Description of the Tarot card Nine of Swords
The Tarot card Nine of Swords is considered one of the most powerful among the Minor Arcana of the deck, which has a negative meaning. This card almost always depicts a man sitting on a bed and covering his face with his hands - having woken up, he suddenly realized everything that was happening, and his insight is mournful. Nine swords above a person's head point forward to the future. The coverlet depicts symbols of planets and zodiac signs that control invisible life processes.
General meaning and interpretation of the Nine of Swords Tarot card in fortune telling and readings
Direct card position
In the upright position, the Tarot card Nine of Swords corresponds to a state of deep melancholy and depression. This may be a bad conscience that does not allow you to sleep, or a feeling of some kind of danger to life, for example, illness or bereavement. At the same time, the card does not tell what exactly depresses a person: a feeling of guilt or shame, a feeling of self-doubt, or some real danger that threatens life. However, most often Arkan indicates severe self-recrimination and regret about what has been done. If the card falls in the position of the future, and the fortuneteller has not yet done what he is about to do, then the Nine of Swords should be understood as a warning: give up your intentions, do not do what you have in mind. You will truly regret what you did.
Reversed card position
The reversed Nine of Swords in fortune telling and readings has a less destructive effect and indicates that, most likely, the worst is behind us. The beginning of a new life, new opportunities and the understanding that everything will be fine help in overcoming the remaining difficulties. Of course, it’s too early to talk about complete peace of mind—the problems require their logical conclusion.
The meaning and interpretation of the Nine of Swords card in fortune telling and layouts for work, affairs and career
Direct card position
Direct Nine of Swords is a sad, pessimistic mood due to the fact that the work, boss or atmosphere in the team is depressing. This may be a fear of not being able to cope with the task received, overwork due to increased workload, a feeling of increased risk, self-blame against the background of some serious miscalculation in business or work. The card can also indicate collapse, ruin, loss of a large sum of money, or a serious threat from competitors.
Reversed card position
The inverted Nine of Swords is a disagreement in the team, causing irritation and anger among colleagues or partners, ill-wishers, destructively influencing the affairs of the fortuneteller. However, Arkan reports that the situation is fixable, and it is advisable not to delay solving the problem. The card also symbolizes the expectation of change, the emergence of new hopes.
Meaning and interpretation of the Nine of Swords card in layouts and fortune telling for health
Direct card position
In the upright position it describes the condition of a person who has been given a very dangerous diagnosis. The night before major surgery. Serious deterioration in health. When surrounded by unfavorable cards, the Nine of Swords can predict physical death.
Reversed card position
Exaggerated fears for your health. Phobias, manic-depressive states.
The meaning and interpretation of the Nine of Swords card in fortune telling and layouts for love and relationships
Direct card position
Here, the direct Nine of Swords speaks of the fear of being abandoned, of a depressed mood due to loneliness or fear of losing a beloved partner, plunging into the abyss of mental anguish and doubt. It may be a deep regret about entering into a relationship with another person; remorse and self-blame for any actions towards a partner. Sometimes it is shame that the partner has learned (or almost found out) such things that can bring down the fortuneteller in his eyes. The lasso also symbolizes extremes in feelings, when a person instantly moves from love to hatred and vice versa. Sometimes we can talk about a thirst for revenge, when a person not only does not want to forgive, but also hatches plans on how to take revenge and cause maximum pain to another. When interpreting the direct Nine of Swords, it should be remembered that the card more often indicates a storm in a person’s heart or thoughts than real existing problems.
Reversed card position
Appearing in a fortune-telling or reading in an inverted position, the Nine of Swords says that there are still problems and difficulties in relationships, the state of the fortune-teller is far from ideal, and the person is still under the influence of stress, but soon everything will get better, and the right ones will definitely be made from the current situation conclusions.
The meaning and interpretation of the Nine of Swords card in layouts and fortune telling for personality assessment
Direct card position
A person with increased sensitivity. Clairvoyant, medium. Sometimes indicates a person in a state of depression.
Reversed card position
A suspicious, anxious person, always preoccupied with something.
