All Things Masculine - 6 of Hearts

The 6 of Hearts

Masculine Energy¹

The 6 of Hearts is an interesting card in Cartomancy. Traditionally it represents the past, but it is also influenced by both its suit and its number.  For me, the 6 of Hearts is an important card in that it it almost always represents something or someone significant to the consultant. For this reason, the 6 of Hearts can serve as a jumping off point to begin a reading, or transition a layout.

The 6 of Hearts may cause confusion because it carries several important meanings which may not seem related at first glance.  In this post we’ll take a look at each category of meaning, and you’ll find that once you get a feel for this card, the various meanings won’t seem so disparate.  Keep in mind that any or all of the meanings may apply to a reading.

The Masculine Card

The 6 of Hearts is the Male Gender Card.  It represents all things manly and masculine.  If you think of the male hero of a saucy romance novel, you’ll get a pretty good picture of the general attributes associated with this card.

The 6 of Hearts represents the qualities associated with the “male romantic lead” such as strength, bravery, courage, faith, trust, sympathy, gallantry, sensitivity, and a willingness to risk life and limb to honor and protect.  This card can denote “a masculine point of view.”  It can also represent things that are generally associated with the male gender such as carousing, or hunting, or sporting a beard.  Of course many women also possess these qualities, or enjoy these activities (with the exception of sporting a beard), and can be thought to be tapping into their masculine side.

The 6 of Hearts can represent an actual male person in the consultant's life.  He is usually unmarried, although not necessarily unattached.  He is almost always someone loved by the consultant such as a boyfriend, male best friend, or male family member.

When I read for a young woman, the 6 of Hearts will usually represent her sweetheart, or a new love interest about the enter her life.  For an older woman, the 6 of Hearts will usually represent her son.  For a young man, the 6 of Hearts most often represents his brother or a good friend.  For an older gentleman, the 6 of Hearts almost always represents his son.  The surrounding cards will describe the person and the events affecting him.  For example, when falling with Spades, the 6 of Hearts would represent a troubled young man, or that the consultant is worried about a male loved one.

The Past Life Card

In numerology, the number 6 is associated with the planet Venus which represents love and romance.  The Suit of Hearts is also ruled by Venus, and this double Venus energy accounts for another important meaning for the 6 of Hearts: a relationship or love affair.

The 6 of Hearts is also associated with the past, and it can show a past-life connection. For this reason in love readings it is often the Soulmate Card. It indicates a karmic love relationship which brings lessons and the opportunity for emotional and spiritual growth.  The surrounding cards will describe the relationship, and any potential problems or challenges that must be faced.

The 6 Means Communion:

The number 6 also deals with interactions on all levels including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.  As a result, all of the playing card 6′s represent communication in one from or another.  The 6 of Hearts specifically denotes “enlightenment,” or “illumination” on either a mental or spiritual level.

In his book It’s Written In the Cards, Dr. Leo Louis Martello relates that an older symbolic meaning for the 6 of Hearts was “a book.”  This meaning is also partly based on the fact that the 6 of Hearts represents a creative endeavor, which pretty well describes writing a book. By extension, this card can also denote knowledge, study and learning.  A physical “book,” and the act of “reading” is usually represented by the 6 of Clubs, but acquiring knowledge in a scholastic sense would belong to the 6 of Hearts.

 How Do I Know Which Meaning Applies In My Reading?

Naturally the specific question you ask the cards will help you determine the most appropriate interpretation for the 6 of Hearts.  In a larger layout, or daily draw where no question is asked, any or all of the interpretations may apply to your reading.  As an example, I want to share a sample three card combination that was part of a larger layout for a young female consultant.  In this case I was able to read the 6 of Hearts three different ways, and all three interpretations were meaningful to the consultant:

6 of Hearts + 9 of Clubs + 4 of Spades

The first interpretation shows that the consultant's brother (6♥) is planning a trip (9♣) that will be delayed (4♠) perhaps because of illness (4♠).  The querent related that her brother is planning a trip to Amsterdam in the spring.  I advised her that he may decide to postpone the trip due to a short illness.

I mentioned to the consultant that the 9♣ and 4♠ in combination also made me think of “motion sickness,” and the consultant related that her boyfriend (6♥) has a horrible time flying, boating, or riding in the back seat of a car because of motion sickness.  This had caused travel complications in the past, and I advised her that his motion sickness may cause another delayed trip (Spade on 9♣) for the two of them as well (9♣ in middle).

There were other cards in the reading that pointed to problems the Consultant was experiencing in her relationship, and this combination also confirms that she feels the relationship (6♥) is not moving (9♣) in the direction she had hoped (Spade on 9♣), and she’s feeling confined and unhappy (4♠).  Basically, these cards show that she is feeling sick (4♠) of the lack of progress in the relationship.

This combination of cards did not suggest to me the alternative meanings for the 6♥ of study, learning and knowledge, but that doesn’t mean that those meanings couldn’t apply here as well.

I find that multiple interpretations of the same cards can be meaningful in a reading. Even if the consultant can't immediately validate the message, in most cases it will make sense later.

I hope this helps clarify the the 6♥ for you.  Happy reading!

¹ This is an old archived article that never got transferred to my current blog.