Six of Swords

From Tarot for Beginners, by P. Scott Hollander

The Six of Swords indicates a journey, visitor, or message.

Meaning
Here things begin to change, but whether for better or worse is uncertain at this time. You may take a journey, or receive a visitor or a message. Whatever happens, you are slowly moving out of the bad situation in which you recently found yourself. Note that some interpretations of this card also include “a proposal of love,”either in a romantic sense, or in the sense of someone offering you their genuine allegiance. If the travel is actually from one physical place to another (as opposed to a change in your mental or emotional orientation), most interpretations agree that it will probably be by (or, considering modern possibilities, over) water.

In the Reading
Upright (or Positive): A journey whose destination is uncertain. A change of unknown effect. A message received. Escape; reprieve. The change may possibly render your enemy harmless. Sometimes this card brings luck despite earlier failures.

Reversed (or Negative): A confession, a declaration. Perhaps a proposal of love. In any case, a surprise.