The Five of Swords and Aquarius I

January 19th to January 29th

Jan 19, 2025

Ah, Aquarius I—the zero Aquarius point, a liminal space super-charged with the potential for tension and discord. Pulling at both our ideals and our vulnerabilities, the energy contained in these ten degrees of the zodiac is profoundly layered and rife with struggle.

Given the transiting planets residing in this contentious first decan over the next ten days—Sun conjunct Pluto in Aquarius joined by Mercury and completing a stellium with a New Moon on January 29—may you find calm breezes alive with the cacaphony of tender bird song. And may the tarot reading offer a way forward.
- Heather

The Five of Swords: Lord of Defeat

The Golden Dawn aptly named the Five of Swords the "Lord of Defeat," a title that immediately evokes the discomfort and challenge of this card. T. Susan Chang connects Aquarius I with “winners and losers,” a phrase that speaks to the polarizing energy of this decan.

It’s complicated. Contrarian. It asks us to hold the harsh paradox of defeat alongside the possibility of reconciliation and resolution.

The Five of Swords brings themes of arguments, aggression, and bullies, as well as compromise, forgiveness, and clarity. It’s about what we gain and lose in conflict and the clarity that emerges after enduring stress or strife. In short, this card doesn’t offer an easy resolution, but it pushes us toward the future—whether we like it or not.

Keywords and Perspectives

The Five of Swords invites reflection on its layered meanings. These keywords offer a lens through which you can consider how this card and its decan in your own life.

Conflict: Arguments, aggression, sabotage, extended stress.
Resolution: Reconciliation, forgiveness after a fight, cutting losses, open dialogue about solutions.
Choices: Revenge, regret, remorse, compromise, a final breakup, or getting back together.
Healing: Easing tension, resolving issues, making sacrifices.
Spirituality: Clarity on a spiritual path, often coming at a price.

Fives: Conflict as Catalyst

Numerologically, fives are challenging. They’re where the narrative tension builds, testing the seeker’s resolve. Each suit flavors the conflict differently, and in Swords (air), it’s mental, verbal, and relational. Aquarius I, a solid air sign decan, holds these conflicts steady, fixating on their importance while asking us to look for a way through.

Aquarius I: Into Air

This decan is diffused in transformation, poignantly displayed at the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21, 2020. This cosmic threshold signified a transition from the age of Earth to the age of Air.

Saturn continued to stir the airwaves in Aquarius I from March 21, 2020, to July 1, 2020; December 17, 2020, to March 15, 2021; and August 4, 2021, to December 12, 2021. Who among us can forget the turmoil worldwide?

Pluto in Aquarius

Pluto’s recent ingress into Aquarius as of November 19, 2024, amplifies the chaos in Aquarius I energy.

Interestingly, Pluto ingressed back and forth between Capricorn and Aquarius three times from March 2023 to November 2024. Dismantling traditional, outdated structures with the promise of a new, enlightened era mirrors the struggle and uncertainty of the Five of Swords.

With Pluto now firmly in Aquarius, will this potent planet be defeated? I think not. Yet, the Water Bearer of distanced hope projects to 2029 before Pluto moves beyond this decan. We’ve got time.

So, how might we overcome potential defeat during the Sun's transit through Aquarius I from January 19th to January 29th?

Residing in Pisces, her place of exaltation, Venus, the ruler of Aquarius I, will make a significant conjunction with Saturn on the eve of the Sun’s ingress into Aquarius while still vibrating with Jupiter’s ongoing square from Gemini.

Together, these personal planets feel deeply connected, like co-architects guiding us through a gateway. Their interplay highlights themes of structure, opportunity, and value.

Venus reminds us of love, connection, harmony, and what we cherish. She brings beauty amid discord. What compromises are worth making?
Saturn sets the boundaries and asks us to face the contracting truth of our situation. What lessons have we learned?
Jupiter expands the perspective, offering optimism or, at the very least, a broader understanding of what’s at stake.

Reflecting on Defeat and Growth

The Five of Swords challenges us to sit with the discomfort of loss and ambiguity. Are we winners? Losers? Both? Neither? My own Jupiter resides in this decan in the 6th house, a placement that has been both a source of comfort and often an amplification of defeat. I feel the sharpness of those swords and yet recognize the bounty of the space they create.

Do you have planets or points in Aquarius I? What have you experienced in this space? Please, share your thoughts.

Tarot Activity: Reflect and Draw

Please take out your Five of Swords card and use it as the focal point for a reflective reading. Spend time observing its imagery, colors, and symbols in your specific deck—what stands out to you? Shuffle your deck as you prefer and draw cards to explore these questions:

What perspective does this planetary trio (Venus, Saturn, Jupiter) offer as the Sun moves through Aquarius I?

Reflect further on conflict and the ways it swirls in your life:

Have you ever sacrificed your values or beliefs to win? How did it affect you?
Is there a discord you’re holding onto that might be more about ego than resolution?
How does your drawn card interact with the Five of Swords? What lessons or insights emerge?

The Five of Swords and Aquarius I may feel daunting, but these sometimes smug swords also hold the potential for hope, love, and understanding. By leaning into the tension, we fight for space to breathe and reflect. The invitation here is to consider how we navigate conflict: What is worth fighting for, and when is it wiser to walk away? Perhaps this decan asks us to soften, to release, allowing the winds of change to dissipate.

Heather Marie Morse is an esoteric writer and yoga teacher who blends the wisdom of lunar astrology with the practice of yoga through her Substack newsletter, The Light Today. Her work mainly focuses on the subtle influences of light and the moon's phases on our daily lives, aiming to harmonize our inner rhythms with the universe's natural cycles.