Six of Swords
The Six of Swords asks you to begin an arduous journey.
You might be shifting identities, leaving a relationship, relocating, or working through a career change. You could also be dealing with an emotional or spiritual shift, examining inner motivations, or trying to let go of old patterns. The Six of Swords is the wearisome but necessary journey from one shore to another.
Most often, this card deals with breakups, abandonment, or fleeing an impossible situation. You might be escaping, setting yourself free, or leaving behind what can’t be fixed. Sometimes the situation is abusive or nonviable.
The Six of Swords reminds you that the journey isn’t easy. The heart is heavy, and change is difficult. Embrace the burden of moving on and remember that you are choosing yourself. On the other side of this lies new hope.
Traditional meanings of this card also equate it with travel. You might be moving or taking a trip. Whether through plane or boat, the need to wander is taking hold. Because the Six of Swords can indicate a challenging break, it’s likely that the need to jet is painful but is also an exciting moment of rebirth; something in your spirit is being reclaimed.
When reversed, the Six of Swords warns of delayed departures. This can be literal and symbolic. Plans to move are stalled, or a critical trip encounters setbacks. On an emotional level, you might be struggling to extract yourself from an uncomfortable situation, believing that change is impossible or that there’s nothing better on the other side. If you’re having a tough time moving on, the Six of Swords asks you to examine you’re perceived limitations.
On the other hand, the reversed Six of Swords can suggest that you’re jumping ship too soon. You might break a connection before it’s had time to flourish, believing that you’ll be abandoned. You might fear success or remain in a victim mentality, failing to trust your potential for happiness.
The Six of Swords is connected to the element Air, which is the realm of logic and mind. While this card signifies emotional grief, the turning point comes when you’re able to see the facts and truth of the situation. You can feel the feels, but make sure you’re examining everything objectively.
Sources
Greer, Mary. Archetypal Tarot. San Francisco, CA: Weiser Books, 2011.
Greer, Mary. Tarot Reversals. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2002.
Pollack, Rachel. Tarot Wisdom. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2008.
Snow, Cassandra. Queering the Tarot. Newburyport, MA: Weiser Books, 2019.
Tea, Michelle. Modern Tarot. New York, NY: Harper Collins: 2017.
Wen, Benebell. Holistic Tarot: An Integrative Approach to Using Tarot for Personal Growth. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 2015.
Video
Tarot Spread
If you are drawn to the Six of Swords and want to dig deeper, get them outta your deck, make them your mascot, and draw some cards from the rest of the deck with this tarot spread I created!
