Six of Swords

The interpretation of the Six of Swords (where theoretically the number and suit should describe clarity and harmony of mind) often brings difficulties for Tarot lovers. It is exactly this clarity and lack of ambiguity that seems to be missing, and when consulting specialized literature dedicated to card meanings, the confusion regarding the Six of Swords often only grows. You get journeys, melancholic uncertainty, intellectualism, and practically departing into the next world... everything is mixed together. On the card, a person steers a flat-bottomed boat, the path is devoid of dangers or external threats, the cargo is light, and the work is not burdensome for the ferryman, yet the people sit hunched over, in silence and sorrow, and the river looks a bit like the Styx. The combination of the number, the suit, and the unsettling, borderline image of the ferryman in the boat and the cloaked figures leads to a stunning vagueness of interpretations, and the spread does not always help to determine the accents (at least in the sense of positive or negative).

Perhaps the key words for the Six of Swords are finding a way out. It brings an exit from a complex, tangled, or even dangerous situation, a departure from problems. This is purposeful behavior aimed at overcoming difficulties (what is known as coping). This Arcana describes distancing oneself from what is happening (from the serious complications that, within the suit, the Five of Swords symbolically describes), restoring calm and composure, the opportunity to "make a getaway" from where everything has become too complicated. These are new life prospects, new goals, and new means.

This card speaks of a readiness to leave sorrows behind and head toward new shores of life, even if the changes do not inspire much enthusiasm and there are some doubts about the chosen direction. Regardless, we begin moving toward new life landmarks—of our own free will and forced by circumstances, but without particular difficulties. Everything that seemed lost at the stage of the Fives returns in the Sixes. As for the suit of Swords, this represents safety and peace. Equilibrium can be achieved by finding a secluded bay, a quiet backwater, a safe haven. Sometimes, to find them, a person simply flees from a difficult situation. And other cards will show whether they are burning their bridges in the process.

Under the Six of Swords, there is a departure from serious troubles—hard work, difficult relationships, an unprofitable business, and all kinds of "mission impossible" tasks (if the Ten of Wands is also nearby, then this is exactly the case, and if it's the Seven of Swords, the departure happens with a degree of deception). This is a retreat from feverish activity and chores. In the most positive sense, the Six of Swords in a spread reports that the period of stress is in the past and now everything will gradually begin to improve. Its presence says that right now everything is starting to change, there is some dynamic, a leveling out is taking place. The transition from one way of existence to another is a fact.

The final result, however, is unknown. Usually, it is about the forced necessity to independently walk the chosen path, about separation (and to some extent—liberation), about a change of landmarks, and one must focus on the positive prospects of such a decision, mobilize all mental strength, calm down externally and internally, like the waters in the picture, and open up to new life lessons. It will be scary at first, but this will fill life with novelty, and the sadness will pass.

According to most interpretations, the Six of Swords is a sign of a successful resolution to the situation in question, achieving desired changes. It reflects a relatively harmonious stage of life, an atmosphere of relative peace and quiet after storms and fuss, relaxation after a tense period. The traditional meaning is "success after anxieties," "finding a safe haven." Secondly, it indeed quite confidently indicates trips and travels (especially of a vacation-recovery type, although there are also business ones, and metaphorical ones), a change of scenery, place of residence, place of work, or relocation.

The "new shore" does not necessarily mean a physical movement from somewhere to somewhere; it can be the discovery of something new within oneself, a change of spiritual landmarks, the assimilation of new rules of the game, new norms of life, new values, or getting to know other cultures and religions. The Six of Swords is closely related to learning (to about the same extent that the Eight of Pentacles is to work). It covers all kinds of activities related to intellectual development—courses, exhibitions, reading, searching for information on the internet, and generally the transfer of ideas, knowledge, and useful information. The search for truth. This is the work of the mind, penetrating secrets, accumulating information, realizing future prospects, and just understanding. Creative mental activity, objective analysis, an attempt to plan a troubling future.

