Six of Wands

This card is like a greeting card in a spread. It practically says, "Happy Victory Day!" Traditionally, the card symbolizes the favorable outcome of any matter, bringing it to a victorious conclusion, a triumph of will and courage. Its appearance in a spread announces the beginning of a lucky streak, that fate is favoring the querent, and what they hope for will soon come to pass.

Hopes will come true, desires will be fulfilled, gifts will be received. It says: you will confidently reach a victorious end, you will overcome difficulties, do not lose your optimistic mood. This is a card of conquests and victories, bright prospects, life success, progress, and efforts that bring reward (logically, it follows the struggle-filled Five and precedes the guarding of one's conquests in the Seven).

If other cards in the spread hint at some kind of struggle, the Six of Wands says that the battle will be crowned with an uplifting success. Generally, it usually appears after some difficult life test or a period of hard work, giving cause for joy. Even if this is not the case, its appearance indicates that the current period is very favorable for new beginnings, whether it be starting a family or advancing in a career. Success in any chosen field of activity is guaranteed!

The Six of Wands also governs all sorts of important and joyful news.

Successful business trips fall under this card.

As the resulting card of a spread, the Six of Wands indicates that all previous influences were necessary for the person to become more mature, strong, and brave to advance on their path, overcoming difficulties, resistance, and conflicts. As one modern tarot reader noted, the Six of Wands is not a "rotten compromise," but rather a victory after a struggle and a well-deserved (although sometimes seemingly "undeserved") reward.

This card cannot be called intimate; it always carries an element of pomp and parade—the publicizing of success and proclaiming it to others.

"Here he comes, the conquering hero." And he doesn't just come, he rides in! This is a person who has withstood a test of endurance and proven that they are no fool. They have defeated the force they were fighting and are now open to positive communication. They have realized their own worth and significance, and are now broadcasting this discovery to others. This card governs a proactive stance in life. A fullness of strength and self-confidence that impresses those around them. However, there is an element of a mask here, as if a person's strength depends on how well they can demonstrate it to others (putting on a "brave face," no matter how the game is actually going).

This is also significant because the Six of Wands often speaks of being in the center of attention. And in the spotlight, a mask is sometimes simply necessary. A public persona, a person whose popularity is created by collective opinion. Sometimes the card indicates that the external, ostentatious side of things is very important to a person—certain events, PR (this can manifest at the level of friends and neighbors as well as on a mega-scale).

Sometimes the card describes a person who is eager to share some news (usually favorable). A joyful, festive mood. Stabilization of energy, harmony in self-management. Nobility, courage, enthusiasm. Optimism, confidence in the future. The ability to effectively organize both affairs and relationships with people.

The Six of Wands brings successful work on oneself, personal growth.

But first and foremost, the Six of Wands is a card of satisfied ambition and pride. Through it, a person often receives recognition and admiration. There may be an element of narcissism here and the risk of forgetting about the feelings of other people. At worst, the card describes an arrogant show-off.

If the querent simply cannot identify with this card in any way, then it merely heralds the need to adapt to someone stronger.

In general, this is a card of material and social actions, of controlled instinctive forces of male nature, of actions taken in full harmony and fusion with this energy. The card can symbolize inspiration, turning to higher planes—teaching, spiritual growth, service, realizing one's path in this life and in the Universe. The reversed Six of Wands emphasizes humility, a vow of obedience, silence, a rejection of brilliance and glory.

Astrological associations: "The second decan of Leo symbolizes the fullness of living life and the confident mastery of its material and spiritual wealth. This decan is ruled by the social planet Jupiter. Respect for cultural achievements and traditions develops inner nobility and unites a person's goal with the tasks of other people, who thereby naturally become their helpers.

In the situation described by this card, it is important not only to show firmness of character but also to strive to use one's will for joint creation, displaying the amiability characteristic of Leo and elevating one's subjective ideals to universal human ones. Luck and power over others can give a person excessive pride. Their feeling of superiority can irritate other people, turning them from potential friends into enemies—thereby returning the person to the task of developing self-awareness.

