No. 69

Six of Swords

On a morning as the gloom gradually clears, a small boat drifts away from the turbid riverbank, carrying a pensive traveler and the sword that was once sharp. This journey is not merely a geographical relocation but a transformative voyage of the soul. The traveler gazes back at the receding storm, his heart holding both reluctance and longing for new life. It is said that this passage symbolizes liberation from past pain and confusion, moving toward a brighter, more peaceful future. Gentle ripples on the water's surface seem to whisper: only by letting go of the past can one embrace the hope of what lies ahead. This parable reveals that transformation often requires leaving familiar surroundings, and amid the waves that grow ever more distant, the heart gradually clears, gaining the strength for rebirth and moving forward. [Imagery and Symbolism] A ferryman poles a boat carrying a mother and child across a river (departure from difficulty). Six swords stand upright in the boat. The water is calm on the right side and turbulent on the left.