V of Swords

The Cost

of Victory

You finally won the battle, but lost yourself in the process.

The V of Swords is symbolic of the mental toll of conflict. In the Hermetic Tarot it is known as ‘Lord of Defeat.’ A figure stands tall in victory, but they stand alone. They have isolated themselves upon a narrow cliff. They raise one sword victoriously above their head while dropping the sword of their defeated enemy at their feet. As the pile of their conquests grows it overtakes the platform and begins to inundate them. Unable to move and burdened by the weight of their actions, they gaze downward with regret. The barren landscape from the Ace of Swords is once again present in the background.

This card is ruled by Venus and oversees the first decan of Aquarius.

In a reading this card may point to feelings of resentment or regret as a result of coming out on the winning side of a conflict or argument. It’s important to pick your battles and be aware of the consequences of your actions. It may not be too late to make amends with someone you’ve wronged. On the flip side, perhaps you’ve lost your battle and need to accept defeat in order to fight another day.

The reversed could represent that you are in a no win situation. It may be best to just walk away. However, sometimes that is easier said than done. Do what you can to let go of past resentment and bad blood and move on.