Six of WandsTarot Card Meaning and Keywords

The Six of Wands is the 6th tarot card in the Minor Arcana’s suit of Wands and symbolizes a victor emerging from the din of the competitive struggle depicted in the Five of Wands. It represents success, public acclaim, and recognition for your work.

The Six of Wands card is associated with the element of fire and the second decan of the zodiac sign Leo (10-19 degrees). This decan corresponds to the middle of summer when the sun shines the brightest, the days are the longest, and the summer crops are at their peak.

Similarly, the Six of Wands depicts a moment of heightened glory, radiance, and confidence. The tarot meaning of the number six aligns with the meaning of the number six in numerology, as well: both are associated with the stability and harmony that flow from success.

Where the key meanings of the Major Arcana focus on life’s overarching themes and events, Minor Arcana cards like the Six of Wands explore and reveal the more subtle changes impacting one’s day-to-day life and near future.

Six of Wands Keywords

Description of the Six of Wands Tarot Card

The Six of Wands depicts the moment of success that follows the struggle for prominence and self-assertion seen in the preceding card, the Five of Wands. Here, a singular figure emerges victorious on a white horse while the rest of the group follows suit behind him, their wands now raised in support of his triumph.

In the Rider Waite Smith tarot deck, one of the men that make up this group is pictured with a spurious look on his face, suggesting he’s harboring ulterior motives or jealousy. This foreshadows the following card, the Seven of Wands, where the victor must defend his position at the top of the mountain as the group tries to take him down from his place of prominence.

Nevertheless, this is a moment of triumph and success as the victor rides on horseback through a parade of supporters. The laurel wreaths that adorn his wand and encircle his head symbolize victory and speak to a moment where his success is publicly recognized and praised. The clear blue sky in the background is a good omen indicating a period of calm celebration.

Six of Wands Upright Meaning

In the upright position of a tarot reading, The Six of Wands speaks to a moment where you can enjoy the feeling of successful achievement and recognition from your peers. You can take pride in knowing that the work you’ve put in was worth the effort, and you can soak up the feeling of having others respond positively. This is not a moment to shy away from the spotlight but to embrace it in whatever form it finds you.

This card may signal a time of receiving good news, uplifting messages, a long-awaited promotion, or positive reinforcement from those you admire. You may feel full of anticipatory desire as you await the outcome of a situation. When this card appears upright, you can feel confident that you will be rewarded, praised, and uplifted.

The upright Six of Wands also speaks to your feeling of self-confidence and your ability to share your gifts unapologetically with others. You’ve arrived at a place where you are no longer trying to dim your light for fear of what others may think; instead, you’re showing up as your true self and confidently expressing yourself to others.

Love and Relationships (Upright Meaning)

This card can speak to your ability to magnetize the love and relationships you desire by radiating your authentic self with confidence and charisma. You don’t need to do anything other than embrace who you are and know what you have to offer others is sufficient. When you confidently embrace your true nature, you’ll attract those who appreciate you for who you genuinely are.

The Six of Wands upright can also speak to a relationship where you feel celebrated and supported for your gifts and talents. Your partner sees your value and makes you feel appreciated for what you have to offer. It can signify that this relationship supports your evolving self-confidence and helps you to grow into yourself even more.

Career and Finance (Upright Meaning)

The Six of Wands heralds a time of recognition and praise for your work. Your gifts and talents are being recognized for their value, and you can soak up the feeling of pride in being celebrated by your community, your job, your peers, or other professionals in your field. You may be receiving news of a promotion or other career-related boon, and you can soak up the feeling of having your excellent work celebrated.

The upright Six of Wands also speaks to a time when you finally feel able to share your authentic self through the work that you do. You may be finally embracing your true self and unapologetically sharing who you are through your career. You find that others appreciate you even more when you radiate your essence outwards, and this positive feedback loop creates a strong feeling of confidence within you.

Six of Wands Reversed Meaning

The reversed Six of Wands can symbolize a feeling of discomfort with receiving attention. You may prefer a lack of recognition in order to avoid the spotlight, or you may be fearful of sharing your true self with others. If you’ve internalized the message that it’s rude to take up space in a group, it may be difficult to be the center of attention or receive genuine praise. If you’ve experienced rejection or judgment in the past, it may be difficult to express your true self without fear and self-doubt.

The Six of Wands reversed can also speak to a persistent worry about the opinions of others and, consequently, a fear of taking action toward what you truly desire. It can symbolize the habit of seeking external validation from others and looking outside yourself for reassurance. This card encourages you to stay focused on following your own path and believing in yourself.

At times, this card can also indicate that success or praise has had an outsized impact on your state of mind, and you may be exhibiting egotism, hubris, or self-importance. It can also symbolize being overly concerned with the pursuit of fame and recognition and the need to re-align your goals with a deeper purpose.

Love and Relationships (Reversed Meaning)

In the reverse position, The Six of Wands can speak to a diminished feeling of self-confidence. Perhaps you’ve encountered rejection or criticism in the past and are still relating to others from this wounded place. This card suggests getting in touch with your authentic essence, remembering the gifts you have to share, and renewing your self-esteem in order to attract what you desire.

The reversed Six of Wands can also symbolize the feeling of not being supported or truly seen in your relationship. If you don’t feel that your partner appreciates your gifts and talents, it may be important to bring this to their attention. Alternatively, it can symbolize a partner or relationship that is more concerned with the outward appearance of a successful life rather than the cultivation of a deep and intimate bond.

Career and Finance (Reversed Meaning)

In the reverse position, the Six of Wands can symbolize the feeling of not receiving the recognition that you desire for the work that you do. Remember that even if the outside world is not giving you the praise you deserve, you can validate yourself and reward yourself for the hard work you’ve done.

The Six of Wands reversed can also represent the need to review your definition of success and the ways in which you pursue it through your work. You may be overly focused on the approval of others, on the pursuit of fame, or are chasing a goal that doesn’t hold real meaning for you. It is an encouragement to consider what true success means to you, outside of how you think it should look, and align your efforts with this new definition.