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Opposing energy causes agitation.

The RWS/Gold Foil Tarot- 5 of Wands displays 5 combatants. This whole card bespeaks fire, which is the aggressive element that is in and motivates "all things". This is a card of assertiveness, combativeness, and action--good or bad. This card may mean great personal courage as our "first responders" risk their life to save someone else's or putting one's reputation on the line for something in which they believe. Therefore, it can mean popularity and success through one's own decisive actions. At best this is a card of candor, and of a clearly and emphatically expressed decision. This is a card of Willfulness, so there is also impulsive action, which can bring on more trouble than it's worth. Hence, at its very worst, this card represents tyrannical, warring behavior or an aggressive attack being perpetrated on the querent. Five is also the number that represents Homo sapiens.

The Gold Foil- Five of Wands, displays the activities of 5 youth, assaulting each other with fertile wands, mimicking war, or strife as a pentacle of wands is shown torn apart. On Traditional Tarot cards, each youth is shown dressed in assorted colors or styles, implying the chaos of different egos trying to prove they are right by using force. Here, it is also implied that the journey towards mastery, is strife filled. For to master any activity, including love or war, requires intensive training, focus diligence and determination; qualities that many who seek comfort, shy away from as "effort". Mastery of any art requires passion, devotion, and an uncompromising attitude.

As you may observe, in the Thoth Tarot, the 5 of Wands is named- STRIFE while in the Tarot of the Old Path, the Five of Rods illustrates STRIFE. Both Rods and Wands represent the element of Fire. Thus, The Tarot of the Old Path- the 5 of Rods illustrates red or fiery colored clothing covering the human forms. Also being shown on the Tarot of the Old Path card, is lack of teamwork and leadership, as a cause of dysfunctional cooperation in the building of a Pentagram-like structure formed of five willow rods. The responsible position of leadership is held by a wealthy older man, who lacks leadership skills while a jester, who is holding the rod in the right position, is more concerned with poking the older man in the arm pit. The young man is also holding his rod in the proper position but is annoyed at the mischief of the jester and is poking him in the chest. The young woman's willow rod is positioned correctly but entangled in the mayhem of the others.

The obvious message is one of contention and conflict in business or project construction. There is an immaturity of emotion, which cancels wisdom and misdirects ambitions. So, the Five of Rods is about strife, quarrel, and dysfunction.

When the 5 or Five of Wands/Rods card is thrown during a reading it implies:

• There is a 5 day, 5-week or 5-month period in the querent's life consisting of quarreling, fighting, and violent strife or contest.
• Because of this volcanic energy, there is also boldness, rashness, and a certain amount of cruelty.
• Lust, desire, prodigality, and generosity is also possible.
• In such a fiery card, more so than many others, it really depends on which position the card is sitting and whether it is ill or well dignified.

If ill dignified by surrounding cards or reversed, it implies:

• There is soon to be, or is now being, quarreling, argument, and fighting in their immediate environment, which is deeply passionate and usually means in a relationship, be it family, or lover.
• Recklessness. 
• Rash actions.
• If the 5 of Wands lands in the position of "finds you" (Celtic Cross) and/or the significator position, it usually means that the querent is in internal Strife over a situation and is unable to decide. Where the cards fall, tells all!

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