiss the imbalance

When you’re ready, compare your answer to mine.

Exercise 1.2

Now we deepen Alina’s situation.

This time, the cards are:

The Five of Swords + The King of Swords + The Seven of Wands

Explore:

• What kind of communication dynamic is present here?
• Is someone dominating or controlling the situation?
• How does she hold her position without escalating the conflict?

Write your answer, then compare it to mine.

Exercise 2

📧 Fictional Client Email — Kevin

Hi,

I’ve been dealing with a situation at work that left me with a strange feeling, and I can’t quite put my finger on it.

There was a project I was heavily involved in, and when it came to presenting the results, someone else took the lead in a way that didn’t feel entirely fair.

They didn’t lie or take direct credit for everything, but they positioned themselves in a way that made it seem like they were more central to the outcome than they actually were.

At the time, I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to create tension or seem difficult.

But now I keep thinking about it.

Not because I want recognition, but because something about it felt… off.

I don’t know if I should address it, let it go, or just accept that this is how things sometimes work.

So I guess my question is: am I overthinking this, or is this something I should take more seriously?

– Kevin

💬 Looking at the Bigger Picture

Kevin is not dealing with open conflict.

He’s dealing with subtle imbalance.

The Five of Swords often appears in situations where:
👉 something wasn’t clearly wrong
👉 but also wasn’t entirely right

As a reader, your role is to help him understand:
👉 what actually happened beneath the surface
👉 and what ignoring it might lead to

🎯 Your Exercise:

You draw The Five of Swords for Kevin.

Write a response that:

• acknowledges the subtle unfairness
• helps him understand why it stays on his mind
• guides him without pushing him into unnecessary confrontation

Then compare it to my answer.

Exercise 2.2

Now we expand Kevin’s reading:

The Five of Swords + The Six of Pentacles + The Page of Swords

Explore:

• Where is the imbalance most visible?
• How can he become more aware of this dynamic going forward?
• What kind of communication or awareness helps him navigate this?

Write your answer, then compare it.

Closing the Five of Swords Exercises

The Five of Swords reminds us that not all conflict ends cleanly.

These exercises show how often people are left with a sense that something wasn’t fully right — even if they can’t immediately explain why.

As a reader, your role is to help them understand that feeling — and what it points to.

If you’d like to receive a reading like this for your own situation — one that helps you navigate complex dynamics and unclear outcomes — you’re welcome to book a personal session at www.empowering-spirit.com.

And if this course is helping you grow, you can also support it through the tip jar in the sidebar (desktop) or footer (mobile).

Thank you for practicing with me.

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