RECOVERY
TRAVEL
Sometimes this card represents a dull, listless state. Nothing is seriously wrong, but nothing is right either.
You’re getting by, but not thriving. In the picture, the figures in the boat seem sad and disengaged. Life is indeed uninteresting when we feel the blues.
In a more positive vein, the Six of Swords can indicate recovery. This is especially true when you have just experienced a tough time or psychological blow. During the crisis, you felt numb and disconnected; nothing mattered at all.
Now you are beginning to heal and pick up the pieces of your life. The travelers in our boat are at least moving forward. They are headed toward a new place, even if they are not yet ready to eagerly embrace those shores.
The Six of Swords can indicate travel and moves of all kinds. This could mean an actual change of scene, relocation, or trip, but not necessarily. A journey can also take place on the inner planes as we move from one frame of mind to another.
Although the Six of Swords does not promise great joy, it also avoids the depths of despair. A slough is not a bottomless pit, but simply a hollow or depression. When you see this card, know that even though the situation is not ideal, you are moving toward a more positive place. Change is in the air, and new, more hopeful conditions lie ahead.
feeling the blues
- experiencing a low-level sadness
- just keeping your head above water
- working to get through the day
- feeling somewhat depressed
- avoiding the lows, but also the highs
- feeling listless
- functioning, but not much more
recovering
- dealing with the effects of trauma
- getting over a tough time
- picking up the pieces
- starting to cope
- beginning to get your health back
- heading toward a more positive place
- feeling hope again
traveling
- changing location
- moving from one place to another
- taking a trip
- experiencing a change of scene
- being uprooted
- going on a journey
- entering into a new frame of mind
Some possibilities
- Strength – having heart, unshakable resolve
- Sun – vitality, enthusiasm
- Four of Wands – excitement, celebration
- Three of Cups – high spirits, exuberance
- Two of Pentacles – fun
Some possibilities
- Ten of Wands – getting by, struggling along
- Four of Cups – feeling listless, depressed, uncaring
- Five of Cups – sadness
- Eight of Cups – moving on, going on a trip
- Four of Swords – rest, recovery
- Nine of Swords – depression, sadness
There are no separate explanations for reversed cards. The meaning of a reversed card depends on what the card would mean if upright. A reversed card shows that a card’s energy is present but at a lower level. For some reason, the energy cannot be expressed freely, normally, or completely. It may be:
- still in its early stages
- losing force and power
- blocked or restricted
- incomplete
- inappropriate
- being denied
- only present in appearance
See Lesson 17 for more information on reversed cards.