MINOR ARCANA · 6
Six of Swords
Change your surroundings quietly, and move toward calmer shores.
- Movement, transition, recovery, emotional organization, quiet turning point
- Transition toward recovery, leaving problems behind, change of environment, calm judgment, steady progress
- Stagnation, lingering attachment to the past, delayed transition, turning back, expressing what has been kept inside
SYMBOL & STORY
What Six of Swords represents
The Six of Swords is a card about leaving one place or state behind and quietly moving toward another. Rather than a dramatic victory or a bright, celebratory departure, it depicts continuing to carry what has happened so far while still steering the boat toward a slightly calmer direction. In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, a boatman carries a woman and a child across the water. Six swords stand upright in the boat, and the far shore can be seen in the distance. The figures do not appear cheerful or excited. Even so, the boat does not stop. It continues moving quietly forward. Arthur Waite listed meanings such as journey by water, route, way, messenger, and intermediary for this card. In his description of the image, he also notes that the boat's burden is light and not more than the boatman can manage. For that reason, this card can be understood not simply as "escape," but as moving a situation elsewhere by using the necessary means and accepting appropriate help. In later tarot interpretation, the swords standing in the boat are sometimes read as symbols of past experiences, emotional wounds, or problems that have occupied the mind for a long time. The card does not suggest becoming completely new by abandoning everything behind. Instead, it shows moving onward while still carrying those experiences. That image gives this card its distinctive sense of quiet recovery. It is also widely known to interpret the choppy water and the relatively calm water around the boat as a transition from confusion toward peace. However, these symbolic readings were developed later; Waite himself did not explicitly explain every detail in this way. If the Five of Swords depicts conflict and hurtful confrontation, the Six of Swords can be seen as the stage of leaving that scene behind. Rather than continuing the fight, you first move to a safer place. Only then may it become possible to organize your thoughts or allow your heart to recover. What this card teaches is that "moving forward" does not always mean setting out full of energy and confidence. Even if uncertainty remains and the past has not been completely resolved, you can still choose a direction that feels slightly calmer for you. If necessary, you can borrow someone else's strength as you move from where you are now toward the next place. That too is a meaningful form of progress.
UPRIGHT & REVERSED
Upright and reversed Six of Swords
Compare the keywords and detailed meanings to see how the symbol changes with orientation.
UPRIGHT
Upright meaning
Change your surroundings quietly, and move toward calmer shores.
- Transition toward recovery, leaving problems behind, change of environment, calm judgment, steady progress
When the Six of Swords appears upright, it represents a flow in which you leave behind a confusing or burdensome state and gradually move toward something calmer. It does not necessarily mean that every problem has been solved. Rather, you have reached the stage of deciding, "It is better to move on than to remain here," and beginning the journey. On a mental level, you are starting to gain some distance from a state in which emotion had overwhelmed you, making it easier to think about the situation calmly. Hurt feelings or anxiety may still remain, but little by little you are moving away from being controlled by them. In practical circumstances, the card can indicate actual movement such as travel, moving house, changing jobs, transferring departments, changing your environment, or taking distance from someone. It can also appear as an internal transition even when you remain physically in the same place: changing how you relate to someone, shifting your way of thinking, or changing the way you involve yourself with a problem. With this card, you do not necessarily have to solve everything alone. Because a boatman is shown guiding the boat, the card can also be read as moving through a difficult situation with the help of a trusted person's advice, professional support, or cooperation from those around you. What you are carrying may feel heavy, but with the right method, it may be possible to transport it little by little. In terms of action, rather than continuing to fight by force, it is important to move toward a place where you can feel calmer. Taking some distance from the center of the problem, changing your environment, or consulting someone may all help. Choosing not to remain where you are can itself become a form of support. If you are exhausted by a relationship, taking some distance rather than confronting the other person directly may allow the situation to settle. If you are struggling at work, changing departments or adjusting your working style may open a path forward. Even when you face a major decision, it can be better not to solve everything at once, but instead to think first about how to reach the next safe place. The Six of Swords also teaches that "running away" and "moving in order to protect yourself" are not the same thing. Sometimes leaving a place where you are continually being worn down and moving somewhere calmer becomes the beginning of recovery.
