Six of Wands

Six of Wands

The Basic Meaning of the Card (Rider-Waite)

The basic meaning of the Six of Wands in the Rider-Waite Tarot deck is victory, success, and recognition. The card depicts a person on horseback holding a staff with a victory wreath, surrounded by a crowd celebrating his triumph. It represents that when we work hard and strive for our goals, we can achieve success and be acknowledged for our efforts.

Upright Meaning

The Six of Wands represents success, victory, and public recognition. This card often signifies a situation where someone has overcome obstacles or challenges and is now enjoying the fruits of their labor. The Six of Wands is associated with achievement, confidence, and the support of others. Key aspects of the upright Six of Wands include:

  1. Success: Accomplishing goals or achieving desired outcomes, often as a result of hard work, determination, or skill.
  2. Victory: Overcoming challenges or obstacles, emerging triumphant and stronger as a result of your experiences.
  3. Recognition: Receiving acknowledgment, praise, or rewards for your accomplishments, which can boost your confidence and self-esteem.
  4. Confidence: Feeling proud of your achievements and believing in your own abilities, which can help you face future challenges with greater self-assurance.
  5. Support: Enjoying the support, encouragement, or admiration of others, which can contribute to your overall sense of success and fulfillment.

Reversed Meaning

When the Six of Wands appears reversed, it can signify a lack of recognition, delayed success, or feelings of insecurity. This card often represents a situation where someone’s accomplishments are going unnoticed or their efforts are not being rewarded as expected. The reversed Six of Wands can also indicate self-doubt, arrogance, or setbacks. Key aspects of the reversed Six of Wands include:

  1. Lack of Recognition: Not receiving the acknowledgment, praise, or rewards you feel you deserve for your accomplishments.
  2. Delayed Success: Experiencing setbacks or obstacles that delay the realization of your goals, which can lead to feelings of frustration or disappointment.
  3. Insecurity: Struggling with self-doubt, low self-esteem, or a lack of confidence in your own abilities, which can hinder your progress or future achievements.
  4. Arrogance: Overconfidence or a sense of entitlement, which can alienate others and potentially damage your reputation or relationships.
  5. Unmet Expectations: Feeling dissatisfied or let down by the outcome of a situation, despite having achieved some level of success or recognition.

The Six of Wands, whether upright or reversed, highlights the importance of recognizing and celebrating your achievements while maintaining a balanced perspective and healthy self-confidence. It serves as a reminder to stay humble, appreciate the support of others, and remain resilient in the face of setbacks or challenges.

Example Interpretation

If the Six of Wands appears in a reading alongside the Two of Pentacles and Nine of Cups, it can be interpreted as focusing on victory, success, and recognition (Six of Wands) will lead to finding balance between work and pleasure (Two of Pentacles). This will lead to a period of joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment of your desires (Nine of Cups), which will enable you to enjoy your accomplishments and celebrate your successes.

Psychological Interpretation

Archetypal Meanings

The Six of Wands is a card that embodies the archetypal energy of victory and success. It represents achieving recognition and being celebrated for one’s accomplishments. This card is often associated with the archetype of the hero, the one who overcomes challenges and emerges triumphant.

Behavioral Patterns

When the Six of Wands appears in a reading, it can indicate that the individual is experiencing a sense of pride and confidence in their abilities. They may be feeling a sense of accomplishment and recognition from others. This can also manifest in a desire for validation and praise from others. On the flip side, this card can also indicate a fear of failure and a need for constant reassurance and validation.

Integration and Shadow Work

To work with the energies of the Six of Wands, it is important to recognize and embrace one’s own achievements and successes. This card can also represent the need to let go of the fear of failure and learn to trust in one’s abilities. On a deeper level, the Six of Wands may also bring up feelings of inadequacy and a fear of not living up to expectations. Shadow work in this case would involve exploring these fears and insecurities and finding ways to build self-confidence and self-worth from within, rather than seeking validation from others.


More Tarot Cards In "Wands"

Page of Wands

The Page of Wands is a tarot card representing a young person who is full of energy and creativity. It also symbolizes new beginnings and opportunities that await and is a sign that you should be ready to take the chance and follow your intuition.

Page of Wands

Queen of Wands

The Queen of Wands is a tarot card that symbolizes a woman who is emotionally stable and self-assured, and who has a strong will and great self-confidence. She stands for creativity, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and she inspires others to reach their goals.

Queen of Wands

Seven of Wands

Seven of Wands symbolizes strength and courage to stand up for oneself and one's beliefs. It also represents the fight for what one wants and being ready to defend what one believes in. This means that one must stand up against adversity and try to find a way to move forward.

Seven of Wands

Ten of Wands

The Tarot card Ten of Wands symbolizes responsibility and burden. It represents that you have taken on too much and that you should prioritize your commitments and restrain yourself. It urges you to let go of what is no longer necessary and to focus on what is important.

Ten of Wands

Three of Wands

The Three of Wands tarot card symbolizes attentiveness, planning, and anticipation. It also represents preparation for success and the ability to see the bigger picture. It can also signify that one is about to embark on a new project or take a step forward.

Three of Wands

Two of Wands

The Two of Wands in Tarot symbolizes planning, decision-making, and expansion. When upright, it indicates a time for considering various possibilities, long-term planning, and being open to new ideas. When reversed, it suggests difficulty making decisions, fear of change, or uncertainty about plans and goals. In a reading with the Queen of Swords and the Five of Cups, focusing on planning (Two of Wands) can lead to better clarity, insight, and communication skills (Queen of Swords), helping overcome feelings of loss, grief, and disappointment (Five of Cups) and fostering personal growth and self-understanding.

Two of Wands

Ace of Wands

The Ace of Wands tarot card symbolizes new beginnings, creativity, and energy. It stands for new opportunities and potential that are ready to be tapped into. It also signifies a time for recovery and renewal, which can help one get back on the right track.

Ace of Wands

Eight of Wands

The Eight of Wands is a tarot card that symbolizes speed, movement, and change. It also represents success and progress and stands for a period of intense activity and quick results. It can indicate that it is time to take initiative and take big risks in order to reach one's goals.

Eight of Wands

Five of Wands

Five of Wands is a tarot card that symbolizes conflicts and rivalry. It also represents struggles and competition that can lead to exhaustion and resistance. It encourages to address issues in a constructive way to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

Five of Wands

Four of Wands

The Four of Wands tarot card symbolizes victory and triumph. It represents joy and celebration, and is a sign that a goal has been achieved. It stands for feelings of security, stability, and long-lasting happiness.

Four of Wands

King of Wands

The King of Wands is a tarot card that symbolizes leadership, ability, and confidence. It is a card that stands for passion, creativity, and a willingness to take initiative. It can also represent a strong, loyal, and secure leader who is ready to make decisions and lead others.

King of Wands

Knight of Wands

The Knight of Wands symbolizes an adventurous, impulsive, and creative mindset that is ready to take on new challenges. It also stands for courage, enthusiasm, and a desire to change. It is a sign that there are great opportunities to take on new projects or ventures.

Knight of Wands

Nine of Wands

The Nine of Wands is a Tarot card that symbolizes a defensive stance and perseverance. It is a sign that one is close to achieving their goals, but there are still some obstacles that must be overcome. It is a card that encourages one to maintain their perseverance and not give up hope.

Nine of Wands