The Six of Swords — Transition & Crossing Playlist
The Six of Swords is a bittersweet movement when you leave behind struggle and move toward calmer waters. It’s the ferry between loss and renewal, the quiet crossing into a new chapter.
This card reminds us that transitions are rarely easy, but they carry hope. To let go is to trust that the unknown holds more peace than what you’ve outgrown.
And that’s where music comes in. A playlist for transition like this acts as a spell. It carries you through the drift, helping you surrender to the journey and embrace the calm ahead.
But first, let’s talk about what this card means.
The Six of Swords in Tarot
In the Rider–Waite–Smith deck, the Six of Swords shows a small boat carrying figures across still waters, moving away from turbulence toward calmer shores. It is a card of passage.
At its core, this card represents:
✨ Transition and Movement — leaving behind the old and seeking new ground.
✨ A Healing Journey — recovery that comes slowly, step by step.
✨ Bittersweet Departure — the necessity of moving on, even when it hurts.
When this card appears in a reading, it often signals crossing into calmer waters — a reminder that healing is found in the act of moving forward.
Music as Magic
To me, music is one of the simplest kinds of spellwork. A playlist can set the tone for an afternoon of creativity, a ritual, or even just a mood shift. The songs we choose become the energy we’re weaving around ourselves.
The Six of Swords playlist is one I imagine playing while:
Journaling about leaving behind what no longer serves.
Meditating on safe passage through a difficult time.
Traveling, both physically and spiritually, into new horizons.
Creating a ritual for release and renewal.
It’s music for journeys, healing, and crossing over.
The Playlist
Here’s the soundtrack I curated to capture the essence of the Six of Swords:
Walk Away – Kelly Clarkson
This track captures the decisive break that begins the Six of Swords. It’s firm, unapologetic, and necessary. It’s the moment you realize you can’t stay where you are. Starting here sets the tone: transition begins with the courage to walk away, even before the path ahead is clear.Carry Me – Bombay Bicycle Club
After departure comes vulnerability. “Carry Me” embodies the plea for guidance or support while crossing unknown waters. Placed second, it softens the blow of leaving by reminding us that we don’t have to travel alone. The Six of Swords honors both independence and the importance of asking for help.Sail Away – David Gray
Gentle and steady, this song marks the first motion into transition. Its calming repetition feels like waves against a boat, carrying us further from old shores. At this stage, it shifts us into the rhythm of crossing, illustrating the quiet determination needed to keep moving forward despite uncertainty.Swim Until You Can’t See Land – Frightened Rabbit
Here, the playlist reaches the point of no return. The lyrics capture both the fear and the exhilaration of leaving solid ground behind. Partway through the journey, this song represents surrender. It’s about pushing past what’s familiar until the old world disappears and trusting something new will emerge.The Coast – Paul Simon
At the midpoint, “The Coast” acts as a contemplative pause. Its breezy sound holds reflection, as if gazing at distant horizons. This placement mirrors the Six of Swords’ bittersweet energy: you’ve left behind what you knew, but haven’t yet arrived. It’s a moment of orientation and perspective.The Captain – Kasey Chambers
This track asserts agency in the midst of drifting. By placing it after the reflective “Coast,” the energy rises into determination—steering the vessel, taking charge of your direction. The Six of Swords isn’t passive; this song emphasizes that even in transition, we can choose how we navigate.The River – Bruce Springsteen
Deeply nostalgic, “The River” carries memory and loss. It’s the weight of what we’ve left behind. In this moment, it acknowledges grief as part of transition. The Six of Swords isn’t only about moving forward; it also honors sorrow. This placement grounds the journey in emotional truth before lifting again.New Slang – The Shins
Placed after “The River,” this song represents the turning point: the realization that change reshapes identity. Its wistful tone captures the strangeness of seeing yourself differently once you’ve left the past. The Six of Swords is a card of inner as well as outer travel, and this track reflects both.Migration – Bonobo
Atmospheric and expansive, “Migration” creates the liminal space of drifting. Positioned as the penultimate track, it suspends us between departure and arrival. We are no longer who we were, and not yet who we’ll become. The Six of Swords lives in this threshold, and the song embodies that transitional state.Don’t Dream It’s Over – Crowded House
This closer offers a soft landing—not triumphant, but hopeful. Its message is gentle perseverance: the crossing may be hard, but it’s not the end. Ending with this track honors the Six of Swords’ bittersweet promise: that even through loss, we are heading toward calmer waters.
Journal Prompts for the Six of Swords
If you want to go deeper into the energy of this card, try reflecting with these prompts:
What am I being called to leave behind right now?
How can I trust the transition, even if the destination isn’t clear?
Where in my life am I crossing from turbulence into calm?
If you want to explore these prompts more deeply, I created a free worksheet to guide you.
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Bringing the Six of Swords Into Your Life
This playlist becomes a guide through change.
Journey Ritual: Play it on a drive, walk, or symbolic movement from one place to another.
Release Practice: Write down what you’re leaving behind, then tear or bury the page.
Meditative Listening: Imagine a boat carrying you from turmoil to calm.
Affirmation Work: End with, “I trust the journey. Renewal is ahead.”
By making listening intentional, you transform music into magic.
Final Thoughts
The Six of Swords carries us from stormy waters into calmer seas. It’s a card of healing transitions and hopeful departures. This playlist is here for the in-between.
So press play while reflecting on what you’re leaving behind. Let the songs remind you that crossing into new waters is both brave and necessary. Each song is an oar, helping you row toward healing.
✨ Want to go deeper? Journal on “what am I releasing, and where is the river carrying me?” as you listen.
