Six of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes/No

By The Mystica Editorial Team · Checked against our editorial standards · Updated 20 September 2026 · 6 min read

You are leaving a difficult period behind. The journey may be quiet, but calmer waters are ahead.

Arcana	Minor Arcana, suit of Swords
Element	Air
Number	6
Astrology	Mercury in Aquarius
Golden Dawn title	Lord of Earned Success
Yes or no	Maybe
Upright	transition, moving on, calmer waters, recovery
Reversed	resistance to moving on, unfinished business

Pamela Colman Smith · Rider–Waite–Smith (1909)

Six of Swords symbolism

A ferryman steers a small boat across a river. A cloaked woman and a child sit in the boat with six swords standing upright in front of them. The water on one side is rough; on the other, calm. They are moving toward a quieter shore.

The descriptions on this site refer to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (1909), illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith and designed with Arthur Edward Waite, which is the reference for most modern tarot. Other decks may show different imagery with a similar meaning.

Upright meaning

• transition
• moving on
• calmer waters
• recovery

The Six of Swords is transition and moving on. You are leaving a difficult situation behind and moving toward calmer waters. It may not feel joyful yet, but it is the right direction.

The card favours relocation, travel, recovery and leaving behind what hurt you. Bring the lessons, not the weight.

Reversed meaning

• resistance to moving on
• unfinished business

Reversed, the Six of Swords shows resistance to moving on or unfinished business. You may be carrying baggage that makes the journey harder.

Address what is unresolved so you can move forward.

New to reversals? Our guide to reading reversed tarot cards explains the different ways readers interpret an upside-down card.

Six of Swords in love and relationships

Six of Swords as feelings

As feelings, the Six of Swords means someone is moving on emotionally or seeking peace.

Career and work

At work, it favours changing jobs, moving to a calmer environment or relocating.

Money and finances

With money, it shows gradual improvement after a difficult period.

Is Six of Swords a yes or no card?

Number, element and astrology

The Six of Swords belongs to the suit of Swords (also called Blades; Spades in playing-card terms), the air suit that deals with thought, truth, communication, conflict and decisions. In tarot numerology, 6 is the number of harmony, restoration and exchange. The Golden Dawn assigned this card to Mercury in Aquarius and gave it the title Lord of Earned Success.

Six restores harmony, and in air harmony is found by moving to a calmer mental state. Mercury in Aquarius gives the card its forward-looking, rational character. The Golden Dawn called it Earned Success: calm reached after effort, not given freely.

Advice from Six of Swords

Keep moving toward calmer waters, even if it feels sad to leave.

Example reading

This example is written by our editors to show how the card is read in context. It is not a real client's reading. See our tarot spreads for how positions change a card's meaning.

Six of Swords in question readings

What Six of Swords says when it lands in a specific position. These are the interpretations our free readings by question show for this card.

• As their feelings (Does my ex still love me?): They are moving on, or trying to. This person may feel a quiet sadness but also a sense that leaving was necessary. Their feelings are heading toward calmer waters, away from the turbulence of the relationship.
• As what they are not showing (Does he like me?): They are carrying baggage from the past. What they are not showing is that they are still in transition, processing old experiences as they move toward something new. Patience helps them feel safe.
• As the outcome in a reconciliation reading (Will he come back?): This points to moving forward separately, toward calmer and healthier waters. Getting back together is not strongly suggested. The journey may feel sad, but it leads somewhere more peaceful than where you have been.
• As what is coming in love (Will I find love?): A move toward calmer waters is coming. This could mean new surroundings, a fresh start, or a gentler season of life. Love is more likely to appear once you settle into this new, peaceful place.
• As the outcome for work (Will I get the job?): This leans toward a gradual, positive change. A move to a new role, a quieter environment, or steadier finances is possible. Progress may be slow, but the direction is toward something better.
• As advice (What should I do?): Move on gently. Take the path toward peace, even if it feels bittersweet. Pack only what you need, emotionally and practically, and trust that calmer shores are within reach. The water ahead is smoother.
• Reversed in a love reading (Will we get back together?): Reversed, moving on is proving difficult. Someone may be stuck, unable to leave the past behind, or returning to old patterns. Unfinished business keeps pulling you back. Resolve what remains before trying to go forward, together or apart.

Pulled Six of Swords next to another card? See what they mean together with the tarot card combinations tool.

Popular combinations with Six of Swords: Eight of Cups + Six of Swords.

Related cards

Dream symbols linked to this card

Bridge. Our dream dictionary explains how the same symbolism appears in dreams.