Six of Swords

Meanings according to Rider-Waite:

ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Mars in the 4th house as a breakthrough to freedom from one's habitual surroundings, and Mercury in the 9th house as the search for new horizons.

SIX OF SWORDS The Six of Swords points to changes through which we can reach new shores. As a card of "breakthrough," it stands somewhere midway between the joy-filled departure of the hero (the Chariot) and the sorrowful farewell (the Eight of Cups). Its concrete meaning depends largely upon ourselves — upon whether we rejoice in the coming changes, await them eagerly, or, on the contrary, fear them. In any case, it symbolizes the path to a new shore, for which, however, the old one must be left behind. What awaits us ahead is unknown. Therefore it also signifies the bitterness of parting, uncertainty, apprehension, and worry, but likewise a certain curiosity and interest in what is to come. It must be borne in mind that this "new shore" awaiting us ahead does not necessarily mean a physical movement from one place to another; it may be the discovery of something new within oneself, the assimilation of new rules of the game, of new norms of life, or an acquaintance with other cultures and religions. In the I Ching and in mythology, the crossing of water always signifies the step from multiplicity to singularity.

From the book: Hajo Banzhaf. THE TAROT HANDBOOK. Translated from the German by E. Kolesov. Publisher: Center for Astrological Research, 1999.

SIX OF SWORDS Science, Revelation The second decan of Aquarius, from February 1 to 9. Astrological equivalents: Virgo, Mercury and Saturn in Virgo, the Sixth and Tenth Houses. The second decan of Aquarius symbolizes consistent and detailed aspirations, science, and unexpected intuitive insights in the realm of the unknown. And if the first decan develops freedom of thought, the second carries out the transition from subjective thinking to objective. This decan is ruled by Mercury and the asteroid Ceres. But Aquarius symbolizes not the abstract thinking of Libra (here the intellect embraces life processes as a whole, and its work may already be called spiritual); therefore, the second decan of Aquarius belongs to the sphere of the higher rational and at the same time spiritual principle. The name of this decan — "Revelation" — is the revelation to the mind of the mysteries of nature, of man, of the Earth, and of the Cosmos. It is the development of the human spirit, mastering new horizons, and the manifestation of truth into the world. This decan is characterized by an aspiration toward distant goals and a complete indifference to whatever does not fall within its sphere of interest, by a stubborn pursuit of its own course regardless of its own needs and the needs of others. An idea capable of encompassing the world becomes greater than the reality of the world itself. A negative example of how science, called upon to direct nature, neglects the latter, and how the implementation of scientific ideas into life leaves no room for concern for people, may be seen in our Russia — the country of Aquarius. Therefore, the chief and most important task of the second decan of Aquarius is a careful attitude toward the present, without which the future cannot be realized. On the TAROT card is depicted a man with a pole, ferrying a boat from one shore to another. With him in the boat are a woman, a child, and six swords standing parallel to one another. The waters are unconsciously still. (The soul has been brought into harmony and moves toward a new perspective under the guidance of reason.) Sometimes the SIX OF SWORDS is also interpreted as the passage of consciousness onto a new level, where the child is a symbol of its potential possibilities.

UPRIGHT POSITION In the upright position, the SIX OF SWORDS symbolizes self-sacrifice, precisely calculated correct action, a step toward spirituality. Before us stands the image of a person striving to improve the world through deed. True, at the level of the SIX OF SWORDS the step has not yet been taken, but it may be taken. Virgo is ruled by Proserpina, and therefore through the SIX OF SWORDS occurs the rebirth of man, a re-construction, a regeneration. At the same time, the Mercurial influence is strong here, and so the card may symbolize travel or a journey. The card may also signify the overcoming of difficulties, the conquest of routine through the most scrupulous mastery of it; it is success after long and feverish activity (toil and trouble).

REVERSED POSITION In the reversed position, the SIX OF SWORDS gives Virgo in her lower manifestation: egoism, an inclination to take advantage of others (to live at their expense), self-sacrifice in reverse, stagnation. Arising problems are not resolved but rather shelved indefinitely.