Six of Swords
Six of Swords — Upright
The Six of Swords represents the need for departure or escape after the defeats and humiliations experienced in the Five of Swords. It is a card of physical or mental relocation, transitioning to calmer waters (emotional balance).
It can also symbolize a change of perspective and a new, more positive outlook on life.
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Six of Swords — Reversed
In the reversed position, the card indicates the impossibility of avoiding problems. It means that there is no way to escape difficulties, and effort is required to change the perception of the situation.
Astrology
Linked to Mercury in Aquarius, the Six of Swords expresses mental transition, detachment, and forward movement. Mercury facilitates communication and problem-solving, while Aquarius adds innovation and perspective. This card suggests leaving the past behind.
Numerology
Number 6 symbolizes harmony, success, and movement. It reveals the card’s role in the progression of the Wands suit, showing a stage of 6. The reduced number 6 emphasizes recurring life themes in creative or passionate pursuits.
Symbolism & Archetypes
Explore the symbolism — open a section to read more.
A person is steering a boat with an oar, ferrying passengers to the other shore. The journey is calm, without obstacles, and it appears that the work does not pose any difficulties for them. Prophetic meanings: Traveling by water, a route, a path, a task, a necessity.
Reversed card: News, recognition, publication; another interpretation is related to a declaration of love.
In the Golden Dawn system, the card is named the Lord of Earned Success. It symbolizes success after effort. The card represents Mercury in Aquarius, signifying scientific work, experiments, mistakes, and observations.
This corresponds to the combination of Mercury (symbolizing speech, writing, numbers) and Aquarius (intellectual understanding).
Waite's illustration shows two passengers in the boat among the six swords, whom the boatman is ferrying to the other shore.
In Mathers' Tarot booklet, the Six of Swords is defined as a messenger, herald, wandering, journey, and Mathers adds the prophetic meaning a journey by water.
The card also has an esoteric significance related to the mind in its concentrated and attentive state, as Tiferet (six) in Swords (Air).
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