A woman and a child huddle in a boat surrounded by a cluster of upright swords. Behind them a boatman propels the boat forward with a long pole.
This is a card of leaving troubles behind and moving toward better times. A journey from rough waters to waters that are placid and calm. There is a definite element of escape, of fleeing in this card. It springs naturally from the brutal power games of the Five of Swords. The subject of the card has had enough and is taking a leave from it all. Note that the woman and the child are hooded and their heads are down, as if concealing their identity from the dangers they are leaving behind.
There is also an element of turning your power over to someone else, of letting a third party make decisions for you if that will get you to safety. It is the man who is the motive force here, not the woman and child and he is transporting them to a safer place. On a mundane level this may indicate a journey across a body of water.
Reversed: Difficulties in travel and travel arrangements. Missed connections, lost tickets. It may indicate loss due to inattention or a failure to move rapidly.
EXAMPLES: An abused woman fleeing to a shelter for battered women, perhaps being escorted by the police.
Quitting a horrible job with no notice.
“Just the Tarot,” by Dan Adair, available on Amazon.com
Just the Tarot 