Six of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed & Love

A cloaked figure sits hunched in a small boat, six swords planted upright before them as a ferryman guides the vessel from choppy waters toward a distant, calmer shore. The image tells a quiet, bittersweet story: you are leaving something painful behind, but the swords—your memories, your lessons, your scars—come with you.

The Six of Swords is the tarot's card of necessary transition. It does not promise joy at the destination. It promises that where you are going is better than where you have been, and that is enough to keep moving.

Quick Reference

Upright Meaning

The Six of Swords upright represents a period of transition from difficulty toward something calmer. You are not yet healed, not yet happy, but you are moving in the right direction. This is the journey between crisis and recovery—the uncomfortable middle passage where the pain is still fresh but the worst is definitively behind you.

This card often appears after breakups, job losses, health scares, or any situation that forced you to leave something behind. The departure may not have been your choice, and the grief is real. But the Six of Swords carries a quiet reassurance: the turbulent waters are becoming still. Keep going.

There is also a practical, problem-solving energy to this card. The swords represent the mental tools and lessons you carry forward. You are not leaving empty-handed. Every difficulty you survived has sharpened your understanding. The Six of Swords says you are wiser now than when you entered the storm, and that wisdom will serve you on the calmer waters ahead.

Reversed Meaning

When the Six of Swords reverses, the boat stalls. You know you need to move on, but something keeps pulling you back—unfinished business, emotional attachment, fear of the unknown, or the stubborn belief that things might still work out if you just try one more time. The calmer shore is visible, but you cannot seem to reach it.

This reversal can also indicate a transition that feels forced or premature. Perhaps you are being pushed to move on before you are ready, or external circumstances are changing faster than you can process. Give yourself grace, but also honestly assess whether your resistance is protecting you or trapping you.

In Love & Relationships

If you are single: The Six of Swords suggests you are in the process of leaving past romantic pain behind. You are not quite ready for a new relationship—and that is perfectly fine. This is a healing journey, not a race. The right person will appear once you have reached calmer waters within yourself.

If you are in a relationship: A difficult period is beginning to ease. Perhaps you weathered a crisis together—infidelity, loss, or a prolonged rough patch—and now the relationship is slowly stabilizing. The scars remain, but you are both committed to sailing toward something better. In some readings, this card indicates one or both partners physically moving—a relocation, a fresh start in a new city.

In Career & Finances

The Six of Swords in career readings indicates a transition—changing jobs, departments, industries, or even careers entirely. The move may not feel exciting; it may feel like escape. But escaping a toxic workplace or a dead-end role is a legitimate and healthy career strategy. Better opportunities await on the other side of this transition.

Financially, you are moving from instability toward stability. Debts are being paid down, spending habits are improving, and the financial stress that kept you awake at night is gradually easing. Continue the steady progress. The goal is not sudden wealth but sustainable peace of mind.

As Advice

Keep moving forward, even when progress feels painfully slow. The Six of Swords advises you to accept that healing and transition are not instant. You will carry your swords—your memories and lessons—with you, and that is okay. Do not try to rush the journey or pretend the pain does not exist. Simply keep the boat moving. Every day you put distance between yourself and the storm is a day closer to calm waters.

Card Combinations

• Six of Swords + The World: A major life transition leads to completion and wholeness. The journey ends in profound fulfillment.
• Six of Swords + Three of Swords: Moving on from heartbreak. The pain is real, but the decision to leave is the right one.
• Six of Swords + Ace of Wands: A fresh start awaits on the other shore. New passion and creative energy emerge once the transition is complete.

Explore all tarot card meanings in our Complete Tarot Card Meanings Guide, or start from the beginning with our Tarot for Beginners Guide.