The Hierophant and the Six of Wands

The parade ends at the temple steps. With the Six upright, victory, recognition and deserved reward arrive after effort; the Hierophant puts an official seal on them, through a certificate, an award, a promotion within a respected organisation, or a place of honour in a community. Someone completing professional training may finish at the top, or an experienced practitioner may be asked to lead and teach. The Six can signal a proposal or the next serious step in a relationship, and the Hierophant's commitment and shared values make that step formal, with family and friends there to celebrate. Career-wise, support from superiors and recognition from colleagues come together. Money shows profit from a proven business model and a deserved reward for long effort. The raised hand of the elder and the raised wand of the rider are both gestures made for an audience, and the audience here approves.

No wreath this time, or not yet. The reversed Six of Wands brings a lack of recognition, self-doubt and a feeling of facing obstacles alone, while the upright Hierophant keeps the querent inside an institution whose standards they have tried to meet. The reversed Six also warns of losing confidence, of fearing success itself, and the Hierophant offers practical help: formal feedback, further training, or an adviser who can explain what the committee or the manager is looking for. In love, the relationship may stall in uncertainty, with one partner's feelings neglected; serious talk based on shared values can restore balance. With money, premature celebration or complacency may have cost something, and conservative, careful decisions are the cure.

The crowd cheers someone the temple never endorsed. The reversed Hierophant brings rebellion against authority, free thinking and rejection of conventional methods; the upright Six of Wands gives that independence a public victory, with recognition, confidence and respect from others. An innovator whose idea was refused by management may succeed on their own and be celebrated for it. An artist outside the academies may find an audience, or a reformer may carry a vote against an old guard. In a relationship, a couple who ignored others' expectations may show that their bond is strong. The reversed Hierophant still brings a cost. Defying authority can sour relationships with the institutions the querent leaves behind, and rule-breaking with money can turn a win into instability. Smith draped the Six's horse in a heavy cloth that hides its legs, like a stage horse, and the image fits: check who is carrying you.

A procession with no one cheering. Reversed, the Hierophant can mean dogmatism, hypocrisy and rigid authority; the reversed Six of Wands adds loss of authority, lack of recognition and, in its harsher face, abuse of power. A leader may cling to a position while losing the respect that made it work, or a querent may serve under someone who uses rules to block others' progress. Self-doubt and fear of competition can set in. Partners may fail to see each other's worth, with stubbornness and outdated expectations deepening the misunderstanding. Workplaces in this state feel restrictive, with no support from superiors and outdated rules hindering development. With money, losses can follow stubbornness and a lack of strategy. The reversed Six asks the querent to understand the reasons for setbacks and focus on their own growth, while the reversed Hierophant calls for more flexibility, and both lead away from waiting for approval that is not coming.