A horseman crowned with laurel rides among his followers: a card of victory and good news and, reversed, of fear and betrayal.
Card art by Pamela Colman Smith (1909), public domain
Upright
Yes / No: Yes
The Six of Wands stands for victory and public triumph. Waite also reads it as important news delivered with ceremony, and as hope that finally receives what it was waiting for. Consider what success would genuinely mean to you, and how you might thank the people who walked beside you.
victory
triumph
great news
hopes fulfilled
Reversed
Yes / No: No
Reversed, the card speaks of apprehension and fear, which Waite compares to a conquering enemy waiting at the gate. He also lists treachery and disloyalty, pictured as gates opened from within, and a delay with no clear end. Whom do you trust, and what are you waiting for?
apprehension
fear
treachery
disloyalty
indefinite delay
Love & relationships
Upright, the Six of Wands feels like good news in a connection: hopes being met, pride in each other and a sense of moving forward together. There may also be admiration, or a relationship that others recognize and celebrate. Take a moment to acknowledge the person beside you, and to ask what success in love means to you.
Reversed, the Six of Wands brings up worry about where you stand with someone: fear of losing ground, questions of loyalty or a commitment that keeps being postponed. These concerns deserve attention, without assuming the worst. What does trust need in order to grow here, and could an honest talk about expectations ease the waiting?
The image
A rider crowned with laurel carries a staff that is itself topped by a laurel wreath. Men on foot, with staves of their own, walk at his side. The procession has the feel of a homecoming after a win.
Symbolism
Waite says the design was made to carry several meanings at once. The laurel marks a victor, but the rider could just as well be a royal courier bringing great news, and the wreath on the staff can stand for hope that has been rewarded. The figures around him show that this success happens in company and in public view, not in private.
In a reading
Recognition is the upright theme: how you handle good news and praise, and who shares in it with you. Reversed, the card brings up worries about losing ground, questions of loyalty, and the strain of an outcome that keeps being put off.
The yes / no answer is our editorial reading of the card’s overall tone, not a prediction.
For self-reflection and personal insight. Not a prediction and not a substitute for professional medical, legal, financial or mental-health advice.
