Short meaning: The Five of Swords shows a battle or confrontation of some sort. Consider your motivations carefully, and capacity to win more so. Even if you think you can win, is the resultant fallout really worth it? With rational consideration you may decide to let this one go.
In-depth meaning: The Subject is held back from doing, or completing, something they have set out to achieve and this is causing upset. There are now parameters or boundaries that were not expected and they may feel duped and that they have been treated unfairly.
The Subject could be feeling detached, excluded and over-looked. These new found constraints, and/or the way in which the Subject has been treated, are clearly points of anger and frustration. On this occasion the Subject may benefit from accepting the state of play and moving on rather than reacting in an antagonistic way.
Any action on the Subject’s part is unlikely to make things better, not least in the way they want to see it improve. For now, this situation, desire, or person, is not available to them and although it tempting to fight back, the reality is that it is not going to help, the conflict will only create worse issues. The Subject should consider avoiding this battle in order to win the war.
Notes on the image: The Five numbers in almost all of the suits represent hurdles, difficulties and upset. In the image all the Swords are pointing inwards as if battling on all sides and the clouds are extremely stormy and turbulent. Taking on unnecessary conflict could inflame more anger, and frustration, when it would make sense to avoid the battle and let things calm down and become clear.