The Six of Swords
When one examines this card, you may notice the element of movement as the figure standing in the boat appears to be pushing the adult and child figure toward an island in the distance. Many interpretations of this card suggest its meaning is connected to moving away from danger and toward recovery. This card may represent a potential transition, or a quiet passage through a difficult time (Pollack, 2019).
When I meditate on this card, I notice six sharp swords are upright and pierce the bottom of the boat. Although the sharp edges are facing down, the boat does not sink.
This card is one of hope. Perhaps the swords represent our troubles, and overtime, we learn to carry them. There is wisdom here. If the swords were removed from the boat, the boat would surely sink. Instead, we learn to be with the challenges presented to us throughout our life.
As a social work educator, I have been immersed in the study of trauma and recovery for over a decade. It’s often the lens in which I understand human behavior. One way to understand trauma recovery is to consider the term “window of capacity.” It is a term used to help those suffering understand how they may thrive. I describe this window as a place where one can think clearly, interact and engage with others, and stay compassionately connected to themselves and to the present moment. The conditions of recovery invite one to notice when they are moving out of or staying in their window of capacity.
This card reminds us that one way to understand our purpose is to consider the inventive ways in which we grow our window of capacity. The six of swords invites us to develop a relationship with our troubles. If we can be with them while staying connected to ourselves and each other, we may learn to grow our window of capacity. To this point, Pollack (2019) describes the meaning of this card as “functioning in some difficult situation without attacking the problem” (p. 223).
My sense of sadness felt as I examine this card reminds me that mourning and sorrow are a part of life. The image also invokes hope and transformation as the figures move away from one thing and toward another destination. When I meditate on this card, I ask myself, what am I being called to be with in this moment that feels challenging and how can I grow my capacity to be with these challenging feelings? In some ways, the compassionate relationship I cultivate with the situations or parts of myself that I perceive as troubling is a signal of hope, knowing that these troubles will not ‘sink my boat,’ especially if I can find a way to be with them. Perhaps the figures traveling together also serves as a reminder that although this experience may feel lonely, there are others available to us, lending their support.
References
Pollack, R, (2019). Seventy-eight degrees of wisdom: A tarot journey to self-awareness (a new edition of the tarot classic). Weiser Books.
