TAROT CARD GUIDE

Six of Wands Tarot Card Meaning & Interpretations

← Suit of Wands

Six of Wands Card from the Rider Waite Smith Deck

Introduction

Understanding the meaning of any Tarot card is much easier when you compare it to other cards. Begin by comparing with the preceding card, and the card following it, in the suit. Then compare it to cards with the same numerology, remembering to reduce double digit numbered cards. The 6 of Wands is one such card that should be viewed together with its adjacent cards in the Suit of Wands. The 5 of Wands, in the Rider Waite Smith (RWS) deck, is illustrated as 5 men struggling to bring together 5 wands in a cohesive structure like the one seen in the 4 of Wands beautiful 4 sided pergola. These cards are almost like the pictures in a cartoon which make no sense on their own. Viewing them together you could infer that someone, riding a horse, has come along and taken charge of the 5 of Wands disarray. This is one such interpretation of the 6 of Wands, that it has the meaning of bringing harmony and responsibility to the element of Fire. The element of Fire symbolises energy, passion and drive. It is the fire that burns in the home and within the engines of our transport and industry. Therefore that harmony and responsibility is brought into the home, the community and work place. It benefits projects, ambitions and where we direct our energy and labour.

In numerology the number 6 symbolises responsibility and harmony with particular attention to the home, family and community. If you look at the other cards numbered 6 in Tarot you'll see they all have a common theme of harmony. The Lovers has this harmony but with more focus on responsibility. The Devil is a 6 too (1+5) but it reveals to us the consequences of being irresponsible.

The RWS deck illustration of this card has a man wearing the laurel crown of a victor carrying a wand also adorned with a laurel. This detail distinguishes one other possible meaning for the 6 of Wands which is a victory and a hero. As a Minor Arcana card this will be a minor victory and a hero among friends, family and colleagues. It doesn't proclaim any grandeur and remains modest. Any success achieved, that this card refers to, will be to the benefit of everyone and not just a central character. In the RWS deck our hero is riding from West to East and facing forward. This is in the direction of the future which is where he is leading the other 5 wand bearers. Any success and victory may not be immediately apparent. It maybe a long term result and outcome which may not make sense presently but at a later point in time. In its simplest interpretation this card points to someone responsible taking charge and leading the way forward.

The 6 of Wands, 6 of Rods or 6 of Batons, is a card of success after a struggle and advancement. The element here is Fire which relates to home, community, work and creativity. The aspects of the number 6 in numerology are harmony, responsibility, service and family. The 6 of Wands has a theme of long term victory and success to benefit of everyone in the home or work place. As a person this card would be describing someone who is charismatic, successful and very well respected. Someone who people trust to lead them.

6 of Wands in a Tarot Reading

The 6 of Wands brings responsible direction to the scattered energy of the 5. Someone can take charge in a way that helps the group move together. Its success belongs to the home, community or workplace that benefits, rather than only to the person receiving recognition.

The laurel wreath can indicate a victory, but its scale belongs to the Minor Arcana. It may be a meaningful achievement among colleagues, friends or family. The central quality is leadership people trust because it serves a shared purpose.

Upright Meaning

Upright, the 6 of Wands can describe someone accepting responsibility and giving others a workable direction. A difficult project or confused situation may improve when a person earns cooperation through competence, clarity and commitment to the group's interests.

The number 6 brings harmony and service to Fire's energy. Recognition may follow because the contribution helps more than one person. Appreciation is therefore connected with useful responsibility, not simply visibility or the ability to attract attention.

The rider faces towards the future, so the benefit may still be developing. A decision that appears modest now may establish the conditions for later success. Judge the leadership by the direction it creates and the people it supports, rather than demanding an immediate public triumph.

Upright keywords: responsible leadership, shared success, trusted direction, recognition, service, progress after struggle, cooperation, earned respect.

Reversed Meaning

Reversed, the 6 of Wands can indicate leadership that seeks credit without accepting responsibility. A person may want the position of the successful rider while leaving the group to manage the consequences. Recognition then becomes detached from contribution.

Another expression is useful work going unrecognised. Someone may be providing direction or support without receiving the trust needed to carry it through. A temporary lack of applause does not establish failure, but persistent disregard can weaken cooperation.

The reversal can also concern difficulty sharing a success. Context helps identify whether the issue is vanity, poor leadership, withheld appreciation or simply a result that is not yet visible. Return to the shared purpose before deciding what recognition should look like.

Reversed keywords: unearned credit, weak leadership, overlooked contribution, status-seeking, divided recognition, delayed success, lost trust.

Love and Relationships

In relationships, the 6 of Wands can describe taking responsibility for a shared difficulty and helping the household move forward. A partner may earn appreciation by following through when it matters. Success can be as practical as resolving a demanding family task together.

Reversed, one person may expect praise while treating the other's contribution as routine. Alternatively, the person carrying responsibility may feel unseen. Recognise the actual work and keep leadership responsive to both people's needs. Being dependable is different from requiring the relationship to revolve around your authority.

Work and Career

At work, this card can indicate successful leadership, a contribution being recognised or a team finding direction after a difficult period. A promotion or visible responsibility is possible when supported by the circumstances, but the card's focus remains the value delivered to others.

Reversed, credit may be unevenly distributed or management may prioritise appearances over results. If you lead, acknowledge the people whose effort made progress possible. If your contribution is overlooked, describe it clearly in relation to the shared outcome rather than relying on others to infer its importance.

Money and Finances

For finances, the 6 of Wands may concern responsible management of resources for a household, group or project. A constructive decision can benefit everyone involved, even if the improvement takes time to become obvious. Reliability matters more than a dramatic claim of success.

Reversed, status spending or the wish to appear successful may compete with the needs of the people depending on the arrangement. Recognition of financial responsibility should follow practical results. The card does not promise a prize or windfall merely because its image contains a victor.

Advice from the 6 of Wands

Take responsibility for the direction you are encouraging others to follow. Make the shared benefit clear and recognise the contributions around you. If progress is gradual, keep the purpose visible without turning every step into a demand for approval.

Ask yourself: Who benefits from the success I am pursuing, and am I leading in a way they can trust?

The 6 of Wands earns its wreath when individual leadership helps a wider group move forward together.

6 of Wands According to A. E. Waite

The Pictorial Key to the Tarot
Arthur Edward Waite (1911)

A laurelled horseman bears one staff adorned with a laurel crown; footmen with staves are at his side. Divinatory Meanings: The card has been so designed that it can cover several significations; on the surface, it is a victor triumphing, but it is also great news, such as might be carried in state by the King's courier; it is expectation crowned with its own desire, the crown of hope, and so forth. Reversed: Apprehension, fear, as of a victorious enemy at the gate; treachery, disloyalty, as of gates being opened to the enemy; also indefinite delay.