Meaning and interpretation of the Nine of Swords card as a card of the day
If today you are tormented by remorse or doubts, and pictures of the future are drawn one more terrible than the other, try to get out of this nightmare at any cost. If some kind of danger really threatens you, then gather your courage and take the blow, since it cannot be avoided. Perhaps you will feel better if you sincerely repent of what you did earlier.
Nine of Swords card advice in fortune telling and readings
You probably tend to see things in a darker light than they really are. Don't allow yourself to remain isolated. Share your feelings, thoughts and experiences with others so that your problems do not overwhelm you.
The Nine of Swords Tarot is a card associated with the spirit of despair and is called the lord of cruelty and depression. The meaning of the card, alas, does not carry a powerful positive load, which is reflected in the image of the Nine Swords itself. How is the card interpreted in different layouts, and should we expect good news from it? The answers have already been formulated by professional tarot readers - you just need to study new data and apply them through experience.
The meaning of the 9 of swords describes real threats
Traditional interpretation of a straight map
The 9 of Swords Tarot, whose meaning rarely describes real threats, often leads to a complex and unpleasant psychological state, which is why the card is considered one of the most negative among the others. The card is compared to an uncontrollable whirlwind, which includes: anxiety, melancholy, fear, guilt, horror. Seeing the Nine of Swords in any scenario, one can draw a conclusion about the suffering of the questioner, a difficult life situation, a crossroads.
Based on ancient interpretations, the card can symbolize a certain number of enemies. Sometimes the fortuneteller himself becomes his own enemy, which is associated with many influences. The card is associated with severe anxiety, insomnia, and anxiety. The questioner is on a path full of trials, losses, and disappointments. Such a “black streak” turns a person into a deeply puzzled and depressed person. A bad conscience often awakens and fear of life appears.
The Nine of Swords card is a harbinger of nightmares, painful night thoughts. Such a period is extremely depressing, because it is quite difficult to find the cause of the torment.
And also common interpretations are:
- a difficult test that can come out of nowhere;
- powerless experiences of failure;
- the emergence of a real danger to life;
- prolonged despair, melancholy, darkness, pain, suffering;
- the need to “be alone with thoughts”;
- fatigue, which is a prerequisite for the beginning of a new life period;
- the end of the torment, the solution to problems in the near future.
The card advises the questioner to begin the path to correcting reality. Try to stop inactivity in all ways, not forgetting about decent behavior, sound responsible actions, and firm decisions. In order to free yourself from the power of oppressive shackles, it is enough to have patience and endurance. If your life is now characterized by serenity and cloudlessness, then you should think about possible problems in the future.
The 9 of Swords warns that abstaining from dubious adventures and thoughtfulness of actions is the only sure path to a positive outcome. Otherwise, you will have to regret what you did for a long time. Don’t let life take its course, deal with urgent matters that require your attention, and stabilization of your condition will not take long.
Interpretations for love relationships
Of all the Tarot cards, the Nine of Swords is characterized by increased anxiety about the other half, which is often unnecessary. This type of behavior is akin to hysteria and importunity. The card is associated with unconditional, fanatical faith, but with suspicion, even some kind of distrust and doubt, mania. In love scenarios, the card mainly talks about:
- heartless passion, love and hatred in one moment;
- a sphere that is poisoned by sick love;
- suffering associated with relationships, or lack thereof;
- mental suffering, humiliation, insults in marriage;
- inability to forgive;
- psychogenic impotence;
- bachelor life and lonely state.
The Nine of Swords is associated with marriages and marital quarrels
Despite the fact that the Nine of Swords is a “loners” card, it is associated with marriages and marital quarrels. It is often interpreted as constant torment in a couple, tears, torture. The card attracts obsessed people who are capable of creating an idol, a fetish, an ideal. Sometimes the meaning is associated with any form of tyranny, violence, rudeness, and unceremoniousness.
9 of Swords in the professional and financial sphere
The card clearly characterizes a person who is unable to cope with doubts and emotions, which leads him to negative consequences at work. There are often cases when the place of work becomes like torture, which is unbearably difficult to endure. When resolving professional issues, the 9 of Swords can signal:
- about unplanned actions in professional activities, penalties - your business may turn out to be a failure, and you will be defeated;
- on the way to promotion you will experience extreme stress;
- about a state of panic, lack of concentration;
- about fear of all kinds of tests, exams, speeches, meetings;
- about encounters with envious, selfish people, discomfort in the work environment.