This could be moving to another city, enrolling in an educational institution (and especially if it is accompanied by a change of residence), joining a new "club," a new circle of people, adopting a new lifestyle, and most likely all this is for the better, even if the querent is gnawed by uncertainty. The meaning of the Six of Swords is perfectly conveyed by the vagabond's "Student Song". It is a struggle between the head and the heart, where the head wins, and the heart is uneasy, but ultimately all this serves development. Often these are "forced" trips—it is quite possible the person goes voluntarily, but they made this decision because otherwise they would have found themselves in an unfavorable or unpromising situation. In a more negative sense, these are trips connected with sad events (for example, the card reacts to funerals).

The arrival of guests. Receiving a message. In ancient interpretation manuals, a meaning such as an errand, assignment, destination is mentioned—the person has received a goal, it is time to depart. The ferryman on the card is sometimes interpreted as a specialist, expert, or instructor providing help during changes. An important aspect of this is communication, negotiations, and the exchange of information. As the final card of a spread, the Six of Swords means changes with an uncertain outcome or an escape from a situation.

Such a suspended state... although not like the one in The Hanged Man. Under The Hanged Man, a person feels that nothing is happening, but here—it is happening, yet it is not entirely clear what, hence the "suspension" and hesitation, the uncertainty about tomorrow.

The Six of Swords indicates changes through which we can reach new shores; psychologically, it is situated somewhere in the middle between the joyful departure of the hero (The Chariot) and the sad farewell (Eight of Cups). Its concrete meaning largely depends on whether the person rejoices at the upcoming changes or fears them. To reach the new shore, you have to leave the old one, and what awaits is unknown. Hence the worry, uncertainty, discomfort, but also a certain curiosity and interest in what will be.

In ancient times, the Six of Swords was considered the card of brides—apparently, it perfectly described the psychological state of a girl on the eve of marriage: sitting on her trunks with her dowry. She had seen her future husband three times, and what would happen next, in this married life, was absolutely unclear, although quite curious. Hence the mood of the Six of Swords. This could be a new professional task that is not very inspiring, because you do not know how successfully you will be able to complete it. It could be a readiness to break off old relationships and hesitations about whether to enter into a new connection.

This card relates to adaptation and the perception of new ideas. Under its domain are mental flexibility, scientific and innovative thinking, and an objective and rational perception of reality. Under this card fall studying, discoveries, insights, and broadening one's horizons. Reasoning, logical assessment, freedom of thought, philosophical-scientific perception, gaining a new, positive view of the world. Striving for a better life.

There is always an element of dissociation here, of detachment, and simultaneously—of greater wholeness. Distancing themselves, a person begins to see their life and the events happening in it somewhat from the outside, like a panorama. From this point of view, something new opens up to them. They begin to see, among other things, the guiding forces, the sources of obstacles, ways out of dead ends, and prospects for the future. Under the Six of Swords, a comprehensive vision of things develops; there is an understanding of the "system-forming factor," the central point, that upon which the whole system rests.

This card clearly indicates progress in development, especially if the querent is troubled by a feeling of stagnation and immutability. It makes it clear that the previous behavior was neither meaningless nor aimless; the person has broken a path through the wall of inertia, and from now on their life flows exactly in the direction they have chosen.

One can encounter descriptions such as "the mentality is in full agreement with the emotional centers"—in fact, this means a revived ability to learn, resistance and reluctance are overcome, motivation to do something appears, and sometimes this can be very important.

This card signifies a person (or possibly an entire family) taking an important step. They are giving up their past life, many habits, connections, and occupations, and are heading out into the unknown. The Swords in this case symbolize memories of sad events and hopes for a better future. For a brave person accustomed to relying on their own strength, in its upright position it means a chance of luck: although the business they intend to take up is unfamiliar to them, they will have enough strength and determination to achieve success. For a timid, indecisive person, however, it is rather unfavorable.

"Traveling by water" carries many layers of meaning. The very words "road," "path," "crossing" already include change, transformation, and the appearance of another world on the horizon. The wandering described by the Six of Swords can also occur in an internal reality, as the return and healing of the soul, a vision of past and future lives, figuratively connected with a journey down the river of time.