REVERSED
Reversed meaning
Organizing the feelings you could not express can become the key to moving forward.
- Stagnation, lingering attachment to the past, delayed transition, turning back, expressing what has been kept inside
When the Six of Swords appears reversed, it can represent wanting to move forward but being unable to, returning to a problem you had once left, or carrying unresolved events from the past into the present. The "movement" of the upright position becomes delayed, as though the boat cannot quite leave the shore or turns back midway through the journey. On a mental level, you may understand intellectually that it would be better to move on, while your feelings have not yet caught up. Words from the past, regret, lingering attachment, or anxiety may keep returning to your mind, leaving your heart in the same place even when you want to progress. In practical circumstances, this can appear as being unable to change jobs even though you want to, being forced to stay involved with someone from whom you would prefer some distance, or having a move or plan postponed. If the same problem repeats even after changing environments, the card can also suggest that there may be something you need to sort out before changing places. At the same time, Waite himself gave the reversed Six of Swords meanings such as declaration, confession, and something becoming public—meanings that differ from the modern interpretation of stagnation. He also mentions courtship as another possible reading. For that reason, reversed, the card can sometimes describe thoughts or feelings that had been hidden inside finally becoming words and moving out into the open. These two directions may seem different at first, but they can also be combined. For example, someone who has been unable to move forward for a long time may finally begin changing the situation by speaking honestly. Or a problem that has been avoided may come to the surface, making it impossible to avoid dealing with it any longer. In this way, the card can also be read as, "The transition that had been stuck begins moving because something hidden is finally revealed." In terms of action, simply running farther away is not necessarily the answer. It is important to organize what is holding you back and what you have been unable to say. Putting what is necessary into words may become the trigger that gets the boat moving again.
LOVE
Six of Swords in love
Upright love
When the Six of Swords appears upright in a love reading, it represents taking some distance from emotional confusion or misunderstanding and gradually bringing the relationship into a calmer state. Rather than a passionate and sudden development, this is a period of regaining composure and thinking about how the two of you will relate from here. With unrequited love, it is better to maintain a natural distance than to pursue the other person intensely. Rather than rushing to confirm their response, it is important to find a way of interacting that also allows you to remain calm. If being too close has created tension or misunderstandings, leaving a little space may actually allow more natural interaction to return. If you are already in a relationship, this card suggests that the relationship may begin settling after an argument or problem. However, it is less about forgetting what happened and more about moving into the next stage while the two of you think together about, "What do we do from here?" If necessary, taking some time or distance can be a way of protecting the relationship rather than destroying it. For reconciliation, rather than immediately returning to exactly the same relationship as before, this is a stage of moving away from the old problems little by little and considering whether a new kind of relationship can be built. If you want to avoid repeating the same pattern, you may need to change the distance between you or the way you relate to each other instead of simply recreating the former relationship. With new encounters, this card can sometimes indicate a connection that appears in a place where your environment has changed, such as while traveling, after moving, or in a new workplace. It may also show that, as you gradually organize feelings from a past romance, you become able to turn your attention toward someone new.
Reversed love
When the Six of Swords appears reversed in a love reading, it can represent wanting to bring a relationship to some kind of conclusion but being unable to fully separate, lingering feelings about the past, or repeatedly returning to the same problem. With unrequited love, you may be unable to organize your feelings toward the other person and continue thinking about the situation without anything changing. You may repeatedly replay their words and behavior and find yourself wondering, "What if I had done something differently then?" However, when Waite's reversed meanings are also considered, this can be read as a period when feelings kept inside begin to become words. You may express what you feel yourself, or the other person may tell you something they had not said before, causing something about the relationship to become clear. This does not necessarily mean a confession of love or definite progress; it is better understood as, "Something that had been ambiguous is put into words." If you are already in a relationship, past arguments or dissatisfaction may remain unresolved. Even if you appear to be getting along normally on the surface, there may still be things neither of you has been able to say. When this card appears, calmly putting your true feelings into words can sometimes begin moving a stagnant relationship again. For reconciliation, this card often represents strong lingering attachment to the past. You may want to return even when you are trying to move away, or repeatedly look back on the relationship you once had. On the other hand, another conversation may allow feelings that could not be expressed before to come to light. What matters is not returning only because you feel lonely, but considering whether the two of you can create a relationship that is different from before. With new encounters, a past relationship may be preventing you from taking a step toward someone new. You may compare new people with someone from the past or keep too much distance because you are afraid of being hurt. Organizing the feelings that still remain inside you can become preparation for a new connection.
