Six of Wands

Victory and public recognition. The work is seen, the crowd cheers, and you are allowed to enjoy it. Ride through with your head up.

victory · recognition · success · confidence

Success that goes unseen, or praise that has gone to the head. Fear of failing in public. Or needing applause before believing the win is real.

unrecognised · ego · fear of failure · fall from grace

A young man in an indigo robe patterned with vermilion flowers, a crown of green leaves on his head, rides a white horse through a crowd. The horse wears red tassels. He lifts a bamboo pole topped with a laurel wreath tied with a red ribbon. On both sides men walk with more leafy bamboo poles held upright, and in the foreground people reach up, one in a wide straw hat. Pines, roofs and a blue mountain lie behind.

In Rider–Waite–Smith tarot the Six of Wands shows a rider wearing a laurel wreath, a wreathed staff in hand, among people carrying staves. The laurel is the old sign of victory. The card is recognition: the effort of the Five settled, and the result seen by others.

Pride in each other, a relationship others celebrate, confidence returning after doubt. Let yourself be seen.

A win, a promotion, a result that gets noticed. Accept the credit, thank the people carrying poles beside you, and keep going.

Tell someone plainly what you achieved, and accept their congratulations without shrinking it. Then thank the people who walked beside you.

Yes

The wreath is raised and the crowd is cheering; the card leans firmly yes.

Can you accept praise without explaining it away?