Six of Wands

This card is like a congratulatory postcard in a spread. It literally says 'Congratulations on victory!' Traditionally, the card symbolizes a favorable outcome of any undertaking, bringing it to a victorious conclusion, the triumph of will and courage. Its appearance in a spread announces that a streak of luck is beginning, fate favors the querent, and what they hope for will soon happen.

Hopes will be fulfilled, desires realized, gifts will be received. It says: you will confidently reach the victorious end, overcome difficulties, don't lose your optimistic mood. This is a card of conquests and victories, rosy prospects, life success, progress, efforts bringing a reward (logically it follows the battle-filled Five and precedes the guarding of one's conquests in the Seven).

If other cards in the spread hint at some struggle, then the Six of Wands says that the battle will be crowned with exhilarating success. Generally, it typically falls after some difficult life trial, a period of persistent labor, giving cause for joy. Even if not, in any case, its appearance says that this period is very favorable for undertakings, be it starting a family or making a career. Success in any chosen sphere of activity is assured!

Under the jurisdiction of the Six of Wands are also all sorts of important and joyful news.

Under this card go successful business trips.

As a resulting card in a spread, the Six of Wands says that all previous influences are needed so that the person becomes more mature, strong, and courageous for advancing on their path, having overcome difficulties, resistance, and conflicts. As one modern tarologist noted, the Six of Wands is not a 'rotten compromise,' but precisely victory after struggle and a deserved (though sometimes seemingly 'undeserved') reward.

This card cannot be called intimate; there is always an element of pomp and parade in it – the publicizing of success, proclaiming it to others.

'Here he comes, the hero-victor.' And he doesn't walk, he rides! This is a person who has withstood a test of strength and proved that they are not a simpleton. They have defeated the force they fought against and are now open for positive communication. They have realized their own value and significance and are now transmitting this discovery to others. Under the jurisdiction of this card – an active life position. Fullness of strength and self-confidence that impresses others. However, here there is an element of a mask, as if the person's strength depends on how well they can demonstrate it to others ('putting on a brave face,' no matter how the game goes).

This is also significant because the Six of Wands often speaks of being in the spotlight. Well, under the spotlights, a mask can be simply necessary. A public figure, a person whose popularity is created by collective opinion. Sometimes the card says that for the person, the external, showy side of things is very important – some events, PR (this can manifest at the level of friends and neighbors, or on a mega-scale).

Sometimes the card describes a person who is eager to share some news (usually favorable). Joyful, festive mood. Stabilization of energy, harmony in self-management. Nobility, courage, inspiration. Optimism, confidence in the future. Ability to effectively arrange both affairs and relationships with people. Under the Six of Wands goes successful work on oneself, personal growth.

But first and foremost, above all, the Six of Wands is a card of satisfied ambition, pride. Under it, a person often receives recognition, admiration. Here there can be an element of self-admiration and the risk of forgetting about the feelings of others. In the worst case, the card describes a self-confident upstart.

If the querent cannot at all identify themselves with this card, then it simply announces the necessity to adapt to someone stronger.

Generally, this is a card of material and social deeds, controlled instinctive forces of masculine nature, actions undertaken in full agreement and fusion with this energy. The card can symbolize inspiration, appeal to higher planes – teaching, spiritual growth, service, awareness of one's path in this life, in the Universe. The reversed Six of Wands accentuates humility, a vow of obedience, silence, renunciation of splendor and glory.

Astrological associations: 'The second decan of Leo symbolizes the fullness of experiencing life and confident mastery of its material and spiritual riches. This decan is ruled by the social planet Jupiter. Respect for cultural achievements and traditions develops inner nobility and connects a person's goal with the tasks of other people, who thereby naturally become their helpers.

In the situation described by this card, it is important not only to show firmness of character but also to strive to use one's will for joint creation, showing the benevolence inherent in Leo and elevating one's subjective ideals to universal human ones. Luck and power over others can give a person excessive pride. Their feeling of superiority may irritate other people, turning them from potential friends into enemies – thereby returning the person to the task of developing self-awareness.

