The Problem with “Victory” in a Simple Flip
Look, when you first start messing around with Tarot, you get told the Six of Wands is great news. It’s success, it’s recognition, it’s the parade coming through town. So, naturally, when you pull that thing in a simple Yes or No reading, your brain just shouts, “YES! Obviously!” But anyone who’s actually used these cards for real, crucial life decisions knows that the Six of Wands can be a real slippery bastard.
I spent months watching this card pop up and screw up simple binary readings. It was never a firm “No,” but it was rarely a straightforward “Yes,” either. It always carried this conditional energy. I was trying to figure out if I should invest in a specific stock—a simple yes/no. Pulled the Six of Wands. The stock went up, sure, but the victory wasn’t mine; the market exploded, meaning everyone won, and I missed the better opportunities because I was so focused on that one small win. It wasn’t the direct answer I needed.
I realized I needed to stop relying on the textbook definition and start building a real-world, verified track record specifically for these binary questions. I had to treat it like a serious field experiment, tracking every result meticulously. I basically paused giving readings to clients for two weeks and turned my entire practice space into a betting parlor for low-stakes, easily verifiable future events.
My Verification Trials: Tracking the Movement
My goal was to isolate the 6 Wands and force it to yield a quantifiable result. I started asking the dumbest questions, things where the outcome would be known within 48 hours. I had to remove all the complex emotional baggage and just focus on movement.
I set up a strict system. Question asked, card pulled, prediction made (Yes, No, or Conditional Yes), and then the actual outcome recorded. I ran over fifty tests just on minor stuff:
- “Will the delivery truck arrive before 2 PM today?” (Pulled 6 Wands.) Prediction: Yes, but with recognition/fanfare. Outcome: Truck arrived late, but the driver immediately apologized and gave me a massive discount coupon. It was a positive resolution, but not the direct “Yes” on time.
- “Will my friend confirm that dinner reservation tonight?” (Pulled 6 Wands.) Prediction: Yes, publicly confirmed. Outcome: She didn’t text me, but she tagged me in an Instagram story showing the restaurant table. A “Yes,” but the confirmation was broad and external.
- “Will the local team win their match tomorrow?” (Pulled 6 Wands.) Prediction: Yes. Outcome: They won, but only after a deeply controversial, public decision by the referee. Victory, but messy and highly visible.
The pattern quickly emerged: the answer was generally affirmative, but the true meaning of the 6 Wands in binary readings wasn’t about the success itself. It was about progress moving forward clearly, often with others observing it. If the issue couldn’t be resolved publicly or if movement was stalled, the card felt weak or misleading.
When the Stakes Got Real: The Great Rental Disaster
I wouldn’t have dug this deep if a truly important decision hadn’t completely screwed me up using the “Yes, it’s good” interpretation. This was a few years back, and I was trying to figure out if I should renew a really stressful, expensive commercial lease for my business studio. The landlord was a nightmare, but moving was also a monumental effort. The question was simply: “Should I sign the renewal agreement?”
I pulled the Six of Wands. Relief washed over me. Victory! Success! I convinced myself this meant the renewal would go smoothly, the negotiations would favor me, and my business would flourish in that spot. I signed the documents, high-fiving myself for listening to the cards.
And then the victory arrived, alright, but it wasn’t mine. Within two weeks of signing, the landlord—the absolute worst person I had ever dealt with—suddenly sold the building at a huge profit. He got his parade. I was now locked into a terrible lease under a new, very aggressive management company. My business was forced to move three months later anyway, paying massive termination penalties.
I didn’t fail. I succeeded in signing the contract. The 6 Wands delivered the success it promised, but it was the landlord’s victory, the public, successful conclusion of his property sale. The card was showing movement and public closure related to the situation, but I had wrongly assumed the parade was mine.
The Direct and Clear Answer Today
That stressful, expensive mistake forced me to distill the Six of Wands down to its absolute core for Yes/No spreads. I needed a foolproof system that accounted for both the positive energy and the public nature of the card without assuming personal success.
So, here is my practice-proven rule. It has never failed me since I implemented it:
If you pull the Six of Wands in a Yes or No reading, the answer is: Yes, but the key action, event, or decision related to the question will move forward quickly and successfully, and the outcome will be public or widely recognized.
It’s a “Yes,” but it’s a qualified “Yes of Forward Motion.” If you’re asking “Will I get the job?” and pull this card, the answer is usually “Yes,” and you’ll likely hear the news officially and perhaps even brag about it. If you ask, “Will this messy situation finally end?” and pull the Six of Wands, the answer is “Yes,” and the ending will be clear for everyone involved to see. It signals the end of the struggle and the beginning of the clear path, regardless of who is waving the flag.
