← Tarot
VI

Six of Swords

Minor Arcana 🜁 Swords 🜁 Air ☿ Mercury Aquarius

Upright

TransitionMoving OnLeaving BehindMental HealingJourneyRelease

Transition to calmer waters. Leaving difficulty behind, though you take your swords with you. The passage isn't comfortable but leads somewhere better. Mental healing through moving on.

Reversed

StuckResistance To ChangeUnfinished BusinessUnable To Move On

Stuck in the difficult waters. Unable or unwilling to leave. Unfinished business preventing transition. The boat won't move because you haven't released the anchor.

Meanings in layers

Spiritual

Upright

Spiritual transition. Leaving old mental patterns. Journey to inner peace.

Reversed

Spiritual stagnation. Can't leave old mental patterns. Transition blocked.

Practical

Upright

Moving away from difficulty. Transition period. Travel. Leaving problems behind. Mental healing journey.

Reversed

Can't move on. Stuck in bad situation. Transition blocked. Unfinished business holding you back.

In life areas

Love

Upright

Moving on from relationship difficulty. Transition in love. Leaving romantic problems.

Reversed

Can't leave unhealthy relationship. Stuck in love problems. Romantic transition blocked.

Career

Upright

Professional transition. Leaving difficult job. Career moving to calmer waters.

Reversed

Stuck in bad work situation. Can't leave problematic job. Career transition blocked.

Finances

Upright

Financial transition. Moving past money problems. Economic journey to stability.

Reversed

Stuck in financial problems. Can't escape money difficulty. Economic transition blocked.

Health

Upright

Mental health improving through change. Healing journey. Transition aiding recovery.

Reversed

Mental health stuck. Can't move to healing. Transition needed but blocked.

Visual symbolism

Figures huddled in boat with six swords, ferryman poles toward calmer waters and distant shore

They're leaving, not arriving. The swords come with them—you can't leave your mind behind. But calmer waters await.

BoatFerrymanHuddled FiguresSix SwordsChoppy WaterCalm Water AheadDistant Shore
Swords In Boat
Taking your wounds with you, problems don't disappear but location changes
Water Transition
Choppy to calm, difficult passage to better place
Huddled Figures
Grief, exhaustion, escape, seeking safety

Psychological

Archetype
The Passage, The Transition, The Journey Away
Shadow
Running From Problems Rather Than Solving Them, Believing Geography Is Cure

Correspondences

Element
Air
Planet
Mercury
Zodiac
Aquarius
Timing
January 30 To February 8

Crystals

Aquamarine, Blue Lace Agate, Turquoise, Larimar

Herbs

Lavender, Sage, Yarrow, Meadowsweet

Shadow work

Six of Swords asks: Am I leaving toward something or just running away? What unfinished business holds me? Can I accept that the swords come with me? What would I face if I stayed?

Magical uses

Transition Rituals, Travel Blessing, Mental Healing, Mercury Work, Passage Ceremonies, Release Magic

Affirmation

"I move toward peace. I carry my wisdom, not my wounds. Calmer waters await."

Pairs with

Death, Eight Of Cups, The Star

Contrasts with

Five Of Swords, The Tower, Ten Of Swords