A more attentive attitude of a person to weak sides, on the contrary, opens the way to further heights, helping to become a conductor of spiritual energies and strengthening their internal power over themselves, which is the basis of external leadership. The task of this decan is mastery of powerful energy channels that increase Leo's natural ability to give and bestow.'

Light and shadow (advice and warning)

Advice: believe that all will be well, continue on your path and strive for victory! And it is very important to do this by honest means, open struggle, pursuing a noble goal. Demonstrate firmness and self-confidence to others, behave as a model for others.

As an obstacle: pride and snobbery hindering facing the truth. Self-praise, carrying one away from reality (for example, the case when for others you are a victor, but you still feel lousy yourself). Overestimation of one's capabilities. Showing off, arrogance, star sickness. The desire to make everyone adjust to oneself. The shadow side of the card is the triumph of force abusing the subordinate position of the weak, generally forceful actions and an imperious manner. Risk of falling from the conquered peak (if the Tower is also present in the spread, then with a great crash).

This is the case when achievements allow one to be in the front ranks and on the crest of the wave. A brilliant card for career matters!

Achievements, approval, satisfaction are under its jurisdiction, as are triumph, fame, success in the grandest sense. This can be both the successful completion of a long-term project and simply effective handling of work affairs. A card of truly effective efforts, moving forward, fulfilled desires. Affairs brought to success (at least intermediate) as a result of persistent labor, and what one hopes for will soon happen; it remains to reasonably and calmly manage the fruits.

Organisationally, the Six of Wands can describe the stage when, following the strife of the Five, the participants consolidate around an emerging leader. Motivation, confidence, development of a plan of action. The rather difficult stage of changes and transformations of the Five of Wands has come to an end, obstacles are overcome, one can proceed to creative activity. The Six of Wands indicates the prospect of getting an excellent job or recognition of one's professional merits. Career growth, promotion, salary increase. A card of brilliant specialists, the best in their field. They deal with competitors without batting an eye. However, this is a card of honest, interesting competition, a healthy challenge, confrontation, a duel of wills, from which everyone benefits.

Like the Ten of Pentacles, the Six of Wands can mean working in a large institution, a big firm.

On a lowered level, the card can play out as the fate of a very successful 'six' (the symbolic meaning of this word seems to superimpose on the traditionally attributed 'official affairs' of wands). In astrological terms – this is an overly successful 6th house (incidentally, precisely the sixth!), when an abundance of excellently performed duties leads to an almost complete absorption by work rhythms, and the person turns into a brisk, efficient automaton, which in a certain sense is prayed to by the management. It remains to note that in old interpretations, the Six of Wands is associated with servants, attendants, workers, and in traditional astrology, servants and workers are precisely ruled by the 6th house.

Successful defense of a thesis, passing exams, receiving qualifications. Conquered peaks. Public recognition. Fame. Reward. Under the Six of Wands go all sorts of spectacular feats in one's field – outmaneuvering competitors and the like. Favorable development of business, conquering new markets. Progress in affairs, the enterprise gains momentum. Productive negotiations.

Well-being and success. Profit, reward for efforts invested. After a period of struggle – financial success and acquisitions, improvement of position. Investments, including long-term and involving some risk, will pay off. Favorable chances for improving financial position, opening of new opportunities. Winning. Receiving gifts. Abundance, wealth, prosperity.

It is believed that this card symbolizes a time of happiness, peace, and cooperation, harmony and mutual understanding in the family. However, here not everything is so simple. Here a victor-triumphator is evident, even if as if there is no vanquished. What was that struggle? 'What was that, whose victory?'

