Perhaps you have heard the expression that truth is a two-edged sword. This basically means that truth not only cuts for the better, but can also cause pain. I am someone who always prefers the truth, even if that means a “double cut.” But, what happens when someone tries to manipulate that sword of truth simply to hurt you? What if your own words are what is causing the pain in your life? Since swords often deal with communication, the truth meaning fits rather well. The question becomes, “whose truth?”

In this Ethyrial Tarot version of the Five of Swords, we see two crabs in a bucket. One is using the swords to make his way out of this doomed existence; the other is trying to sabotage his companion’s ascent. The parable of the crabs in the bucket is this: if one crab tries to climb out, the others will pull him back in. They will not let this one, persistent critter avoid their fate. When he tries to better his life, they drag him back down into the filth. Does this sound familiar? I am sure it does. Many of us have had moments in our lives where we have tried to better ourselves; pull ourselves out of the muck in which we have been trapped, only to find that those around us cannot stand to see us rise above our circumstances.

Swords in the Tarot often refer to stress, conflict, and communication. All of those seem to fit in with our card this month. If we make an attempt to lift ourselves above our current situation, others may be verbally abusive. They may confront us as “leaving the pack” and thinking we are better then they. The stress can mount to outrageous proportions. This is what I often refer to as the “crabs in a bucket” syndrome. That was the inspiration for this particular Five of Swords.

Traditionally, we would see two figures in the background, sad and defeated. The foreground figure would have acquired all five swords, seemingly via means other then polite conversation. When the Five of Swords shows up, it usually heralds stress, discontent, conflict, or other undesired feelings. What this card does not generally show is who the offender is and why they have taken it upon themselves to create misery in the lives of others. Perhaps this is a relative. Maybe they are jealous in nature. It is even possible that they are seeking revenge for some perceived affront. Regardless of the reason for the behavior, it is usually destructive in nature.

Words commonly are used as weapons. Face it; we cannot call others out onto the dueling field to settle disagreements. Fistfights are largely discouraged. Former means of dealing with conflict do not fit well into our present day society. This has led to our words being far more venomous then ever before. Swords can represent communication, words. When the Five of Swords shows up, it can be as simple as someone using his or her words to wound. They may even be speaking the truth, but in a manner that cuts and injures. When we were kids, the rhyme “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” may have been used to teach us to ignore the tauntings of less pleasant children. But, if you remember, those words did, in fact, hurt. Sometimes we may have wished for the sticks and stones rather then the words. Words are very powerful. The right words can carry us through difficult times into calmer weather. The wrong words can destroy us.

In this version of the Five of Swords, one crab is trying to escape his fate. He is trying to take control of his life and make something more of it. The other crab will have none of it. He is determined to undermine the upward motion of his companion. This brings to mind the adage “be careful who your friends are.” If we surround ourselves with jealous and petty people, we will become victim to their qualities. If we spend time with those that are supportive and encouraging, the outcome will be very different.

I am quite sure that most of you reading this article have had the experience of sharing good news with someone whom you thought was your friend, only to have them tear apart your good feelings as well as any potential of success. How many of us have been destroyed by these individuals? How many of us have escaped them and found out that they had nothing but ill intentions? It is very important to draw near to those who are of similar propensity. If you want to fail and only see the negative in your life, by all means, hang onto that “friend” who tells you nothing but doom and gloom. However, if you want something more in your life, if you want to climb higher then your present circumstances, then it is imperative that you consider the company that you keep.

As we see with our upward mobile crab, words can help us gain ground in our lives. As demonstrated by the one in the abyss of the bucket, words can also pull down, destroy, and otherwise sabotage the best of us. What is even worse is that if we hear enough of those destructive words on a regular basis, we begin to adopt them as our own inner language. “How could I be so stupid?” Many of us have said something like that at one time or another, but those are self-defeating words that should be eradicated from our vocabularies. Some religions refer to the world as being created by the utterance of words. How much more powerful can you get than creation? We have that ability within ourselves. We can create our life and future with our words. If we speak words of defeat and self-abuse, we will receive just that. If, however, we learn to manage our words and speak of perseverance and about creating something better in our lives, we will eventually see those things.

No one can change his or her life over night. This takes time and continual diligence to overcome a self-destructive nature. Most of this kind of negativity is not born into us, but forced into us. Perhaps our childhood was filled with verbal abuse. Perhaps we found a marriage that was anything but loving. There are so many ways for those other crabs to pull us back down into that filthy bucket. The only way to change this is to keep trying to get out of that prison and run back to the sea. Our survival depends on it; otherwise, we become prey to the crab-eaters. We must find a way to use those swords, those words, to get us out of our current predicament. I will not tell you that it is easy. When you have been conditioned, for years upon years, to think only negative thoughts, it takes some effort to switch gears. Yet, it is by no means impossible and the more you do it the easier it gets. As the results start to show, you become encouraged to pursue your new mode of inner dialogue even further. We all stumble and fall. The key is to get back up and take up where we left off.

The card does not show how many times the escape artist has tried to leave his prison. All it shows is that he is making the effort to change his life and leave behind all that would drag him down. Were he alone in that bucket, he might make it more easily, but there are challenges to any endeavor. Sometimes those antagonists are placed in our path to strengthen our resolve. The only way to get stronger is to push against something. Those that would rip our world apart with their vicious words are put there to make us stronger. Each challenge we meet, and thus move past, will create within us not only the ability to move further forward, but also it will give us a sense of accomplishment. There is nothing more fulfilling then winning. Winning is simply gaining ground beyond those that try to hold you back.

Who are the crabs in your life? Who holds you back and tries to tear you down with their words and actions? We are indeed influenced by the people in our lives. If we want to live a happy and fulfilling life, we need to stay away from the bad influences and gather close the good ones. Imagine if all the crabs in a bucket joined together to help each other rather then pull one another down. All would be free and all would be able to move forward with their lives, better then before. We need to find the people who are good for us. We need to keep company with individuals that are a positive influence. While it might be nice to try to pull up those negative people, it is unreal. Life has proven over and over that things will sink to the lowest level. It is much easier to live a life of self-defeat then it is to climb out of that hole. If you continue to associate with negative people, you will live a negative life. If, however, you fill your life with positive individuals, you will eventually see a change for the better.

Where do you want your life to go? Once you decide the heights that you wish to reach, find those that best represent that goal. It is easier to climb upward when someone gives you a hand, especially with all those crabs trying to drag you back down. Truth is where you find it. You can use it to lift you up or to keep yourself down. The decision is yours. Speak your words of truth so that they buoy you up and keep you above the crabs in your life. We may not always be able to escape them all, but we can surely stay them off with our sword-words. What is your truth? What words will you speak to change your life?