This is indeed a very "Hellingerian" card; it indicates precisely calculated right actions, finding a new, more successful and deserved place in life (in the "system"), and changing one's internal image. A way out of a complex, tangled situation, a joyless situation—due to a new vision, perceiving it from a new point of view, changes for the better, possibly towards a more peaceful future, do occur.

In general, the symbolism of the card says that the soul of the Hero (the woman sitting under the veil) is moving towards a new perspective under the guidance of reason (the man steering the boat) without any protest (the calm waters of the unconscious). The transition of consciousness to a new level, where the child is a symbol of new potential opportunities. This is a card of evolution and self-improvement. Virgo is ruled by Proserpina, therefore through the Six of Swords a rebirth of the person, a re-CONSTRUCTION, a regeneration takes place. At the same time, the Mercurian influence is strong here, so the card can symbolize a metaphorical journey, the Path with a capital P, wanderings into other worlds, spiritual quest, Initiation.

Regarding the astrological associations with this card, the following material was found: "The second decan of Aquarius symbolizes consistent and detailed aspirations, science, and unexpected intuitive insights into the realm of the unknown. And if the first decan develops freedom of thought, then the second carries out the transition from subjective thinking to objective. This decan is ruled by Mercury and the asteroid Ceres.

But Aquarius does not symbolize the abstract thinking of Libra (the intellect here encompasses life processes as a whole, and its work can already be called spiritual), therefore the Second decan of Aquarius belongs to the sphere of the highest rational and simultaneously spiritual principle. The name of this decan is "Revelation" - it is the revelation to the mind of the mysteries of nature, man, Earth, and the Cosmos. It is the development of the human spirit, mastering new horizons, and the appearance of truth in the world. This decan is characterized by striving into the distance and total indifference to what does not fall within its sphere of interests, stubbornly following its course, regardless of its own needs or the needs of others. An idea capable of encompassing the world becomes higher than the reality of the world. A negative example of how science, meant to guide nature, neglects the latter, and the implementation of scientific ideas leaves no room for caring about people, can be Russia - the country of Aquarius. Therefore, the main and most important task of the second decan of Aquarius is a careful attitude towards the present, without which the future cannot be incarnated."

In the I Ching book and in mythology, crossing water always means a step from multiplicity to singularity. The six-pointed star, which the Six of Swords often form, is a symbol of the interpenetration of the spiritual and earthly worlds; it has a strong internal striving for wholeness and the conclusion of an alliance. It is connected with holistic thinking, a worldview within which the existence of systems and interconnections is recognized, which cannot always be proven purely scientifically, but which nevertheless exist (again, Hellinger's approach to the family as a system comes to mind).

The Kabbalistic principle "as above, so below" (also symbolized by the six-pointed star, the hexagram) means that, in addition to cause-and-effect relationships, there are also analogous processes, the synchronicity effect, which on a spiritual level means the holographic nature of the world, the interconnectedness of all that exists. With a global vision of processes, even the most obvious contradictions may turn out to be parts of a whole.

In religious tradition - association with crossing the Jordan, with Mary sailing to France with the child, with Jesus's wanderings across Gennesaret, the Sea of Galilee. Hence the main blocks of meaning: a trip, a journey (especially by water), confronting one's own fears and taming them (there is no external threat, only discomfort and uncertainty), moving to a new life, assimilating new ideas under someone's wise guidance. The card always says that someone will guide and help, provide assistance during changes.

The Six of Swords corresponds to those episodes in history that involve some kind of secret activity, somehow connected with an exodus, departure, or flight after events close to defeat and catastrophe. Naturally, these episodes are shrouded in haze. Imagine the risky escape of a few envoys from besieged Montségur on the night of March 16, 1244, or imagine the mood in the Paris commandery of the Templar order on the night of October 13, 1307, their exodus towards the naval (!) base on the eve of the arrests - and you will feel the energy of the Six of Swords. Despondency and hope, secrecy and faith, risk and the consciousness of necessity. It remains to be added that in both cases, those leaving took under their cloaks that which was not meant to fall to others. A treasure. A legacy, a memory of the past, a promise of the future.