FEELINGS
Six of Swords in their feelings
Upright their feelings
When the Six of Swords appears upright as the other person's feelings, they may prefer to sort out their emotions calmly and with some distance rather than rush to a conclusion about you or the relationship. If there has been confusion or strain, they may want to move toward something quieter rather than continue the conflict. This does not necessarily mean they dislike you and are leaving. Sometimes it is more, “I need a calmer way of relating right now.” With unrequited feelings, they may want to get to know the relationship slowly. Instead of becoming close suddenly, they may prefer to continue interacting at a distance that feels emotionally safe. If they have already stepped back, they may be processing the past and trying to move on. Whether “moving on” means toward a new form of connection with you or toward another direction depends on the surrounding cards and what they actually do. These feelings are about quiet transition rather than dramatic change. Looking at what they are leaving behind and where they seem to be trying to go makes their emotional direction easier to understand.
Reversed their feelings
When the Six of Swords appears reversed as the other person's feelings, they may still be unable to fully process the relationship or what happened in the past. They may try to move away emotionally only to find their thoughts returning again and again. Lingering attachment may be present, but that alone does not mean they want to reconnect. Sometimes the unresolved problem itself is what keeps the mind from moving forward. They may also feel increasingly unable to leave something unsaid. A thought such as, “I do not want this to end without saying anything,” can create a desire to speak more openly or define the relationship. In an existing relationship, the same issue may keep returning because the real cause has never been resolved. Even when things seem calm on the surface, the feelings underneath can remain unsettled. The important distinction is whether they are moving backward into the past, or returning to the past in order to finally speak about it and move forward. Concrete conversation and changed behavior are the strongest signs that the stagnation is beginning to break.
WORK
Six of Swords in work
Upright work
When the Six of Swords appears upright in a work reading, it represents gradually moving out of a highly burdensome situation and toward a calmer environment. Changing jobs, transferring departments, changing responsibilities, or revising your working style may help improve the situation. If you are experiencing problems in your current workplace, you may not need to solve everything through direct confrontation. Reducing contact with someone you find difficult, asking for a change in responsibilities, or consulting a trusted supervisor are all ways to move toward a position where you are less depleted. In a job-change reading, the card can indicate moving to a calmer environment than the one you are in now. However, rather than quitting on impulse, it suits this card better to confirm your next destination, prepare properly, and then make the transition. Check your living situation and working conditions, and create a realistic plan that allows you to move without unnecessary strain. Regarding goal achievement, this is less a time of seizing a dramatic success all at once and more a period of moving forward while avoiding obstacles one by one. Problems may gradually decrease, making your work easier to handle than before. In workplace relationships, taking distance from the center of conflict or gossip can be helpful. Rather than continuing to prove who is right, it may be more constructive to move toward a place where you can focus on your own work. If the problem is too difficult to handle alone, it is also important to ask for help. Learning from someone with more knowledge, sharing the workload, or receiving professional support can make the transition smoother by helping you find the right "boatman" for the journey.