The card calls on the questioner to mobilize, strict rationality, regular rest and sleep. In the pursuit of success, many people forget how to rest. The 9 of Swords is connected at a deep level with specialists in mental anguish - psychologists, priests.
All sorts of unrest are happening in the monetary sphere - and for good reason. Most often, the financial position of the fortuneteller is in a precarious, unstable state. There is a risk of losing property, failing in business, going bankrupt, owing a large sum, or becoming a victim of deception.
Health Importance
The traditional understanding of the card is illness. The 9 of Swords is associated with considerable suffering at night, with poisoning and post-operative pain. Sometimes it can talk about wounds, both physical and moral, as well as the shock that the person has recently suffered. A fortuneteller may receive an unpleasant diagnosis: receive news of a pregnancy that you did not plan, or a miscarriage. Often the card describes long-term insomnia, sleep disorders, and the occurrence of panic attacks. In rare cases, it signals death.
The questioner needs to be prepared for mental trauma, shame, horror, and guilt. The disease can manifest itself as retribution for something done. Sometimes the card exposes problems with bedwetting, discomfort due to magnetic storms, or changes in climate zone. 9 of Swords appears during allergic reactions, during the premenstrual period. Old interpretations associate the card with a notification of the death of a friend or loved one.
The traditional understanding of the card is illness
Reverse card position
The Nine of Swords reversed also does not have a positive meaning, describing the same fears and violence. The inverted position is an indicator of shame, fear of disgrace. Kkarta always carries aggression and destructive energy. The main interpretations of the inverted Nine are:
- the appearance of an unreliable person in life who affects the overall situation;
- doubt, lack of trust, constant suspicion and remorse on the part of conscience;
- oppressive jealousy;
- being in an atmosphere of gossip and slander;
- the appearance of difficult thoughts, unreasonable fears;
- denial of pain and fear, external calm, accompanied by internal struggle and panic;
- gradual acceptance of pain, purification through it;
- a long-awaited release from the shackles of depression.
Rarely, a card can be associated with relief from feelings of guilt, the emergence of new hopes and faith.
Combinations with other cards
Basically, even when found with clearly positive cards, the 9 of Swords does not promise positive transformations.
- The combination with the Hierophant can be a symbol of marriage (as evidenced by ancient research).
- Being next to the Justice card, Nine describes the bitter truth, retribution.
- The 9 of Swords with Death or the Six of Swords, alas, unanimously means a funeral, being in deep depression.
- Compatibility with the Devil warns of despair, joylessness, wicked and dubious proposals.
- Being with the Star and the Three of Cups carries the only positive meanings - relief of suffering, faith, peace of mind, the end of trials by fate.
- The court relieves the questioner of guilt and frees him from obsessive responsibility.
- Being near the Ten of Wands, 9 of Swords describe a state of anxiety, the appearance of panic attacks.
- The Three of Swords warns: soon your heart will be broken.
- The Ten of Cups assures that the fortuneteller has the strength to pass the tests with the help of his family.
Deep Understanding of the 9 of Swords
Ancient tarot readers associated the card with purity, purity, virginity, and sanctuary. The 9 of Swords are cards of retribution for past sins. The period of testing that awaits the questioner will free him from depression and endow him with enormous strength and merciless energy. A mental crisis will regenerate the soul. This is a cruel card that contrasts reason and feelings. A person should independently figure out whose influence is closer to his essence. Relying on reason, believing in its omnipotence, one can regret such recklessness.
9 of Swords - cards of retribution for past sins
The 9 of Swords speaks of severe night restlessness, a state of depression, thoughts about all sorts of problems, plans for work that seem burdensome. A person is tormented by fears of future events and constant doubts about the correctness of his choice. Uncertainty and remorse do not allow the questioner to clear himself of problems. Unfounded anxieties, a powerless state, fear of failure, an absolute lost state characterize a person faced with a Nine. From concentrating on the negative, his life becomes like a protracted nightmare.