On the Arcana, the people in the boat are depressed (after all, they are leaving a situation where they took a severe beating – see the Five of Swords, disarmed hunched figures retreating towards the riverbank), a cloak of sorrow envelops them, but with them is their treasure, their secret, their hope for the future – symbolized by the child. In Florence, in the Palazzo Vecchio, a painting by Jacopo di Cione (a very telling pseudonym) titled "The Destruction of the Templar Order" has been preserved. In any case, this is what the most authoritative historian Franco Cardini believes. He points to the "Christian cryptography" characteristic of the Middle Ages, when behind an outwardly banal subject hides a narrative about something completely different, which could not be stated openly (apparently, Leonardo's "The Last Supper" is not such an exception to the rules). Before the Virgin Mary, kneeling knights in white garments with crosses are depicted. The painting features broken weapons, banners lying on the ground, someone walking away half-turned, carrying a child (!), and above the man – an angel. The angel accompanies the exile with his descendant (or relic, remains).

Here one can recall the carefully gathered remains of executed Templars, and a scene from the anonymous esoteric chivalric romance "Perlesvaus", where a knight and a lady (the masculine and feminine Principles) collect in a chalice (this implies rebirth, the conception of a descendant) the ashes of a torn beast (symbolically - the remains of the exterminated) and disappear. Defeat, exodus, treasure, legacy, secret... "trace, imprint, remnant" (Mary Greer). By the way, the very word "Remnant" has such a set of meanings in esoteric Christianity that it is better not to even begin. The imagination-stirring symbolism of the Six of Swords sends us to a whole cloud of mystifications based on shrouded-in-mystery history à la "The Da Vinci Code"... but it should also make one very alert if the spread concerns a banal question of creditors and debtors; this is precisely the case when a debtor disappears in an unknown direction - and the money too.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that in the seemingly "scattered" symbolism of the Six of Swords, a quite transparent historical reality can be guessed: the owners of an overly developed scientific mind and some progressive developments exposed their lives to serious danger. The emergence of their own theories in previously unexplored areas, the transition from some ideas to others, new discoveries, insights, the exchange of ideas, the extraction of interesting information, and other "Illuminati-type" behavior was fraught with a suddenly arising necessity to make a getaway.

Light and shadow (advice and warning)

Advice: learning is light! It's time to become enlightened. Any step in the direction of intellectual and spiritual development will be beneficial - a lecture, a cultural event, searching for information in books and on the web. The acquired knowledge will open up excellent prospects. Also, the Six of Swords is reminiscent of a 19th-century doctor who prescribed a "change of scenery" for all troubles (and not to say without results!). This can also be a spiritual journey, broadening one's horizons, immersing oneself in a new field of knowledge. You should open up to new life experiences and stop clinging to the past. A short joke comes to mind: "Dad, is America far? - Shut up and swim!". This "Shut up and swim!" is another piece of advice from the Six of Swords, very well suited for students and academic degree candidates. Work, search, think, figure it out - success will come.

Warning: distrust, smart-alecking, and highbrow skepticism from the "verifying harmony with algebra" series are out of place now. And escaping altogether would be a shameful act.

A change of job, new professional assignments, enrolling in studies (or, at least, choosing a direction), starting the development of a project. Most likely, uncertainty, because it is unknown how successfully all of this can be managed.

Teamwork, equality, fair distribution of roles and responsibilities. The Six of Swords also describes "freelancers," those who are their own employers, independent artists. The use of connections for further advancement and business trips strongly manifests here.

Transportation, both local passenger and freight, and international. There may also be an element of smuggling here—the Six of Swords favors the movement of secret cargo.

Achieving goals through the application of knowledge. Work in the field of science, innovative technologies, e-commerce, information retrieval, database creation. It is exactly in the field of science that this card fully becomes the "Lord of Earned Success," bringing reward after serious efforts (a patent, defending a diploma, obtaining an academic title, etc.). Research activities. Professions involving the need to share one's knowledge with others. Organizational training. The work of a facilitator accompanying organizational changes.

