The standard symbolism in the 6 of Wands in the Rider Waite Tarot gives us a picture of success and celebration. A victory wreath aloft one of the six wands is a sign of victory, as is the laurel wreath on the head riding a horse. However, there is more to this card and like all 78 Keys, this card too contains the full spectrum of light and dark. Let’s take a look at some of the standard positive and negative tarot card meanings before we dive deeper.
Positive Tarot Card Meanings for the 6 of Wands
- Victory and Success: The 6 of Wands symbolises achieving victory and success after hard work and dedication. It signifies recognition and accomplishment for your efforts.
- Celebration and Applause: This card represents moments of celebration and receiving praise from others. It indicates that your achievements are being acknowledged and appreciated.
- Confidence and Self-Validation: The 6 of Wands encourages you to find validation from within and have confidence in your abilities. It reminds you to trust yourself and your decisions.
- Leadership and Charisma: This card signifies leadership qualities and the ability to inspire and influence others. It indicates that you have the power to gather a following and lead with charisma.
Negative Tarot Card Meanings for the 6 of Wands
- Excessive Ego and Validation Seeking: The 6 of Wands in a negative sense may indicate an excessive focus on external validation and seeking approval from others. It warns against relying solely on other people’s opinions for self-worth.
- Pride and Arrogance: In its negative aspect, this card can represent arrogance and inflated ego. It serves as a reminder to stay humble and avoid becoming too prideful in your achievements.
- Lack of Self-Validation: The 6 of Wands reversed suggests a lack of self-validation and relying heavily on external validation.
Feeling into the Energy of the 6 of Wands
The appearance of the 6 of Wands (Jupiter in Leo) is usually a sign that things are going our way because we took a stance and acted with courage. Yay! But is the victory as sweet as you imagined? The truth is that victory that only glorifies the ego will leave a bitter aftertaste.
At the negative end of the spectrum, the 6 of Wands can signify always seeking validation from outside oneself. This need comes from the ego rather than from the soul. One example of this is caring about how many likes, shares and comments our social media posts get.
One of the main lessons for the 6 of Wands is to learn to self-validate by walking a path of honour and integrity. When we courageously live our core values in our day-to-day lives, we no longer need others to validate us.
6 of Wands Coaching Questions
How do you define success? Do you go by how others see you and the appreciation they show (or not)? Or do you define it as doing a little bit better every day when it comes to living your core values?
Success = Service to Others
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”
~ C. S. Lewis
Our angels want us to enjoy good fortune – not so that we will be better off than others but so that we will be better equipped to help others.
When the 6 of Wands shows up as action advice, we need to pluck up our courage and step outside our comfort zone. This is easier if we know our WHY and live to serve the Highest Good of All.
This card is also an indication of leadership ability and the kind of charisma that enables a person to magnetise a following.
The shadow side of the 6 of Wands is pride and egotism. It is always good to examine our motives when this card shows up. Again, it’s very much about our ability to self-validate instead of seeking adulation from others.
Affirmation: “Faith in my WHY allows me to bravely step outside my comfort zone where I self-validate.”
6 of Wands Prayer
Dear Mother-Father God, thank you for life’s small and big victories. Help me stay humble and to use my achievements for the Highest Good. So be it and so it is!
Correspondences for the 6 of Wands
Planet: Jupiter
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Archangel: Michael, ruler of the Element of Fire
Gemstone: Fire agate, pyrite, lapis lazuli
Essential oils: Cinnamon, orange, musk
The 6 of Wands in Love and Relationships
The 6 of Wands, in its negative aspect, can indicate the kind of pride that goes before fall and leads to untold pain and suffering in a relationship. But more often than not it indicates great mutual enjoyment and lots of fun. This 6 corresponds with expansive Jupiter in playful and loving Leo so, as a couple, you are likely to want to have a good time. You could plan a great night out, a weekend getaway or even a holiday abroad.
The good times are rolling and sexual chemistry is sizzling. This is definitely one of the cards that indicate that the sap is rising.
Pride
Reversed or ill-dignified, this card could indicate that pride is getting in the way of straightforward communication. One or both of you could be so self-involved that you are unaware of the needs or desires of your partner. One of you could love to be adored and monopolise getting all the attention.
Self-esteem
However, it can also mean that one of you is suffering from low self-esteem after having been demoted or even laid off at work, which in turn is affecting the relationship. Try to be understanding of your partner if this is the case and don’t take it personally!
Single and looking
To a single person, the 6 of Wands could simply mean that your confidence is high and that you’re enjoying life. Perhaps you have recently been promoted or received other kinds of recognition at work. Either way, your confidence levels are currently boosting your pulling power. Now is a good time to get yourself out there!
If, on the other hand, the card is reversed or ill-dignified, low self-esteem could be an issue that you need to address before you start dating.
Take me to the Angelic Tarot Card Meanings Index
Comments
6 of wands is one of my favorite cards.
There was a time in my life when I did seek validation from others to help build my self esteem.
But, now I seriously don’t gave a hoot.
Funny as you get older you really do stop caring so much about others opinions of you.
Yeah, it’s one of the happier cards. And yes, self-validation certainly improves with age!