Six of Wands definitions

Rider-Waite: 6 of Wands

A laurelled horseman bears one staff adorned with a laurel crown; footmen with staves are at his side.

The card has been so designed that it can cover several significations; on the surface, it is a victor triumphing, but it is also great news, such as might be carried in state by the King’s courier; it is expectation crowned with its own desire, the crown of hope, and so forth.

Additional meanings: Servants may lose the confidence of their masters; a young lady may be betrayed by a friend.

Reversed Card meanings

Apprehension, fear, as of a victorious enemy at the gate; treachery, disloyalty, as of gates being opened to the enemy; also indefinite delay.

Additional meanings: Fulfillment of deferred hope.

Book of Thoth - Victory - Six of Wands

The Six of Wands is called Victory. The outburst of energy in the Five of Wands, which was so sudden and violent that it even gave the idea of strife, has now completely won success. The rule, or lordship, in the suit of Wands is not quite as stable as it might have been if there had been less energy displayed. So, from this point, as soon as the querent leaves the middle pillar, the inherent weakness in the element of Fire (which is this: that, for all its purity, it is not completely balanced) leads to very undesirable developments.

Balanced manifestation of energies, self supporting and self-reliant.

More information

Golden Dawn - Lord of Victory

Victory; obstacles swept aside, the first necessary victories of the Pure Fool. A newly initiated elder flexes his or her first powers.

Mathers: 6 of Wands

Attempt, Hope, Desire, Wish, Expectation.

Reversed Card meanings

Infidelity, Treachery, Disloyalty, Perfidy.

Etteilla: Six of Wands

Domestic Worker, Servant, Valet, Lackey, Maid, Mercenary, Subordinate, Slave. Courier, Messenger, Domestic Help. Interior of a House, Housekeeping, Family, All Domestic Servants.

Reversed Card meanings

Waiting, Expectation, Hope, Believe Deep Down, Base Yourself On, Trust, Promise Yourself. Confidence, Foresight. Fear, Apprehension.

Thierens: 6 of Wands

TRADITION

Servant, inferior, mercenary man, commissioner; interior of a house, the household; it is also said to denote great news and expectation, hope and trust, but sometimes not without some misgivings or a slight apprehension of treachery.

THEORY

It is Air on the house of Virgo, the Sixth, house of the servants and work, of exact science and the academy, of health and food, of the art of decoration and the interior of the house, as well as of the retail dealer. The element of thought (Air) on the earthy house of Virgo must naturally bring forth knowledge of every detail and reveal mistakes or shortcomings; it promotes efficiency, and the latter is one of the principal meanings of the card. Here again is a double mercurial expression, so this card must denote special abilities, capacities, technical insight; moreover food questions and medicine, medicaments and nursing; practical arrangement of details, but as Virgo "kills the prophets," this card may contain some or other discrepancy in the philosophical or logical, theoretical or strictly just side of things.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge, exact and academical, decorative art, efficiency, work, servitude and servants, practical solution of problems, but at the same time perhaps some discrepancy; food, medicine, treatment, experiment; it may relate to persons in every subordinate position and to retail tradesmen; the personal attitude under this card is rather passive and indeed that of expectation, attention, waiting for orders or for the result of experiments, for the answer on question or demand; solicitation.