Nine is the only Arcana that concentrates on feelings of shame and guilt, so the card requires special attention. The life period of the questioner is full of internal monsters, gnawing anxiety, primitive violent fantasies, shameful defeats. The personal state of the fortuneteller resembles being on the verge of extreme despair, as well as:
- a period of torment and loss of loved ones;
- a time of grief and lack of money to solve problems;
- a period of self-flagellation, self-punishment, self-pity.
The questioner is in prolonged fear and even panic; before tests, he experiences fear, which is difficult to control, through work, exams, sex. It is extremely important to endure this period and not succumb to weakness. Having given up on troubles, you can wallow in the abyss of fear and mental anguish. There is no need to focus on possible problems, otherwise your world will slide into a deep hole. Constantly thinking about fears and worries, there is a risk of resorting to suicide or acquiring psychological trauma. What causes such fears? First of all, sudden events, excessive concentration on one’s personality. The fortuneteller is so afraid of change that he is ready to sit in a “cocoon” forever. Often such behavior leads to the loss of loved ones and friends: few of them are able to tolerate such a selfish person.
The main meaning of the 9 Swords Tarot card is fears and worries, however, if we consider its detailed interpretation, we can find out that the card is fraught with a more multifaceted prediction.
In the article:
The meaning of the 9 of Swords Tarot card in a broad sense
The 9 Swords Tarot card indicates that the fortuneteller’s life has turned into a nightmare. In his understanding, now the usual way of life is collapsing and falling into the abyss. The fear and number of current problems are so great that it would seem that there is no point in living.
However, the swords drawn on the map do not touch a person. The problems are not as big as you might think, and they do not affect you directly. You worry too much about problems that have no obvious relation to you, but you have enough worries of your own. Don’t worry and go about your daily activities, don’t think about imaginary problems, and your condition will return to normal. You shouldn’t burden yourself with other people’s problems, especially regardless of your ability to cope with them.
The Nine of Swords Tarot can also indicate residual experiences after serious difficulties. Bad mood and pessimism in this case can be perfectly treated with everyday activities, work, and creativity. But more often this card indicates preoccupation with imaginary problems, and also expresses despair, doubt, and hopelessness. Sometimes she talks about the shame that gnaws at the questioner from the inside. It will have to be recognized and overcome.
The meaning of the 9 of Swords Tarot also concerns insomnia. It is she who is depicted on this map. This may include pangs of conscience that keep you awake, as well as anticipation of the consequences of a certain action, anxiety for your own life or the life of a loved one, or anxiety before performing a difficult or dangerous task. In addition, the card can mean nightmares and sleep-related problems.
Turning over, this card suggests that troubles will not end instantly, however, the end of a bad period in life has already appeared on the horizon. The future promises hope and an end to problems, as well as good news.
Nine Swords Tarot - meaning for fortune telling for business and work
There are many options for the meaning of the Nine of Swords Tarot when divining for work, business and affairs, but they do not contradict the main meaning of this card. It can mean despondency and oppression by the team or boss. Work does not bring you pleasure; perhaps you made a mistake when choosing a specialty or workplace.
In addition, the card may mean overwork after high loads or fear of not being able to cope with the task. When fortune telling about studies, this can be expressed as jitters before an exam or admission, fear of public speaking or other things that will have to be faced in the near future.
There is a possibility that the questioner has made a serious mistake or acted dishonestly in the past. Now the awareness of this fact, the expectation of consequences and attempts to find out whether the misconduct was discovered or went undetected, do not allow him to sleep peacefully at night.
Nine of Swords Tarot - meaning in relationships
The meaning in relationships of the 9 Swords Tarot is fear of separation. This card can also reveal concerns about the life and health of the spouse - both justified and far-fetched by the questioner. You are afraid of losing your loved one. Perhaps you have done something that could greatly disappoint him, and now you are terrified that he will find out about it, and the consequences will be serious.
The meaning in a relationship of the Nine of the Swords Tarot suit, if this card falls to a single person, means depression due to loneliness, a desire to find a couple and at the same time the inability to believe that it is quite possible to improve your personal life.
Reversed card speaks of good news related to your personal life or a loved one.
