Six of Swords
The Six of Swords depicts transition through darkness, symbolized by an anglerfish forging ahead despite six swords piercing it, emphasizing the need to create your own light and persist. Upright, it indicates despondency, listlessness, and healing after a crisis — a movement toward peace even if the path and destination are unclear. Reversed, it warns of instability, resistance to change, slow recovery, and feeling spiritually stuck, often requiring patience and the resolution of unfinished business. The card advises faith, tenacity, and active effort to maintain your inner light until you reach calmer waters.
Keywords
Six of Swords
Animal
Anglerfish
Fun fact
Female anglerfish are the only ones with the protruding, dangling bit of flesh that serves as an illuminated lure. In contrast, males exist as parasitic mates. Once they have bitten into a female, the flesh around their body dissolves until only their testes remain.
Keywords
Despondency, Healing, Guidance
Reversed keywords
Instability, Resistance, Floods
Meaning
An anglerfish swims through black waters as six sharp swords pierce through it, but despite the dangers clearly present, it still moves forward. The deep sea is an environment fraught with danger and inhospitable conditions. To survive in pure darkness, oftentimes one must provide their own light. The Six of Swords is a card of transition. It may be difficult to see the bright side when darkness encroaches from all sides, but this simply reminds us that tenacity can sustain you through even the bleakest of circumstances, so long as you remain determined to keep your lantern burning until you see the light once more.
Upright
When upright, the Six of Swords suggests that the user is caught in a disinterested, listless state. Even though nothing is apparently wrong, nothing feels quite right either. You’re disconnected from the world around you, but this will soon fade. You’re headed in a new direction whether or not you know the destination. If you’re coming out of a difficult period in your life, you may feel downtrodden and uninterested in things that you once found dear. Though it may not feel like it, you have survived this crisis, and you’re on your way towards well-earned peace. Reach deep and summon your faith. Things seem dark now, but you must stubbornly create your own light and march towards your brighter future.
Reversed meaning
When reversed, the Six of Swords implies that you’re embarking on a turbulent journey. You’re rocking the boat to create some sense of change. Things may be unstable for a time, and you will be slow to heal. No matter how long it takes to recover, you must give yourself time. You cannot rush your spiritual and emotional health. This position may also signify a spiritual transition. Like the pinned anglerfish, you feel stuck and frustrated by a lack of growth, especially on a spiritual level. Have faith and be patient. Look for the positives and find value in the progress you have made, even if it isn’t exactly what you wanted. Unfinished business from your past may also try to trap you and prevent you from moving forward. Resolve these conflicts. Only then can you truly be free of them.
Visual Description
A dark, monstrous fish-like creature with gaping teeth and flowing tendrils is pierced by six swords arranged around and through its body. The swords have straight blades and red-tipped pommels, standing out against a cosmic red and purple star-speckled background. At the bottom of the card the title 'SIX OF SWORDS' appears in yellow capital letters.
Oriens tarot
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