Six of Wands Tarot Card Meaning: The Laurel Wreath and Public Praise

The Six of Wands shows a rider on a white horse coming through a crowd, a laurel wreath on his head and another tied to the top of his wand. The people around him carry wands of their own and look up at him. It is a victory parade. Whatever the struggle was, he won it, and everyone knows.

After the friction of the Five, the Six is the card of success and recognition. It is about winning, being seen to win, and the confidence that brings. It also has a quieter lesson about what praise is worth. This guide covers the imagery, the upright and reversed meanings, love, work, money, the yes or no answer and some practical ways to work with it.

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What is on the Six of Wands card

In the 1909 Rider-Waite-Smith deck, drawn by Pamela Colman Smith, a young man rides a white horse covered in a green cloth. He wears a laurel wreath and holds a wand with a second wreath tied near its top. Around and behind him walk people on foot, each holding a wand upright. The sky is a clear blue.

• The laurel wreaths are the ancient sign of victory, given to winners and heroes.
• The white horse is strength and a clean win.
• The green cloth suggests growth and good fortune.
• The crowd is public recognition. The win is witnessed and shared.
• The rider's raised position shows confidence and status, earned for now.

In the Golden Dawn system the Six of Wands is Jupiter in Leo, titled the Lord of Victory. Jupiter expands and blesses; Leo loves to shine. Together they give success with an audience.

Six of Wands upright meaning

Upright, the Six of Wands says success and recognition are coming your way. A win at work, good feedback, an award, a public thank-you, a result that proves you right. The card's advice is simple: accept the praise. You earned it.

It is also a confidence card. Many people find it hard to take a compliment or to let themselves be seen succeeding. The Six asks you to stand up straight and own the result. Confidence built on a real win is not arrogance.

It can also mean good news traveling, a rise in reputation, or being chosen to lead.

Keywords: victory, recognition, confidence, praise, public success, pride.

Look at the people walking beside the horse. They carry wands too. Many readers take this as a reminder that a public win usually rests on other people's help. Thanking them is part of winning well, and it keeps the crowd on your side for the next round.

The Six also follows the Five for a reason. The rider has come through the friction and kept his head. Whatever struggle came before this card, it shaped the result.

Six of Wands reversed meaning

Reversed, you may be waiting for approval you do not need. The work is good, but no one has said so, and it is eating at you. The card's advice is to celebrate yourself and stop measuring your success by applause.

The reversed Six can also mean a win that goes to someone else, a quiet result where you hoped for a big one, or pride that has slipped into vanity. A third reading is a fall from favor. Reputations shift, and this is a reminder not to build your sense of worth on the crowd. The work you did is still good on the days nobody claps.

Six of Wands in love

In love, the Six of Wands is a happy card. For a single reader it can mean feeling confident and attractive, and being noticed. For a couple, it may show a relationship that others admire, or a partner who openly supports your success.

Reversed, it can point to needing too much reassurance, or one partner feeling overshadowed by the other's success. Share the spotlight.

If you have been through a rough patch together, the upright Six can mean you have come out of it stronger, and that the people around you can see it too.

Six of Wands for career and money

At work, this is one of the strongest cards for a promotion, a successful launch, a won pitch or public recognition. If you have applied for something, it is a good sign. Leadership roles fit the card well.

The card favors visibility. Post the portfolio, give the talk, put your name on the work. Being good is not always enough; the Six says this is a time to be seen being good.

With money, it shows rewards for effort: a bonus, a raise or a profitable result. Reversed, it warns against spending to look successful rather than to be secure. A win is a good time to save part of the reward, not to raise your costs to match it.

Is the Six of Wands a yes or no card?

The Six of Wands is a strong yes, especially for questions about winning, success or approval. Reversed, it is "yes, but do not wait for others to confirm it".

How to work with the Six of Wands

This card asks you to mark your wins and keep them in proportion.

• Keep a wins list. Write down each success, however small. Read it on the days the crowd is quiet.
• Work with solar energy. The Sowilo rune is the sun rune of victory, and the four fire festivals are natural times to celebrate.
• Anoint your tools. Anointing oils can be blended for success and confidence.
• Light a victory candle. The Sun tarot candle or the Leo zodiac candle matches this card's Jupiter in Leo.

The tarot page on this site pairs the Six of Wands with the ritual candle collection.

Six of Wands next to other cards

• Six of Wands and The Chariot: a hard-won victory through willpower.
• Six of Wands and The Sun: success that is bright, public and well deserved.
• Six of Wands and Nine of Cups: a wish granted and the satisfaction that follows.
• Six of Wands and The Tower: a win that does not last. Do not rest on the laurels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Six of Wands a good card?

Yes. It is the card of victory, recognition and confidence. Its only warning is to stay humble and keep working after the parade ends.

What does the Six of Wands reversed mean?

Waiting for approval, a quiet or delayed win, or pride that has gone too far. Celebrate yourself and keep going.

Does the Six of Wands mean someone admires me?

Often, yes. The crowd on the card looks up to the rider, and the card commonly shows being noticed and respected. Check the cards around it to see who is doing the admiring.

What astrology goes with the Six of Wands?

The Golden Dawn assigns it to Jupiter in Leo.

Related Reads

• Major Arcana Meanings: All 22 Tarot Cards
• Six of Cups Tarot Card Meaning
• Sun Symbol in Paganism: Solar Magic
• Five of Wands Tarot Card Meaning
• Seven of Wands Tarot Card Meaning

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