Reversed work
When the Six of Swords appears reversed in a work reading, it represents wanting to move out of your current situation while still finding it difficult to change the environment. You may be considering changing jobs or transferring, yet lack of preparation, anxiety, or circumstances in your daily life may be causing you to remain where you are. In the workplace environment, problematic conditions may continue for longer than you hoped. You may be dissatisfied with relationships, workload, or evaluation while still being unable to leave easily. That does not mean you simply have to endure it. Begin by changing the parts of the situation that can reduce your burden. In a job-change reading, your feelings may already be facing toward what comes next, while practical preparation has not caught up. Looking at job listings, checking what qualifications or skills are needed, or preparing living expenses are all small steps that can gradually reduce the sense of stagnation. From the meaning of declaration or disclosure, this card can also indicate a time to tell a supervisor or the people around you about a problem you have kept silent about until now. Communicating issues such as an excessive workload, an unfair situation, or your hopes for the future to the appropriate person may become the trigger for changing the environment. Regarding goal achievement, you may feel as though you are putting in effort while continuing to move back and forth over the same ground. In that case, rather than increasing the amount of effort, review the direction itself. It is also important to check whether you are trying to move forward while leaving some essential problem unaddressed. In workplace relationships, avoiding a problem for too long may actually be what allows it to continue. You do not have to confront everything directly, but try not to remain silent about things that truly need to be said. Calmly putting them into words can begin moving the situation again.
MONEY
Six of Swords in money
Upright money
When the Six of Swords appears upright in a financial reading, it represents gradually moving out of anxiety or confusion around money and toward a more stable state. Rather than a sudden large increase in income, this is a financial flow in which things slowly settle as you organize problems and reduce burdens. In terms of income, changing jobs, adjusting your working style, or taking on side work may change your financial situation. Rather than clinging to the methods you have used until now, it may be helpful to look for a way of earning that you can continue with less strain. With spending, your burden may become lighter by organizing living expenses and reducing unnecessary contracts or purchases. Rather than trying to cut everything drastically at once, it is more suitable to make improvements that you can continue without excessive effort. For investments and major purchases, it is important to avoid emotional decisions and calmly organize the information. Rather than becoming impatient to recover a loss or being carried along by the enthusiasm of people around you, make decisions while checking safety and risk carefully. If you have debt or other financial burdens, this card may also indicate moving the problem into a manageable form by creating a repayment plan or consulting a professional. Rather than carrying everything alone, using appropriate methods and support can help improve the situation.
Reversed money
When the Six of Swords appears reversed in a financial reading, it represents a state in which you want to move out of a money-related problem but improvement is not progressing easily. The effects of past spending or decisions may still remain, or even when you try to make changes, you may find yourself returning to old habits. In terms of income, you may want to change the way you work while practical circumstances make movement difficult. Rather than trying to transform everything at once, it may be better to begin preparing for the next step by researching side work, gaining qualifications, or looking at job openings. With spending, old habits may return even after you begin trying to save money, suggesting that your patterns need to be reviewed. Rather than criticizing yourself, notice the situations in which you are most likely to spend. That makes change easier. For investments and major purchases, the wish to recover a loss or feelings of impatience can make you more likely to decide too quickly. Try to avoid both becoming trapped by a past mistake and repeating the same kind of decision. Organize the information again and bring in another perspective besides your own. This card can also indicate a money-related issue you had kept hidden coming to the surface. If there is something you have been unable to speak about—such as payments, debt, or pressure on the household budget—consulting someone you trust or a professional may become the beginning of improvement.
RELATIONSHIPS
Six of Swords in relationships
Upright relationships
When the Six of Swords appears upright in a relationship reading, it represents taking some distance from an exhausting relationship or confusing situation and shifting toward a calmer way of relating. In friendship, you may stop seeing someone as frequently as before or the way you interact may change. That does not necessarily mean the friendship is ending. By moving toward a distance that feels manageable for both of you, the relationship may actually become easier to maintain over the long term. Within the family, taking some time or distance can help more than continuing to collide emotionally. Even if you live in the same home, adjusting the psychological distance—for example, by not taking responsibility for every problem the other person has—can be important. At work or in your wider environment, moving away from the center of conflict may improve the situation. If you are likely to be drawn into gossip or arguments, it may be better not to become too deeply involved and instead choose a position where you can remain calm. With someone with whom there have been misunderstandings or painful experiences in the past, it is important not to try to return immediately to exactly the same relationship as before. Build a calmer connection little by little. As the distance changes, you may find that you can interact more naturally than you could before.