Nine of Swords Tarot - people and places
Upright The Nine of Swords means a person who is in a depressed, anxious state. He has someone to worry about, but these worries may well turn out to be far-fetched. This person may suffer from insomnia. There is a possibility that he is ill, perhaps currently preparing for surgery. Often the Nine of Swords signifies bachelors, virgins, monks and clergy, as well as hermits. This may also be the enemy of the fortuneteller.
Inverted position This card suggests that you are dealing with someone who has experienced grief or a truly terrible situation in life. He is sad, but has hopes for a good future. Perhaps this person suffers from chronic insomnia. It is unreliable and a bad influence on what you ask the tarot cards about.
Sometimes during fortune telling there is a goal to find out a certain place, and this is quite realistic. The Nine of Swords in such fortune telling will mean a church, monastery or other sanctuary associated with any religion.
Nine of Swords + Ace of Swords and other combinations of this card with others
One of the most unpleasant combinations in the Tarot is the Nine of Swords and. It means betrayal and tears, disappointment and the inability to put aside suffering. In combination with this card, it promises divorce and life alone, sleepless nights thinking about how to live after a breakup.
Several combinations of the Nine of Swords with other cards promise problems. So, for example, this card foreshadows difficulties that will grow like a snowball. The Five of Wands near the Nine of Swords promises not only problems, but also enmity. The Six of Wands near this card guarantees defeat for the fortuneteller.
There are also combinations that can specify the fears of the questioner. For example, the Page of Wands or the Jester says that fears are associated with a child, the Queen of Wands - the questioner is worried about a woman, the King of Wands - about a man. Arcanum Lovers says that experiences are associated with a quarrel with a loved one and a relationship with him.
In general, despite the fact that the Nine of Swords cannot be called a positive card, the forecast may not be so gloomy. Despite the difficulty of the fortuneteller's current position, his problems may turn out to be much less than it seemed at first.
Nine of Swords – Minor Arcana
From an astrological perspective, the Nine of Swords corresponds to Saturn in harmonious aspect to the Moon, which denotes depression, deep concern, aggravated by feelings of guilt.
This is the second decade of Gemini. The sign is ruled by aggressive Mars, which requires an analysis of the world and world order through the prism of its own will. Under the influence of this decade, a person develops mental acuity, logical thinking, connecting disparate information into a single whole, like puzzles that form a whole picture.
The danger is represented by excessive rigidity, and even cruelty of the mind, which clogs the voice of the soul, which gives signals through feelings and sensations. For this reason, a person sometimes has to literally fight with his own mind in order to take the right step and not make a mistake.
Other names for the Nine of Swords : Nine Sabers, Nine Daggers, Nine Blades.
Brief description of Arcana : Despair; Rigidity; Illness in all its manifestations - physical, mental, emotional; Lack of strength, energy and means to change the situation.
Description of the Nine of Swords
The classic card depicts a sick person whose age and gender are difficult to determine. He lies on the bed in a long shirt and with a bandaged head. Everything suggests that his strength has left him. A female nurse sits next to the sick man and gives him a bowl of water.
There are 9 swords above the patient’s bed, which, however, do not touch his body.
In the Tarot deck of the Age of Aquarius, Arkan is represented by a young man who sits in the hall of a stone castle. His posture speaks of extreme despair. Swords are scattered chaotically around him. The young man bowed his head in his hands: he cannot find a way out of the situation, since he sits with his back to the exit.
The sacred meaning of the Nine of Swords
A deep understanding of the Nine of Swords lies not only in the pose and state of the hero, but also in the swords depicted on the card. We see a person who is in such a serious condition that he cannot cope without a nurse. He is virtually immobilized, weak and does not have the strength to care for himself.
But what brought him to this state? Of course, the swords speak of a difficult situation in his life. They can cause not only physical, but also mental pain. However, not a single sword touches our hero's body. It turns out that not a single sword caused him the pain that the man lying on the bed is trying to show us.
Why is he licking? Why can’t he cope with his condition himself, but requires outside help? He does not feign pain, he is his own source of pain! He gave rise to fears, doubts, and feelings of guilt. Trying to get away from the obstacles that inevitably arise in life, he is ready to fall into illness. This state is akin to an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
The man lying on the bed did not die physically, but he died to the world. He is not ready to face him, he is weak. His mind cannot take over his fears, cannot control them. That is why on some Arcana the head of our hero is bandaged.
