Making Magick with the 6 of Swords
Before Pisces season engulfs me entirely, I figured I should try to make at least one blog post before the month is up. This should be pretty easy to do, because all of the content was essentially already written. You see, I kind of forgot I started writing some kind of “book” back in 2018. It was supposed to be a resource to help you work intentionally/ritualistically with all 78 tarot cards. Looks like I got 60K words deep and then the whole thing was put on the backburner when my mom got sick. After that, it was Tower after Tower after Tower and well, it’s been collecting digital dust ever since.
Maybe one day I will officially publish something, and maybe I won’t. But, what I definitely won’t do is sit on content that I think could be shared. So, my plan over the course of 2024 is to systematically deconstruct those pages and turn them into blog posts, each focusing on a different card and how one could ritually work with its energy. The purpose of these posts will be to provide recommendations and ways of intentionally working with the card in question. So it’s not about divination, it’s more about using the cards as a point of focus, a talisman or a portal of energy, specific to their imagery and meaning.
Today, we’re going to begin with the 6 of Swords. Going in order doesn’t make sense to me and the 6 of Swords is the perfect starting point because it was the card I magickally worked with the most in 2019 when my life was entirely crumbling. It deserves this first spot because it gave me so much in a time when I needed hope the most.
Ok, let’s get into it. How can we make magick with the 6 of Swords? This one is all about moving on, letting go, cutting cords and having faith that the universe knows what needs to be done, even if we have no clue.
First up…some correspondences to acclimate to the energy of the card.
Number: 6
Element: Air
Keywords: Travel, Journey, Passage, Protection, Safety, Movement, Healing, Transition, Aid, Rescue, Release
Decan: Aquarius, ruled by Mercury, January 30-February 8
Crystals: Aquamarine, Celestite, Angelite
Mantra: I AM transitioning safely
Affirmation: I have faith in the journey ahead and I know I am safe and supported.
Pin the 6 of Swords to your vision board if you want: Safe travels of the body or mind, the courage to move from one situation to another, the ability to find the safest and calmest route forward, support on your journey.
The Ritual: Moving On With The 6 of Swords
Before You Begin: If you want to really set the stage, we suggest bringing in other ritual elements to add to the mood. This could include music (something that fits the tone/is inspiring/feels right to you), candles, incense, crystals or other symbolic gestures that “fit”. Involving the senses is a potent way to amplify the power behind a ritual (smells, sounds, sights, textures). When you do this, it becomes a full and immersive experience where you have no choice but to focus on the intention/objective at hand. You can use some of the correspondences above as inspiration. The most important element though, better than anything already listed, is feeling, which is why we say to involve all the senses. At least, that is my experience with these things. The more you can feel into the working - the more desire and emotion behind it - the better your results will be. Neville Goddard said “feeling is the secret” and when it comes to ritual, this cant be understated. Feel it all.
The 6 of Swords: There are times in life where we know we’d like to move on, in some way, from where we presently are. This could be a very physical move from one location to another, or it could be a journey of the mind or heart. Often times, even if we have a general sense of where we’d prefer to be, we don’t always know the best route to take. No matter how clear we are on what isn’t working, we aren't always clear on the steps to take to relieve us of our current position. We know we’d like to move on, but we don’t know what our next best move is, and as such, we feel stuck. This is exactly where the 6 of Swords can assist us - by getting us from Point A to Point B in the most seamless, safe and productive way possible for all parties involved.
Do This:
Consider what about your present situation isn’t working - something you’d like to move away from, even if you have no idea how to do this. If it helps, think of this as something you’d like to “cut cords” with.
With your current situation in mind, go through your tarot deck and select one card to represent it. Remember, this is something you’d like to move away from. For example, if you’re in a painful relationship and you want out, the 3 of Swords might be a good pick. Or, if finances have been troublesome, then maybe the 5 of Pentacles would be appropriate. If you aren’t sure what card to pick, of if no card feels right, you could always select the 8 of Swords as a symbol of general stuck-ness.
With your card selected, remove it from the deck and place it in front of you.
Now, consider what your ideal landscape would look like instead. In other words, where would you rather be? Applying the same technique as before, pick a card from your deck to represent that ideal, and place that in front of you next to the first card.
What you should have now are two cards. One to represent the current situation that you’d like to move away from, and one to represent where you’d prefer to be. With those two cards in front of you, place the 6 of Swords between them. Your arrangement should look similar to the image below. I’ve also included a sample layout so you can really get the idea.
With the 6 of Swords in the middle, you are communicating to Spirit and the highest part of yourself, that you have every intention of moving from Point A to Point B, while also acknowledging that you do not necessarily know how that process will unfold. You have faith in the journey ahead, and you call in all forms of support needed to gently guide you to your ultimate destination - whether they be people, resources or mindsets. You appreciate that there may be waves along the way, but you know you have the strength to weather those storms and find your way.
As you observe your landscape, repeat this affirmation: “I have faith in the journey ahead and I know I am supported as I reach my destination in the safest, most productive way possible.” Once you have repeated this affirmation, meditate on the landscape for as long as feels right. One thing to consider, as you’re doing this, is the contrast between Point A Card and Point B Card. Feel into them both, what comes up?
Once you’re done, you might find it helpful to leave the arrangement out for a few days, just to allow the intention to cement itself. If that is not possible, you could always take a picture and reference back to it as needed. If you’re into journaling, you could record your impressions. The more we witness, confront, acknowledge and reflect on what we want, the more we hone into our preferred reality.
Like the travelers in the 6 of Swords, you don’t need to have every move and pit stop planned. You just need to start by packing up your desire, motivation and faith, and then let the universe lead the way. There is always a figurative sea available for you to traverse, with endless directions to explore. When you decide you’re ready to embark and you’re open to the possibilities ahead, the water (with its ups and downs) will step in to guide you to the destination of your dreams. If you’re ready to go, the 6 of Swords is ready to take you.
What card should we make magick with next? If you have a request leave it in the comments!
Until next time…
Julia