Who is rowing the boat on the VI of Swords?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 18 Feb 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Arnnaria	18 Feb 2005
I was contemplating the VI of Swords the other day. Most decks feature the image of someone rowing a boat, and today I was thinking that it might be the Hermit rowing another to safer shores. What does everyone else see the rower as?

temperlyne	18 Feb 2005
interesting question! None of the decks I own show a rower but I looked the image up on the net. To me the 6 of swords signifies a change of perspective, a clearer view. The boat might not be floating away, but gives a different view on the old. What first seemed like troubled waters are less frightening from an objective distance. So to me the rower might be the page of swords, the one who gives the mind an impuls of clarity. A clear, pure thought, a new way of thinking and percieving things.

Rosanne	18 Feb 2005
I had thought that the person rowing or poling the boat was a depiction of Charon the Ferryman from Greek Myths who would guide souls over the River Styx to Hades. If I remember he was not a nice person or at least exacted a price for the journey. Regards Rosanne

VisionQuest	18 Feb 2005
I checked my Gay Tarot and Witches Tarot decks, and the Gay tarot does have a rower, but not Charon and not the Hermit. The six of swords on the Witches Tarot is odd. It's like a family crest or coat of arms, but no rower or even a boat. I'm not sure what I make of the 6 of Swords from the Gay Tarot yet, I had thought that the one boyfriend was rowing, ie picking up the slack in the relationship while the other boyfriend with his head in his hand was being introspective (or self-absorbed) if not depressed. Now however, I see the boyfriend in front just daydreaming and enjoying the day, while his boyfriend rows them along. http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=37400 if you're interested in the thread from the Gay Tarot study group.

psychic sue	18 Feb 2005
Rachel Pollock's 78 Degrees of Wisdom refers to the punter as "Charon carrying the dead across the River Styx". When interpreting the card, I sometimes see the querant as the Punter - moving on to new things, but carrying his experiences with him - or the passenger - being carried along by forces outside his control - being forced to move on.

MercyMe	18 Feb 2005
In the Robin Wood deck the rower is a transparent ghostly figure and it suggests to me that unseen forces are ferrying you on to smoother waters. The unseen force could be your own subconscious desires, forces beyond your control, as in other people's actions or situations not of your making. There's also the feeling of an unseen guide, a spiritual guide that is assisting you on your journey to safer ground. I like that image in the Robin Wood because it does suggest that though you may be going it alone, you're not really alone. Is the Hermit rowing? It would be comforting to think so. We would be gaining deep insight along the way. In the Housewives Tarot a woman is happily waving goodbye with suitcase in hand as she steps across six knives (swords). The suggestion there is that she's independently decided to move on towards greener pastures, and it has been the sharp, pointy knives that have aided her in getting there. The pain has prompted her decision. In the Waite deck and in the Palladini there is a rower and in the Waite he is not shrouded but in the Palladini he/she is. To me, those images suggest actual, physical help from others as we move to better environs. Since the suit is swords, I bet the help is along the spiritual/thought plane. ~Mercy

souljourney	18 Feb 2005
In the Fey, there is no rower...and the boat isn't even shown moving... it appears to be either tethered or dragging it's anchor. In the Gilded the woman in the boat is the punter. I think the meanings are obviously open to interpretation by you the reader regardless of what deck you have.

tarotbear	18 Feb 2005
One thing I'd like to mention is that I usually see the 'rower' as someone who is trying to help the 'rowed' away from their situation, so they can represent a counselor or close friend. I don't attach anything sinister to the figure. It can also represent an entire family - husband rowing wife and child away from something they cannot deal with, such as foreclosure ~ and trying to pick up the pieces and start over again. Waite never saw this card as being an indicator of domestic violence, I sure! The person in the boat is seeking a safe house and a safe distance from someone they need to get away from.

Thirteen	18 Feb 2005
There are a good many ferrymen in myth and story, Charon being the most famous. Ferrymen may ask a price for their services, but, on your side, they are required to do their job. They don't have any sign on the boat saying, "We reserve the right to refuse service!"--if you pay, sometimes even if you don't, they have to take you to the other side. It's their one and only job--they eternally ferry people from from old life to new, but they, themselves, can never leave the boat. I think the implication in that is that the Ferryman and the boat are one in the same, part of the river and the current, a force, if you will, that follows the natural but immutable laws of tides, ebbs, flows, etc. Obey these laws--get into the boat as the tide turns, pay the ferryman or say the right words--and you WILL get to the other side. The Ferryman will make sure of that, he can't do otherwise. It's almost as if you're being told that the forces of nature are on your side, ready to get you across that rough river...so long as you do your small part and don't rock the boat.

Moongold	18 Feb 2005
Like psychic sue, I had always seen this card as one of personal responsibility yet quite mysterious. It is about steering through "life" with calmness and determination particularly at difficult times. I'd never thought of VI Swords as being a card of "handing over" to someone else, for good purpose, something we all have to do at times but this is an appropriate meaning.

psychic sue	19 Feb 2005
Moongold wrote: It is about steering through "life" with calmness and determination particularly at difficult times. Yes, this card has a very calm aura. Rachel Pollock says that it has a silent quality like one of Salvador Dahli's paintings, and I would agree with that.

Keslynn	19 Feb 2005
Thirteen wrote: It's almost as if you're being told that the forces of nature are on your side, ready to get you across that rough river...so long as you do your small part and don't rock the boat. Before this thread, I had never really focused on the ferryman at all. It just seemed like the person was being guided, but I never thought about who was doing it. I really like what you said, Thirteen! It gives a nice new nuance to the card for me. :) Kes

Umbrae	20 Feb 2005
The Rower…(or the pole-er) The problem here, is that the folks in the boat should CHANGE depending on the CONTEXT of the life of the sitter. You set this in stone… Toss your deck and take up chess.

RedMaple	21 Feb 2005
Umbrae wrote: The Rower…(or the pole-er) The problem here, is that the folks in the boat should CHANGE depending on the CONTEXT of the life of the sitter. You set this in stone… Toss your deck and take up chess. Yes, that's it exactly. It is like reading a dream. I don't know who's who except in the context of the reading.

Imagemaker	21 Feb 2005
Quote: I don't know who's who except in the context of the reading. I agree. When this card has come up, sometimes I've seen the ferryman as a friend, an employer, a parent, a supportive partner, an act of nature -- someone/thing that is moving the querent to a new place (perhaps literal, perhaps metaphorical). And as Thirteen said, it's happening, we are in for the ride.

Nevada	21 Feb 2005
This will sound silly, but as soon as I read your question the song that says, "Michael row the boat ashore" came to mind. It makes me think this is an angel or spirit guide. Perhaps a very important guide or helper. (Archangel Michael comes to mind.) I know that connection doesn't apply to all, so I'd say an important guiding force in the readee's life. Nevada

The Who is rowing the boat on the VI of Swords? thread was originally posted on 18 Feb 2005 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.