Six of Swords
Card meaning
The story of the Six of Swords is a manifestation of one of the stories depicted on the Five—that of choosing to leave instead of fight. It is a story of travel and movement to a better place.
Sometimes this card appears when we are running away from our problems, a phrase that is usually followed by the idea that wherever you go your problems will find you there. The truth is, sometimes a problem can be solved after a drawn out emotional battle, by simply leaving. This may be a physical or mental journey, but a journey that leads from rough emotional waters to smoother ones, steered by our intellect.
Like the Three of Swords, the imagery of the swords sticking out of the boat here can lead some to think of this card as negative, but unlike the Three, this card is much more gentle in its approach of “cutting out that which doesn’t serve you.” Instead, intellect is balanced by intuition, perhaps for the first time in the story of the suit. The water depicted in this card is a symbol of the understanding that you can’t eliminate emotion just like a captain of a ship can’t eliminate water, but through true mental clarity and respect for the power of the water, you can use it to your advantage. When the heart and the head are balanced, you are in a state of excellence where anything can be achieved.
Frequently Asked Questions About Six of Swords Tarot Card
The Six of Swords is a card of transition and movement toward calmer waters. It depicts leaving behind turbulence — guided by intellect — for a more peaceful destination.
In shadow, the departure is running away from problems rather than resolving them. The mental journey stalls mid-crossing, and unresolved issues follow the querent to the new shore.
After the Five’s painful conflict, the Fool chooses to leave rather than keep fighting. The Sixes teach overcoming hardship. Here, intellect and intuition balance for the first time in the suit.
Tarot cards are too layered and contextual to reduce to yes or no. For that, try a pendulum or dowsing rods. Here it leans toward ‘move forward’ — leaving a difficult situation is validated, but the destination is not yet fully clear.
In love, this card can signal moving away from a painful relationship or entering a calmer phase together. The rough emotional waters are behind you; smoother ones lie ahead if you steer wisely.
The swords are burdens carried into the next chapter. They are not abandoned, but they no longer threaten — they are tools for navigation. Intellect steers through, not away from, difficulty.
Both. It can mean a physical relocation or trip, or it can represent a mental and emotional shift. The key is movement from a harder state to a gentler one, however that manifests.
At work, this card often signals a job change, transfer, or department move. You are steering away from a toxic or stagnant role toward steadier ground. The transition will be worth it.