This is a card of professionalism; help from specialists and experts often comes under it. Moreover, information about necessary changes must be conveyed in such a way that others can understand and accept them. The card relates to agreements, negotiations, mediation, and joint planning. Resolution of conflict situations, overcoming disagreements. Assimilation of a new organizational culture.

Often the Six of Swords foreshadows leaving an unfeasible job for a more successful one, offering more freedom and opportunities. Intellectual work at home.

Sufficiency (or at least availability) of information to make right decisions in these matters. But the very nature of this information and these decisions under the Six of Swords is rarely rosy. Business people, even those completely unfamiliar with Tarot, when looking at this card, all sadly pronounce "Sailing away!" Sometimes things just "sail into your hands," but here it's more like they really are "sailing out of your hands" (or an "up the creek" situation).

Renunciation of one's rights, concession, transferring them to someone else. Deferred payments. Evading the fulfillment of financial obligations (at least temporarily). This could be the need to think about working in some more profitable fields.

In perhaps the most unpleasant sense, the card speaks of running away from debts and creditors. This is a situation when things have gone seriously wrong due to erroneous decisions, there is no hope for improvement, and the person makes a getaway. Relocation, change of life circumstances, residence, surroundings.

Oh, the river is wide... Sometimes the card literally symbolizes the distance separating people. It entails sudden departure, farewell, leaving, escape, disappearance without explanation (in a reversed position - with explanations and confessions). The need to retreat, withdraw (or distancing oneself deep in the soul). Combined with the Ten of Swords, naturally - termination of relationships, with the Eight of Cups - separation.

On a subtle level, the Six of Swords relates to the experience of the family past. The cloaked, faceless figures in the boat are interpreted as "shadows of forgotten ancestors" preserving a certain family secret or secrets (symbolized by the six swords in the boat... again - trace, imprint, remnant, ancestral legacy). In general, this card reflects ancestral ties, relationships with family members. In practice, there are known cases when it appeared for people actively immersing themselves in family-ancestral therapy (Sixes generally imply communication, 3+3 hints at a connection between generations, additionally indicating the ancestral past).

Interestingly, the male soul is alive, while the souls of the woman and the child seem dead. However, the child symbolizes potential opportunities when consciousness transitions to a new level. In any case, the card can be an indicator of a family psychotherapist (or the need to consult one). In an unfavorable environment or as an indicator of the past, it can reflect destructive family influences.

Under this card, a person can either break off old relationships or bind themselves with new ties (although regarding the latter, the person is not particularly enthusiastic). Often the card is one of the significators of a marriage union, but usually with some strange underlying motive... like, they didn't really want to, but it just happened, there's nothing to be done. Sometimes a feeling of powerlessness arises here, and a person feels like a pawn in someone else's game. It happens that the card indicates liberation from an unpleasant connection, to the point that someone will "save" you and transport you to the other shore (in a practical sense - one man helps a woman divorce another and moves her in with him). Here it is worth reminding again that under the Six of Swords there is a renunciation of one's rights, a concession, transferring them to another.

Traditionally, it is believed that any Six speaks of happiness and harmony; it is the number of balance and beauty. In this case, it is a somewhat chilly beauty and not a particularly cozy balance, but still, serious disagreements rarely occur under this card. The more positively partners perceive their relationships, the better they will actually be - this card emphasizes the significance of the thoughts and words spoken about relationships ("as you name the ship, so it will sail").

It involves frank conversations, correspondence, communication between kindred spirits (and with a lack of communication, people begin to drift further and further apart). Resolution of old conflicts, clarification of ambiguities, overcoming disagreements, finding compromise solutions. In the worst case, this card entails burdening the family with professional problems brought home, which are "chewed over" in excessive detail at dinner, ruining everyone's mood and digestion. In general, this card foreshadows harmoniously developing relationships with people, the appearance of new friends and like-minded individuals.

The ancient interpretation of this card includes a "declaration of love" (in all likelihood, in written form), an offer of sincere devotion, sometimes - of hand and heart. In general, the card quite often falls out in connection with a renewed balance in marriage after difficulties. The Six of Swords can be esoterically interpreted as the Star of David, the mutual penetration of the masculine and feminine principles, the earthly and spiritual worlds, the internal striving for integrity of perception and the conclusion of an alliance.