Here there is an emphasis on overcoming difficulties of the preceding period, and in the case where partners are united and equally understand the essence of these difficulties, then the Six of Wands is an excellent card, saying that they emerged from their trials as victors, and their union is truly viable. Everything that could be destroyed has already disintegrated as a result of past actions, and the moment has come when one should forget everything and plunge headlong into arranging one's life. 'The flame burns again,' writes Ziegler, 'love, rebirth, creative force unite and reinforce each other.'

But if the 'difficulty' was one for the other, then the other has reason to look under the horse's hooves. This card can also describe the triumphant side in a love triangle, generally a person who makes everyone adjust to themselves, a player in relationships. Under the Six of Wands goes the completion of serious family conflicts, and especially – situations in which a third party appeared.

Surprisingly, in old interpretations, the Six of Wands is confidently attributed such meanings as home, domestic, family life, housekeeping. Even more surprising is that there are confirmations of this in modern practice. Among the meanings that can be found in various books are such as 'setting up a home, mutual trust in the family, correct views and relationships, respect for others' needs.'

In the Six of Wands, the 'herald' aspect is also strong – sometimes under this card goes a declaration of love, open expression of feelings (and favorably received). This card speaks of conquering someone's heart. The fortress has fallen, the victor entered in triumph and, possibly, without a fight. They may use some means to express their affection, for example, some symbolic gifts or other grand gestures. With corresponding surrounding cards, the Six of Wands increases the likelihood of a lawful marriage, and in old interpretation books, marriage is altogether one of its meanings.

Recovery after illness. Reversed – weakness of immunity, inability to overcome illness. Falling from a height.

In the reversed Six of Wands, the horse becomes a 'Trojan horse.' The enemy at the gates, betrayal, treachery. Falling from heights after success. Weakness of the leader, 'colossus with feet of clay.' Employees may contribute to the failure of their superiors. The whole situation turns out to be a 'sham,' an appearance without real foundation, dust thrown in the eyes. The benefits are superficial and unreliable, success is fragile. It may come later than expected – or it will go not to the querent, but to someone else.

Meaninglessness of gain compared to efforts expended.

The reversed card has mainly two meanings: failure and pride. From an astrological point of view, it resembles a planet in its fall: it has the highest opinion of itself, but in fact – a lack of strength of manifestations and a failure, a 'fall' and an element of disgrace. In reversed position, the Six of Wands means an exaggeration of one's own significance and at the same time fear of failure (which is very difficult to accept morally). Hence – waiting, fear, overcaution, apprehension, doubt in one's own strength. But in both cases, be it pride or uncertainty, a loss of followers occurs. Inability to compromise in relationships.

Under the reversed Six of Wands goes criticism from others or else lukewarm praise. They do not take into account the success achieved by the person, belittle its significance. Jealousy of others' success, causing one to put spokes in wheels. Unpleasantly experienced news of others' victories.

On a low level, the card works as Virgo, giving subordination, dependence, servility, constraint in thoughts and manifestations, toadying, and at the same time poor performance of duties, unprofessionalism.

Bad news. Success without satisfaction, superficial benefit, insufficient gain. One should not count on victory and expect pleasant news. Obstacles may ruin the whole enterprise. Victory may slip away literally from under one's nose. Another meaning: expectation, delay in time (including caused by someone's treachery). Misunderstandings, loss of information, letters, documents, non-receipt of news. Postponed trip.

With the Chariot – triumph squared! A very strong combination.

With the Tower – humiliation, failure, lack of recognition.

With the Sun – recognition, prominent position, fame.

With the Ten of Swords – a difficult combination, getting caught in a trap, a complex set of circumstances, possibly the person will have to sacrifice themselves or their reputation.

With the Five of Cups – defeat, loss

With the Nine of Cups – achievement of desired, a strong combination

With the Ten of Cups – tranquility, complete harmony. Good news regarding family members.

With the Five of Pentacles – rejection, lack of recognition

The goddess of victory, Nike

The archetype of the triumphant victor

Saint George the Victorious

Entry into Jerusalem

"Triumph and defeat should be perceived equally, because it is all just an illusion."