The Six of Swords tarot card encourages acceptance and moving on from the past. This card is all about starting over and beginning a new chapter of your life.
Often this means leaving a painful situation and accepting reality for what it is. No matter how difficult it is to admit the truth, you must embrace it. Only then can you move on and not look back.
Remember that once you accept things and move past them, your struggle will be over. You’re ready for something new, even if you don’t know what your future holds, and this transition will help you leave your baggage behind.
When you see the Six of Swords card reversed, it can mean you know it’s time to move on, but you’re hesitating. Maybe you’re tricking yourself into thinking the transition doesn’t need to happen, or maybe you’re resisting change because it feels forced.
Try to find a compromise or look at things from a new perspective. How will you benefit when all is said and done? How can you make the most out of this transition, even if it’s not what you thought you wanted?
Look for the bright spots and keep yourself open to new experiences along the way.
The reversed Six of Swords card can also mean you have unresolved issues that are holding you back. You’re unable to release your baggage because you need to address the difficult things that happened in the past.
Face your past with honesty and look for ways to resolve conflicts that were left open. This reversed card can also mean you’re going through a personal transition or rite of passage. You’re ready to transform and move on to a new life and a new way of thinking.
Reading this reversed card using the “blocked/restricted” meaning
Okay, so now let’s talk about how to read your reversed Six of Swords card. First, you can use the “blocked/restricted” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you look for an obstacle standing in front of the card’s upright meaning.
For the Six of Swords, this means something is blocking your ability to move on and accept the situation for what it is. Maybe you have unresolved issues or maybe you’re afraid of what the future will hold.
Say you pull the reversed Six of Swords thinking about your recent breakup. You were with your girlfriend for two years, and you thought you’d be together forever.
Ever since the day you met, she’s been your rock, and you could never imagine your life apart. But a few months ago, she ended things out of the blue. She told you that you want different things and she’s no longer attracted to you.
You heard what she had to say, but you know the two of you are perfect together, so it didn’t sink in. The weird part is that you haven’t been too upset since the breakup because you think the two of you are destined to get back together.
You still check out her social media to see what she’s doing and sometimes send her a text message when you’re thinking of her. Even though you haven’t heard from her, you can’t let go of the hope that you might get back together.
Here, the reversed Six of Swords card tells you that you must accept this situation for what it is. Things are over between the two of you, and pretending that’s not the case will only hurt you more.
Wasting your life waiting for someone who doesn’t want you is no life at all. Instead, cut ties with your ex as best as you can. Stop following her social media and exposing yourself to that pain.
If you can bring yourself to do it, block her number too. Reach out to friends who can hold you accountable and keep you from texting when you feel weak. In the long run, facing the pain that comes with this breakup will help you accept it and move on to a much healthier place.
Reading this reversed card using the “opposite” meaning
Another way to read your reversed Six of Swords card is with the “opposite” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards this way, you look for the opposite of the card’s upright meaning.
So for the Six of Swords, instead of transition, you have stagnation. Things are at a standstill for the moment, so now’s the time to shake it up.
For example, say you pull the reversed Six of Swords card thinking about your fitness regime. You got a gym membership a few months ago and have been going twice each week. You like to use the elliptical and some of the other machines, and occasionally you’ll use some free weights.
But you’ve noticed that it’s getting harder to motivate yourself to go each week, and you’re not seeing the results you want. Here, the reversed Six of Swords tells you to shake up your routine.
Try reaching out to a friend who wants to work out with you. The two of you can keep each other on schedule and help to motivate one another. Also, think about taking some classes at your gym.
Having someone lead you through a workout can not only help to motivate you and keep things fun, but they can teach you how to optimize your workout. Remember that boredom can keep us from achieving our potential, so anything you can do to mix it up will be a huge help.
Reading this reversed card using the “worse” meaning
You can also read your reversed Six of Swords card using the “worse” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards this way, you take the card’s upright meaning and put it in a negative light.
With the Six of Swords, this means you’re moving on, but maybe you’re leaving some issues unresolved, and this can come back to haunt you.
For example, say you pull the reversed Six of Swords thinking about your family. You have a lot of aunts, uncles, and cousins, and last month, your grandma threw your annual family reunion. Everyone got together back in your hometown in Connecticut to share stories and reconnect.
But while you were there, a big blowout happened between a few of your cousins. You got involved trying to defend one of them, and it left a lot of tension in the group.
The next morning, you got on your plane back home, but ever since, you’ve been worried about leaving bad feelings up in the air.
Here, the reversed Six of Swords card tells you to reach out to your family before things get blown out of proportion. The longer you let these bad feelings linger, the harder it will be for people to forgive and move on.
Make a phone call to those involved and try to understand their side of things. Even just putting the effort in will show your family how much you care.
Reading this reversed card using the “no/not” meaning
Finally, you can use the “no/not” meaning to read your reversed Six of Swords card. When you read your cards like this, you put a “no” or a “not” in front of the card’s upright meaning.
So for the Six of Swords, this means “no transition” or “no change”. Even though you’re going through a difficult period, you need to keep moving steadily on this path to allow for healthy change down the road.
Say you pull the reversed Six of Cups thinking about your job. You work in event logistics, helping to set up sites for vaccinations and other public health events. This is the third career option you’ve tried in the past few years, and so far, it’s really working out.
There are a lot of opportunities to move up in your organization, and the people you work with are great mentors. You love this job, but you have a naturally wandering eye and have already started considering taking a position managing a ranch out west with a couple of friends.
Here, the reversed Six of Cups tells you that sometimes, it’s best to stay the course. You’re an adventurous person, so there will always be new opportunities in your life.
For now, try giving this job a real chance. Even if you don’t stay in this line of work, the connections you make here can be a huge benefit down the line. Think of where you want to be in 15-20 years and how some stability can help you get there.
You can always pick up hobbies in your free time to help quench your love of adventure while you let your career grow.