Traditionally, the card is associated with healing (especially as a result of a change of location, travel, or moving). Nevertheless, the image remains alarming in terms of death, of a person's departure into the next world, so interpretation requires intuition and knowledge of the situation's context.

In a reversed position, it can speak of agoraphobia—fear of open spaces, reluctance to leave the house, as well as symptoms of asphyxia, such as a cough with a feeling of suffocation.

Traditionally - the inability to find a way out of a situation. Being at a dead end - literally or figuratively. Insolubility of problems. This could be an inability to come to an agreement within the family, an unfavorable outcome of a trial (up to imprisonment, as ancient interpretations warn), or simply the circumstance that arising problems are not solved but put on the back burner.

Traditionally, it is believed that the card points to a risky venture that could turn out disastrously and tie you to something for a long time, putting you in a desperate situation. Reluctance to budge - again literally or figuratively, resistance to new perspectives (for example, lack of determination to start studying, refusal of a trip, resistance to moving). The card says that the person is hugging the shore and "swimming in the shallows."

It is considered that this card indicates a wrong step was taken and it is high time to return to starting positions, if possible. The journey is ill-conceived, unprepared, and most likely will not take place (and if it does, it will hardly be possible to rest). The chance of luck is vanishingly small. The card is also interpreted similarly to the reversed Chariot - as a warning against leaving the house or departing due to the threat of a serious accident (this doubly applies to water trips). Delays, changes of plans, problems with transportation, trouble at customs, with baggage inspection (in any case, nothing can be smuggled secretly). Troubles related to water, floods, drownings.

There is an opinion that in the reversed position, the Six of Swords represents Virgo in her lowest manifestation: egoism, a tendency to use others (ride on someone's back), "reverse self-sacrifice," abandonment of one's principles.

In the reversed Six of Swords, there is an element of exposing something secret, hidden (perhaps the person decides to do this themselves). In a communicative sense, traditional interpretations focus on a confession, admission, or a romantic proposal, moreover, unlike the upright position - unexpected, sudden. Generally, unexpected exposure, possibly public self-exposure like a coming out, when a person admits to a non-traditional sexual orientation, or makes public a fact of betrayal or inappropriate behavior. Traditional meanings are a declaration, admission, public statement with consequences, a sudden discovery that changes plans. Receiving a disease diagnosis, finding out.

The Six of Swords can also describe returning from a trip, moreover, as Mary Greer notes, in a state of culture shock, or simply a tiring journey (exactly the case when people return to their usual work after a vacation almost with relief).

With Strength – making a firm decision to change one's life

With The Star – getting lost on the road

With Three of Wands – broadening horizons, changing perception, intensive study, obtaining new information

With Four of Wands – an excellent opportunity to rest

With Eight of Wands – a journey

With Ten of Wands – "struggling alone" (a person passes by the opportunity to throw off the burden, to ease their situation).

Reversed with Ten of Wands – a delay in explaining the matter (from an ancient interpretation manual).

With Three of Cups – rest, an opportunity to relax

With Four of Cups – depression, apathy, sorrow, indifference

With Eight of Cups - a journey

Philosopher's stone

Tabula smaragdina, the Emerald Tablet on which Hermes Trismegistus recorded his teachings.

"Fate leads the willing, and drags the unwilling"

The wandering knight archetype

From the Vagrants, 12th century (abridged)

On the distant shores of France, Like an alien nation, I must travel to advance My university education. How my heart aches with the strain, Words can hardly say... Weep, dear friends, let tears fall like rain, For I must go away. We will shake hands as we part, At the break of dawn, Leaving home with heavy heart, Science's martyr, gone. So I wish you health and cheer, May your days be bright! I believe the day draws near, When we reunite. I will gather all of you, If, in foreign lands, My Latin studies do not do Me in by their demands. Here I stand, I hold the oar - Soon I'll drift away. My poor heart is sick and sore, Filled with deep dismay. Quietly the water flows, Like a ribbon blue... Think of your student as he goes, Sometimes think of me too.