Tarot Tutorials: The Six of Wands

We've reached the second half of the Suit of Wands, and we start our examination of the cards from 6-10 with the Six of Wands. Before we examine the specific meanings of this card, let's take a look at what clues the number six can give us. Six is a number associated with the Roman Goddess of Love, Venus (or Aphrodite in the Greek pantheon). As an even number, it gives a sense of balance between two different forces. When we discuss The Lovers card, the sixth card of the Major Arcana, we'll see these symbolic elements again.

As we progress through the suits to the Tens, I'll refer to the corresponding Major Arcana cards briefly. It's a good idea to become accustomed with some of their basic concepts and meanings now so that, once we reach them, you'll already have a preliminary understanding of some of their aspects. Keep in mind the basic numerical symbolism of the numbers 1-10. You'll find it helpful once we move on to the Major Arcana. There are strong interconnections between the Major Arcana cards from 1-10 and the suited cards of the same number. These similarities create echoes of meaning that can add to your understanding of the Tarot and provide another layer of depth to your Readings.

Now, let's return to the Six of Wands. Recall how the Five of Wands indicated opposition at work and a need to demonstrate one's skills against others. The Six describes a hard-won victory and success achieved after a period of hard work. The opposition has been overcome, and the Questioner receives the support, rewards, and accolades that are due them, giving them a strong sense of confidence in their abilities.

If it appears upside-down in a Reading, the Questioner is apprehensive and tentative about work matters. The conflicts shown in the Five of Wands aren't resolved in a definitive way, and this inconclusive result may play on the Questioner's mind a bit. His or her confidence may take a hit because of the matter is not resolved one way or the other.

Once we add these ideas to the narrative we've been creating for the Suit of Wands, a pattern emerges - the 'push and pull' of success and failure. As we work through the other Suits, think about how to relate the meanings of cards from different Suits to each other. The stories told by the cards will become more and more complex as the web of connections grows.

Right now, we're only working with one color in our palette. It has different shades, represented by the different cards. It's only when we have all the colors at our disposal that we'll be able to paint the best pictures of meaning for the Questioners we read for.

Related Links

Tarot Tutorials - Seven of Wands
Tarot Tutorials - The Five of Wands