Six of Swords
Six of Swords, minor arcana. transition, leaving trouble behind, calmer waters, moving on.
A ferryman poles a boat with a woman and child, carrying six swords, across water toward calmer shore. It is a journey away from trouble.
Upright
- transition
- leaving trouble behind
- calmer waters
- moving on
A ferryman poles a boat with a woman and child, carrying six swords, across water toward calmer shore. It is a journey away from trouble.
Reversed
- unfinished business
- stuck in the past
- resistance
- a difficult journey
Being unable to leave something behind. Reversed, the card points to unfinished business that goes with you.
Not every reader uses reversals. Many treat a reversed card as the same theme, blocked, delayed or turned inward.
Astrology and numerology
In the Golden Dawn scheme that most modern decks follow, each numbered minor card from two to ten is given a planet in a sign. For Six of Swords it is Mercury in Aquarius. The suit's element, air, comes from Swords.
Its number reduces to 6, which numerology associates with care, responsibility, harmony. See every card that reduces to 6.
Yes or no
In yes or no tarot, Six of Swords counts as a yes when upright, and as a no when reversed. This follows a common convention and not a rule from the deck's makers.
Tarot is a tradition of symbolism. This page says what readers traditionally associate with the card. It does not predict anything and it is not advice.