Combination of card Five of Swords and card Seven of Wands
The combination of these cards promises a small victory, but it may turn out to be a Pyrrhic one. Perhaps you took a position you couldn't hold. Or maybe you fought for something that ultimately wasn't that valuable. It's like working hard on a project that doesn't bring the expected result.
Combination of card Five of Swords and reversed card Seven of Wands
In this case, victory is once again on your side, but it came with great effort and you had to overcome many obstacles. However, this time you have reasons to be proud of yourself. Perhaps you were ready to stand up for your beliefs, even if they were unpopular. It's as if you found the strength to get through a difficult period in your life while staying true to yourself.
Combination of reversed card Five of Swords and card Seven of Wands
Failure in this case might not be as painful as it could have been. You might have tried to achieve something but ultimately couldn't. Fortunately, you weren't deeply involved in the process, so it didn't affect you much. It's like investing in a business that didn't take off, but you still came out ahead because you invested in other successful projects.
Combination of reversed card Five of Swords and reversed card Seven of Wands
In this situation, you might face a painful defeat that could lead to negative consequences. Perhaps you cling too stubbornly to your ideas and refuse to let them go, even if they lead to failure. It's like following a plan that clearly doesn't work just because you don't want to admit you were wrong.