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Six of Swords in the 5-Card Spread with the Rider Waite Tarot
Table of contents
Table of contents
See another cardin 5-card spread
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor VI
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
Six of Swords 5-cards Cross Draw
The Six of Swords, in the five positions of the cross spread, evokes a dynamic of transition, slow healing, and a conscious shift from a state of turmoil to a more peaceful space. In context, it marks a necessary crossing; in opposition, it reveals a fear of change or attachment to the past; in advice, it urges us to continue gently but surely; in outcome, it heralds a calming and a gradual emergence from difficulties; in summary, it refocuses the reading on the need to trust in the natural movement of change and healing. A gentle, silent but powerful card — the necessary passage to a new inner horizon.
Six of Swords : Positions in the RWS Tarot 5-Card spread
Six of Swords as first card : Current situation
in the Rider Waite Smith 5-Card spread
In the current situation, the Six of Swords shows that the consultant is going through a transition phase, leaving behind a troubled, painful or burdensome situation.
This card indicates that the worst is over, even if stability has not yet been fully achieved. The consultant is moving forward, sometimes reluctantly, but is on the right path to regaining clarity, inner peace, or simply returning to a more fluid way of life.
This is still a fragile movement, requiring trust and patience. It is not a time for triumph, but rather a time for mental and emotional recovery, when it is important to allow the wounds of the past to heal without forcing the future.
It is an invitation to keep moving forward, even slowly, because each step takes you further away from chaos and closer to a new peace.
Six of Swords as second card : Challenge / Obstacle
in the Rider Waite Smith 5-Card spread
In contrast, the Six of Swords reveals resistance to change, a fear of change, or even an unconscious attachment to past pain.
The person seeking guidance may find it difficult to let go of a situation, even if it is causing them suffering.
He or she may also feel stuck between two states, unable to really move forward, either out of loyalty to an old version of themselves or out of fear of the unknown.
This card in opposition can also signal an unacknowledged departure, where one leaves a situation externally without really leaving it internally, thus leaving wounds open.
The reversed Six of Swords invites us to recognise the necessity of transition, to accept that all evolution requires a form of mourning, and to trust the process of change, even if its outcome is not yet fully visible.
Six of Swords as third card : Advice
in the Rider Waite Smith 5-Card spread
As advice, the Six of Swords invites you to continue your transition, not to turn back out of fear or nostalgia, and to trust the path that lies ahead. Even if the present situation seems unstable, your soul knows that you are moving towards something better.
This card encourages you to leave behind what cannot be repaired, to accept that some losses are necessary steps, and not to rush things: the journey must be taken at your own pace.
It also urges you to surround yourself with a calm and supportive environment, to protect yourself from disruptive influences, and to make your mental well-being a priority.
The advice is clear: move forward with confidence, even if everything is not yet clear. The movement itself is healing.
Six of Swords as fourth card : Outcome
in the Rider Waite Smith 5-Card spread
In the outcome position, the Six of Swords indicates that the consultant will manage to leave a difficult situation and move towards greater mental and emotional stability.
This is not a resounding victory, but a gradual improvement, a lightening of the burden, a successful transition to a more peaceful space.
The outcome shows that a period of turmoil or suffering will gradually recede, allowing for peaceful reconstruction.
It can also signify a move, a change of context, or a symbolic or actual journey that helps with regeneration.
It is not the end of the journey, but it is the crossing of a difficult threshold and the possibility of entering a phase of inner consolidation, freer and more peaceful. It is a new breath of life, discreet but vital.
Six of Swords as fifth card : Synthesis / Future
in the Rider Waite Smith 5-Card spread
In summary, the Six of Swords encapsulates the reading around the dynamics of inner transition, movement towards greater peace, and the process of gradual healing. It reminds us that all genuine transformation involves a period of uncertainty, where we have left the old behind but are not yet fully settled into the new.
This reading emphasises that the most important thing is to remain faithful to the movement you have begun, not to give in to the temptation to turn back, and to trust the direction your heart and mind are pointing you in.
The summary invites you to respect your own pace, surround yourself with kindness, and allow the transition process to unfold without violence. You are on the right path, even if it is still shrouded in fog.
See another cardin 5-card spread
- The Fool
- The Magician I
- The High Priestess II
- The Empress III
- The Emperor VI
- The Hierophant V
- The Lovers VI
- The Chariot VII
- Strength VIII
- The Hermit IX
- Wheel of Fortune X
- Justice XI
- The Hanged Man XII
- Death XIII
- Temperance XIV
- The Devil XV
- The Tower XVI
- The Star XVII
- The Moon XVIII
- The Sun XIX
- Judgement XX
- The World XXI
- Ace of Wands
- Two of Wands
- Three of Wands
- Four of Wands
- Five of Wands
- Six of Wands
- Seven of Wands
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Wands
- Ten of Wands
- Page of Wands
- Knight of Wands
- Queen of Wands
- King of Wands
- Ace of Cups
- Two of Cups
- Three of Cups
- Four of Cups
- Five of Cups
- Six of Cups
- Seven of Cups
- Eight of Cups
- Nine of Cups
- Ten of Cups
- Page of Cups
- Knight of Cups
- Queen of Cups
- King of Cups
- Ace of Swords
- Two of Swords
- Three of Swords
- Four of Swords
- Five of Swords
- Six of Swords
- Seven of Swords
- Eight of Swords
- Nine of Swords
- Ten of Swords
- Page of Swords
- Knight of Swords
- Queen of Swords
- King of Swords
- Ace of Pentacles
- Two of Pentacles
- Three of Pentacles
- Four of Pentacles
- Five of Pentacles
- Six of Pentacles
- Seven of Pentacles
- Eight of Pentacles
- Nine of Pentacles
- Ten of Pentacles
- Page of Pentacles
- Knight of Pentacles
- Queen of Pentacles
- King of Pentacles
1 card spread
Six of Swords and its various thematic readings
Read-only card Six of Swords in the Rider-Waite tarot is rich in symbolism and offers a variety of interpretations for different reading thematics. Consult our analysis of the general meaning and implications for love, work, family... of the card Six of Swords