5 of Hearts

The 5 of Hearts is a card that speaks of jealousy and ill will.  It would appear that there isn't much to say about this card as it comes off as fairly succinct and poignant but, let's break it down a bit and see if we can tease out some deeper understanding.

First off, the card appears to give us a warning.  It reads as though we are being warned of the jealousy and ill will of others towards us.  This however, is partially subject to perspective.  Yes, the ill will component does come from "others" but the jealousy component is unattached to neither the querent nor the "others." Therefore, we have to ask ourselves who is the jealous one?  Is it us, the querents?  Or is it those around us?  

If, with first reading, this card strikes you as a warning that others will be jealous of you then I would like to suggest that you may be in a state of insecurity and self-doubt.  It seems to me that, when we perceive ourselves to be in a situation (or state) where others might find themselves wanting or lacking as they compare their own situation (or state) to ours then we are actually trying to convince ourselves that what we have is very special in some way. Only insecurity causes us to take the role of another and look at ourselves with an evaluative and judgmental perspective - as though we are so very special in some way.  The individual who is secure with who they are rarely do such things. Rather, they have a tendency to simply see others where they are at and for who they are as people. Secure people do not use the role of others to evaluate themselves and place themselves on a pedestal or in positions of superiority.

Now if, at first reading, you are a person who sees the jealousy coming from within towards others, then I suggest that you process the source of your jealousy.  What is it about the other person that provokes these feelings of jealousy?  Often material possessions or character traits that we deem desirable are the triggers for our jealousy toward others.  I want to suggest that this type of jealousy is a symptom of un-thankfulness for what we do have. Temporarily losing our attitude of gratitude is a "sure fire" way of allowing jealousy to slip into our lives.  

Now, let us consider ill will.  Ill will is simply a desire of "bad" towards another or maybe ourselves.  If we are perceiving ill will from those around us then we need to do some evaluating of our circumstances.  Let's examine this with a couple scenarios.

Scenario 1   

Bob treats everyone with little respect and consistently places unreasonable demands on his employees.  Bob often feels as though those around him would like nothing more then for him to screw up and be humiliated in front of his peers.

Here it is simple to understand why Bob perceives others ill will toward him.  He is an ass.  For Bob, the 5 of Hearts is saying very clearly that he needs to consider changing how he interacts with others.

Scenario 2

Bob is an owner of a successful company.  Nationally, his software is being used by numerous companies and demand is increasing considerably fast.  Other companies are trying to change their approach and copy Bob's company's approach so as to capture what is left of the market.  Bob is becoming increasingly worried that his employees will start to sell secrets to the competition.

Here, the 5 of Hearts could be taken as a warning that Bob needs to consider his perception of reality. Does he really have a strong, plausible reason to believe that his employees would try and sabotage the company they work for?  He needs to ask himself what is the source of these feelings of ill will toward him.  Getting some counseling wouldn't be a bad thing either.

Scenario 3

Bob is a great employer.  He treats his employees well and often goes the extra mile to help them in matters that are not related to work.  Bob will often make personal sacrifices for the sake of the company and those around him.  He just wants everyone to get along and for people to be happy.  He certainly doesn't like it when people are upset with decisions he has made.

Here, the 5 of Hearts is pointing out what Bob may already be feeling - anxiety about how others feel towards him.  This card is a message to Bob that he needs to process these feelings of angst and the source of his feelings of worry about how others feel toward him.

There are numerous scenarios we could imagine but the point remains.  The warning of ill will from others needs to be taken in context as does the feelings of jealousy.  What initially seems to be a card of warning that leaves us with feelings of worry or anxiety is really a guidepost card showing us what we need to think about and consider in order that we may continue to grow and expand as loving people.

I will leave you to ponder these things.

Blessings for the day.