Reversed relationships
When the Six of Swords appears reversed in a relationship reading, it represents wanting to create distance but being unable to fully separate, returning to an old relationship, or repeating a problem that has happened before. In friendship, you may feel that your values no longer fit together as they once did, yet long history or emotional attachment may make it difficult to change the distance between you. You do not have to cut the relationship off suddenly, but consider what kind of interaction is manageable for the person you are now. Within the family, you may feel caught between wanting distance and feeling responsible. Caring about someone is not the same as carrying all of their problems. Clearly defining what is and is not within your ability can also be necessary if you want the relationship to continue. At work or in your wider environment, a problem you had tried to avoid may surface again. If the same thing happens no matter how often you create distance, you may need to reconsider the way you relate to the situation itself. On the other hand, the relationship may begin changing because something that could not previously be said comes into the open. You may explain something that had been misunderstood, say how you truly felt, or hear an unexpected truth from the other person. It is a moment when something that had remained hidden becomes words. However, expressing your true feelings does not mean throwing emotion at the other person exactly as it arises. Think about what needs to be communicated in order for the relationship to move in a slightly better direction, and choose your words accordingly.
YES OR NO
Yes or No for Six of Swords
Upright judgment
- Judgment
- Yes
- Reason
- The Six of Swords represents moving away from difficulty toward calmer circumstances. It is not an exuberant Yes, but it suggests that improvement is possible through gradual transition and thoughtful adjustment.
- What could change the answer
- The Yes strengthens when appropriate distance is created from past problems and a different way of handling the situation is chosen. Repeatedly returning to the same conflict or refusing to move on weakens the progress.
Reversed judgment
- Judgment
- Not yet
- Reason
- The Six of Swords reversed points to delayed transition and repeated pullback toward unresolved issues. There may be a desire to move forward, but something from the past still needs to be sorted out before a clear answer can be reached.
- What could change the answer
- The reading can move toward Yes when unfinished issues and unspoken thoughts aresorteded and there is a conscious decision about what to carry forward and what to leave behind. Repeating the same problem makes a No outcome more likely.
MESSAGE FROM THE CARD
Advice from Six of Swords
Upright
You do not have to solve everything before you are allowed to move on. Even if uncertainty and wounds remain in your heart, you can still set out toward a direction that feels a little calmer than where you are now. Even if what you are carrying feels heavy, you do not have to transport it all alone. Consulting someone you trust, borrowing knowledge, or changing your environment are all valid ways of moving forward. Leaving does not always mean giving up. Sometimes more can be protected by creating some distance than by continuing to fight. Right now, instead of thinking only about, "What should I solve?", also ask yourself, "Where can I go so that I can think more calmly?" It is all right if you cannot see the entire path ahead. For now, think about reaching the next shore. Once the boat begins to move, a different landscape will gradually come into view.
Reversed
If you feel unable to move forward, before forcing yourself onward, try looking at what is holding your boat in place. Lingering attachment to the past, anxiety, guilt, words you could not say—everything that remains inside your heart has a reason for being there. You do not have to forget it by force, but you also do not have to carry it alone forever. Perhaps what you need now is not to travel even farther away, but to acknowledge something you have not yet been able to put into words. It may be enough simply to admit the truth to yourself. If necessary, telling someone you trust can also be one way forward. A boat that has been stuck can begin moving again once something is brought into the open. Do not rush into a major decision. First, sort through what you want to carry with you and what you are ready to leave behind here. There is more than one way to move forward. Going back a little and reconsidering, asking someone for help, or putting your true feelings into words can all become steps toward the next shore.
READ IT YOUR WAY
Let Six of Swords lead to a reading in your own words.
Use these meanings as a guide or develop language of your own. With a custom deck, you can shape every description and image to fit your practice.