Six of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

Six swords are neatly and regularly arranged, inserted on both sides of the front half of the boat, with three swords evenly spaced on each side.

This small boat carries a woman and a child, with a ferryman rowing behind them. Each figure on the boat has their back to the picture, looking down in the same direction. The woman is wrapped in a yellow-brown cloak, and the child's face is also obscured from view.

The ferryman is dressed in a dark blue garment, with a coat and shoes of varying shades of red-brown. The oar is very long, sliding to the right side of the boat. The ferryman has his right foot forward and his left foot back, seemingly about to push the boat up and just starting to leave the shore. The boat is tilted to the upper right at the bottom of the picture, sailing to the right out of the picture, going with the flow, wanting to reach the farther shore.

The swords are arranged in two rows, which can be said to form a protective barrier for the passengers on the boat. The neat arrangement of the swords also indicates order, symbolizing rational thinking and planned arrangement. The swords inserted are just a pictorial expression of the drawing, not saying that after pulling them up, the boat will leak. However, carrying six swords on the boat will also increase the overall weight of the boat, making it deeper in the water, and rowing forward will be more laborious and difficult.

The water on the left is calm and clear, and the water at the lower right of the picture where the oar slides is rippled with blue waves. The scenery on the other side, with slightly undulating terrain and a few trees, is a pale blue without color, representing that the distance is still very far away.

The Boat

The boat symbolizes the vehicle of transition, carrying the figures from a state of turmoil to a calmer, more peaceful space. The vessel represents the necessary means to make the journey, both literally and metaphorically.

Figures in the Boat

The adult and child inside the boat represent the facets of human experience, both mature and innocent, taking the journey together. They also symbolize the idea that change and transition are an inherent part of life, affecting people at all stages.

The Man with the Oar

The man wielding the oar is symbolic of guidance and the external forces that help us along our journey. He may represent a mentor, guardian, or the universe itself aiding in the transition from a troubled state to a more peaceful one. His purposeful rowing suggests a well-guided, intentional journey towards something better.

Swords in the Boat

The six swords placed in the boat symbolize the intellectual and emotional baggage that one carries even when moving towards better circumstances. While the journey is aimed at a more positive destination, the past experiences, represented by the swords, continue to shape us.

River

The river represents emotional currents and the flow of life. The calmness of the water in this card suggests that the journey will not be perilous, but rather a peaceful transition towards a more stable condition.

Distant Shore

The distant shore, often depicted as being more inviting than the point of departure, symbolizes the better circumstances that lie ahead. It is the promise of a more stable and peaceful environment after the struggle.