Known also as the Lord of Defeat and aligned with Venus in Aquarius, the Five of Swords represents fear of failure, loss and defeat, as well as progress through difficulties.
Venus is not at home in Aquarius and sits uncomfortably there as she represents personal desires and vanity while Aquarius is more interested in causes and the good of society as a whole.
Five is the number of conflict and this card brings a conflict of opposing desires. There is a need to be right and also a need to get along with others, and by doing one you find it is difficult to do the other.
Personal ambition and desires are set against the good of the group, whether that is a work or family or other group situation. Since the Swords represent the mental realm, this is where the conflict lies and where also it must be resolved.
Weigh up decisions you must make carefully and ask yourself, if this road is followed what will the situation look like in a year, in 5 years, in 10 years? There is often an element of underhandedness in this card, in order to avoid conflict then often a path of deception is taken to pass under the radar. It appears when a difficult decision is made in order to serve one's personal desires, and while this provides short term gain, in the long run it has damaged reputations and created distance between friends and colleagues.
There is a need to look at the situation clearly, see where you can make reparation and resolve your own internal conflicts which otherwise will continue to play out in the world. It is important to understand your values and to seek to live by them more stringently - temptations and the easy path will always appear and it is by living with integrity to your own path and ideals that you can avoid the trap of instant gratification.
It is time to pay attention to and guard your reputation as it may be under fire from others who do not have your best interests at heart. There is fear present that is driving your behaviour and the behaviour of others around you.
In order to resolve fear, one must look it in the eye and realise it is not real, it is a construct of the mind and it is only by moving through it (and not going around it) that it will dissolve and you will begin to make real progress.
Image from "The Druidcraft Tarot" © Philip Carr-Gomm and Bill Worthington