Six of Swords Keywords: Transition, Journey, Moving On

Six of Swords Tarot Card Description

A cloaked figure and a child sit in a boat, while a man brings them across a body of water. The water is choppy on one side and calm on the other. Six swords stand upright in the boat. There is a serenity and stillness in this card.

What the Six of Swords Means in a Tarot Reading

The Six of Swords is a welcome card to see after a time of difficulty and trouble. You’re leaving the rough, choppy waters of your troubles behind and moving forward into serenity and calm. This is a transition phase for you. You’re moving on.

The swords in the boat represent the baggage that you’re bringing with you into your future. Waite tells us, however, that the ‘freight is light’. This baggage won’t be a burden to you as you move into the calm waters of what’s ahead. You’ve left the worst behind you.

It’s worth remembering that Swords represent Air – the intellectual plane. Rely on your intellect and rationalism to make progress. The effort you put in will bring you success.

There are times when the Six of Swords represents a trip or journey that you’ll take, often over water. This might be a vacation, or even a permanent relocation. You’ll need to consider your circumstances, the surrounding cards, and of course use your intuition to decide on the meaning here. Whatever kind of trip it is, it will leave you refreshed and it’ll be like a fresh start for you.

Six of Swords Love and Relationships Tarot Meaning

The Six of Swords is good news in a relationship reading. You’re about to leave troubles and stress behind and move on to a calmer and happier time. Maybe you’ve been in a very difficult, or even abusive relationship, and now you’re leaving that behind and moving on. There’s peace and tranquillity ahead for you. You’ll carry memories and experiences from your troubled time with you, but these are lessons you’ve learned, and they won’t be a burden to you.

Or perhaps your last relationship was filled with conflict and stress, and now you’re moving on to a relationship where you’ll feel safe, secure, and happy. In an everyday reading, where the cards may not necessarily have life-changing meanings, this card may simply mean that you’ve been fighting and arguing with your partner, but now you’re about to make up and peace will be restored.

In my experience the figure navigating the boat may represent you, or your partner, as you guide your loved ones towards happiness and security. This is a couple, or a family, leaving their troubles behind and heading towards a more tranquil future. You’ve been through a turbulent time, but that’s in the past now.

The Six of Swords in a love reading may also have a literal meaning for you – it’s quite possible that you’ll relocate for a relationship.

Six of Swords Career Tarot Meaning

In a work-related reading, the Six of Swords often signifies a business trip. This trip may be long or short.

The Six of Swords may also indicate that you’ll be relocating for work reasons. Perhaps you’ll travel to a new country to pursue better work opportunities, or maybe you’ll relocate in your current job. One thing is clear, this move will be good for your career and for you personally. You’ll be leaving behind some turbulence and uncertainty, and you’ll find that the way ahead is plain sailing. This is a move in the right direction.

Lastly, it’s possible that the Six of Swords doesn’t relate to a physical move in location for your career, but to a transition in your circumstances. In this scenario, you’ll be leaving behind a stressful situation and moving on to a calmer time in work. Perhaps this will involve a change of job entirely, but not necessarily. Whatever the details, you’ll leave behind the difficulties you’ve been experiencing at work. You’ve learned lessons from the experience and you’ll carry those lesson with you throughout your career.