A more attentive attitude toward weaknesses, on the contrary, opens the way to further heights, helping one become a conduit for spiritual energies and strengthening their inner power over themselves, which is the foundation of external leadership. The task of this decan is mastering the powerful energy channels that increase Leo's natural ability to give and bestow."

Light and shadow (advice and warning)

Advice: believe that everything will be fine, continue your path, and achieve victory! Moreover, it is very important to do this by honest means, through open struggle, pursuing a noble goal. Demonstrate firmness and self-confidence to those around you, and act as a role model for others.

As an obstacle: pride and snobbery preventing one from facing the truth. Self-praise that carries one away from reality (for example, the case where to others you are a winner, but inside you still feel lousy). Overestimating one's abilities. Posturing, arrogance, star sickness. The desire to force everyone to adapt to oneself. The shadow side of the card is a triumph of strength abusing the subordinate position of the weak, forceful actions in general, and a domineering manner. The risk of tumbling down from a conquered peak (if The Tower is also present in the spread, then with a loud crash).

This is the case when achievements allow one to be in the front ranks and riding the crest of the wave. A brilliant card for career matters!

Achievements, approval, and satisfaction are under its purview, as well as triumph, glory, and success on the grandest scale. This can be both the successful completion of a long-term project and simply the effective sorting out of work affairs. It is a card of truly productive efforts, forward movement, and fulfilled desires. Matters are brought to success (at least an intermediate one) as a result of hard work, and what you hope for will soon happen; all that remains is to manage the fruits wisely and calmly.

Organizationally, the Six of Wands can describe the stage when, following the strife of the Five, the participants of the events consolidate around an emerging leader. Motivation, confidence, the development of an action program. The somewhat difficult stage of changes and transformations of the Five of Wands has come to an end, obstacles have been overcome, and one can proceed to creative activity. The Six of Wands indicates the prospect of getting a wonderful job or recognition of one's professional merits. Career growth, promotion, a salary increase. A card of brilliant specialists, the best in their field. They deal with rivals without batting an eye. However, this is a card of honest, interesting competition, a healthy challenge, confrontation, a duel of wills from which everyone benefits.

Like the Ten of Pentacles, the Six of Wands can mean working in a large institution or a major firm.

At a lower level, the card can play out as the fate of a very successful "six" (meaning an errand boy or flunky; the symbolic meaning of this word seems to overlap with the "official business" traditionally attributed to Wands). In astrological terms, this is a too-successful 6th house (by the way, exactly the sixth!), when an abundance of perfectly performed duties leads to an almost complete absorption by work rhythms, and a person turns into a cheerful, prompt automaton, to whom the bosses pray, in a certain sense. It remains to be noted that in old interpretations, servants, maids, and workers are associated with the Six of Wands, and in traditional astrology, the 6th house is precisely responsible for servants and workers.

Successful defense of a diploma, passing exams, awarding of qualifications. Conquered peaks. Public recognition. Fame. Glory. Reward. The Six of Wands brings all sorts of spectacular moves in one's business—bypassing competitors and the like. Favorable business development, conquering new markets. Progress in affairs, the enterprise is gaining momentum. Productive negotiations.

Well-being and success. Profit, reward for invested efforts. After a period of struggle—financial success and acquisitions, an improvement of the situation. Investments, including long-term ones and those associated with a degree of risk, will pay off. Favorable chances for improving the financial situation, the opening of new opportunities. Winning. Receiving gifts. Abundance, wealth, prosperity.

It is believed that this card symbolizes a time of happiness, peace, and cooperation, harmony and mutual understanding in the family. However, it is not quite so simple here. A triumphant winner is evident here, even if there is ostensibly no loser. What kind of struggle was it? "What was it, whose victory?"

