5 of Swords

I must win at any cost

Winning of any kind involves sacrifices. At first glance, the difference between “winning at a cost” and at “any cost” might seem trivial, but deeper inspection uncovers the stories of lives and careers brazenly sacrificed, shattered and broken. In the conflagration of a blinding obsession and quest for power, people cease to be people, rather become objects merely helping or hindering progress. Colleagues become competitors; family and friends are dead weight.

The ancient Roman orator Marcus Tullius Cicero is quoted as saying, “Inter arma enim silent leges,” often misused “in times of war, the law falls silent.” Which, even today, leaders with a relentless drive to succeed, have used to justify their immoral actions. Ignore laws to get what you want, conquer at all costs. This demonstrates the dangerous manipulation of words taken out of context.

The art depicts a man, sword in hand, poised to strike. Below him, another man kneels. He has surrendered, apparently injured, his life force draining. Their struggle is set in a cold uncompromising land. The remains of death littering the landscape signifying the physical and emotional carnage that follows in the wake of those prepared to sacrifice anything to achieve their goal. In a flash of brilliance, the radiant hand of John the Baptist, said to have baptized Jesus, appears – as if to awaken the aggressor from a trance. The aggressor stands composed, ready to strike another blow to secure victory.

The scene is frozen in time, posing the question, what will happen next? Will the sword fall or will this man be spared? Within the pause…that instant…another possibility can be born. The drive and determination to succeed in an endeavor is admirable, the aspiration to positively influence and have maximum impact in one’s community and further afield, is exemplary – but not if you leave a trail of destruction.

The Five of Swords represents the galvanizing force of ambition, of striding towards a goal. It requests you look carefully at where you may be fixated on an outcome and acting out of integrity. Look at the ways you are being self righteous. Do you place the need to be right over and above loving and respectful connection? The compulsion to win, to always be right, cuts away at the heart of life. We are asked to consider whether it’s worth the sacrifice. There is always a pregnant pause available when we are presented with the opportunity to take a different action. The realization is that the drive is the winner, you are not.