There is an emphasis here on overcoming the difficulties of the preceding period, and in the event that the partners are united and equally understand the essence of these difficulties, then the Six of Wands is an excellent card, saying that they have emerged from their trials as winners, and their union is truly viable. Everything that could have been destroyed has already fallen apart as a result of past actions, and the moment has come when one should forget about everything and plunge headlong into arranging one's life. "The flame burns again," writes Ziegler, "love, rebirth, creative power unite and strengthen each other."

But if the "difficulty" was one person for the other, then it makes sense to look for the other under the horse's hooves. This card can also describe the triumphant party in a love triangle, in general a person who forces everyone to adapt to themselves, the playmaker in a relationship. The Six of Wands brings the resolution of serious family conflicts, and especially situations in which a third party has appeared.

Surprisingly, in old interpretations, the Six of Wands is confidently attributed such meanings as a home, domestic, family life, and housekeeping. Even more surprisingly, there is confirmation of this in modern practice. Among the meanings that can be found in various books are such as "home improvement, mutual trust in the family, correct views and relationships, respect for the needs of others."

The "messenger" aspect is also strong in the Six of Wands—sometimes this card brings a declaration of love, an open expression of feelings (and received favorably). This card speaks of conquering someone's heart. The fortress has fallen, the winner has entered in triumph and, perhaps, without a fight. They may use some means to express their affection, for example, some significant gifts or other grand gestures. With corresponding surrounding cards, the Six of Wands increases the likelihood of a legal marriage, and in old interpretations, marriage is simply one of its meanings.

Recovery from illness. Reversed – weak immunity, inability to fight off a disease. Falling from a height.

In the reversed Six of Wands, the horse becomes a "Trojan" one. The enemy is at the gates, betrayal, treason. A fall from heights after success. The weakness of a leader, a "colossus on clay feet." Employees may contribute to the downfall of their boss. The whole situation turns out to be a "fake," an appearance without a real basis, dust thrown in the eyes. The benefits are superficial and unreliable, success is fragile. It may come later than expected—or it will go not to the querent, but to someone else.

The senselessness of the benefit compared to the effort expended.

The reversed card has mainly two meanings: failure and pride. From an astrological point of view, it resembles a planet in fall: it has the highest opinion of itself, but in fact—a lack of power in manifestation and a failure, a "fall" and an element of disgrace. In a reversed position, the Six of Wands means an exaggeration of one's own importance and, at the same time, a fear of failure (it is very difficult to accept morally). Hence—waiting it out, fear, over-caution, dread, apprehension, doubts about one's abilities. But in both cases, whether it is pride or uncertainty, there is a loss of followers. An inability to compromise in relationships.

Under the reversed Six of Wands comes criticism from those around, or faint praise. They do not take into account the success achieved by a person, they belittle its significance. Jealousy toward someone else's success, forcing one to throw a wrench in the works. Unpleasantly experienced news of other people's victories.

At a low level, the card works like Virgo, giving subordination, dependence, obsequiousness, constraint in thoughts and manifestations, sycophancy, and at the same time poor performance of duties, unprofessionalism.

Bad news. Success without satisfaction, superficial benefit, insufficient gain. You should not count on victory and expect pleasant news. Obstacles can ruin the entire enterprise. Victory can slip away right from under your nose.

Another meaning: waiting, a delay in time (including one caused by someone's treachery). Misunderstandings, loss of information, letters, documents, failure to receive news. A postponed trip.

With The Chariot – triumph squared! A very strong combination.

With The Tower – humiliation, failure, lack of recognition.

With The Sun – recognition, a prominent position, fame.

With the Ten of Swords – a heavy combination, falling into a trap, a difficult confluence of circumstances; perhaps a person will have to sacrifice themselves or their reputation.

With the Five of Cups – defeat, loss.

With the Nine of Cups – achieving the desired, a strong combination.

With the Ten of Cups – pacification, complete harmony. Good news regarding family members.

With the Five of Pentacles – rejection, non-recognition.

Nike, the goddess of victory

The archetype of the triumphant winner

Saint George the Victorious

The entry into Jerusalem

"Triumph and defeat should be perceived equally, because it is all only an illusion."