It is important to note that our patient has a person nearby who is ready to share the pain with him, come to the rescue, lift him to his feet and avert trouble. You just need to not resist this help, but accept the healing potion from the hands of a person.
Mythological correspondence of the Nine of Swords
In Greek mythology, the Arcanum corresponds to the goddess of revenge Erinyes, and in Roman mythology to the Furies. Familiarity with the images of inquisitors will also help you understand the essence of the Arcana; you just need to transfer this understanding to your inner state.
The meaning of the straight Nine of Swords in the layout
The Nine of Swords is recognized as one of the unfavorable Arcana in the Tarot deck, even though it itself almost never speaks of a direct threat. Here the negativity comes from the psychological state of a person at the moment, which affects what happens to him in life. And this condition is extremely difficult and very unpleasant.
A person is haunted by feelings of fear and melancholy, anxiety and guilt, and all these sensations come from his subconscious. In essence, a person subjects himself to severe torture. It is not for nothing that Akron and Banzhaf call this Arcanum the “spirit of the Inquisition.” But this inquisition is internal. When appearing in a reading, the Nine of Swords indicates that the person is currently suffering. What kind of suffering, where it comes from, what makes him react this way - the nearby Arcana in the layout will tell you.
Suffering leads a person to serious psychological problems, one of which may be sleep disturbances - insomnia, nightmares, shallow restless sleep. This is how people with a bad conscience or those who feel a danger to themselves or their loved ones sleep. Often such a card accompanies a serious loss.
If the Nine of Swords appears in the reading, it is worth pointing out to the person that he has something to think about. He definitely needs to understand the motives of his fears. This is important so that a person can move on, because sometimes fears lie in the fact that people are not ready for change or active action.
We see on the Arcana the presence of another character who is caring for the sick. This tells us that a person cannot cope with his pain, his problems and the current circumstances on his own. In order to overcome what is happening, outside help is urgently needed. Someone stronger, more sensible, not subject to fears, guilt or worries.
The meaning of the reversed Nine of Swords in the reading
The reversed Nine of Swords, alas, does not acquire any positive meaning. Moreover, it aggravates a person’s situation by the fact that if in the upright position Arkan promises help from the outside, helping to get out of the situation, then in the upright position the person is left alone with his anxiety, pain, fears and feelings of guilt.
In an inverted form, Arkan says that a person not only experiences negative emotions because of his internal problems, but also external circumstances make him suffer even more. Such circumstances may be bringing his problems to the general court, shame. Thus, the Nine of Swords in an inverted position also implies shame, which destroys the psychological and emotional state.
With such a card, we can talk about the presence of an unreliable person nearby who has the opportunity to somehow influence what is happening. The one to whom the alignment is made is accompanied by suspicion and distrust of a certain person, however, he cannot change anything in life, because he is dependent on him at the moment.
From a psychological perspective, a person may experience causeless panic attacks, insomnia, nightmares, and severe and sudden headaches. This is also enhanced by the fact that a person “winds up” himself, creating unbearable conditions for his own life.
With positive neighboring Arcana, we can say that at the moment a person is emerging from a dead-end state, depression is leaving him, he is beginning to realize his fears and already sees options for dealing with them. This is perhaps the only positive in the inverted Arcana, and it is only given by neighboring cards.
Job
If the alignment is made for professional activities, then the appearance of the Nine of Swords in it does not indicate that there are problems in business, of course, and they arose, first of all, due to indecision, doubts, fears of doing something, and negative emotions. The card predicts a failed business, and if there is some minimal success, it will be associated with severe stress, which can lead to depression, apathy and aversion to work.
With such a map, we can say that professional activity has turned into real torture. A person has difficulty forcing himself to go to work, looking for any excuse to escape from his responsibilities. A blockage at work, which arose due to a negligent attitude towards it, makes you nervous and even deprives you of sleep.
All plans are shifted, the project will not be completed on time. The person himself is in a state of panic due to complete time pressure. In addition, Arkan points out possible checks, commissions, and speeches that cause fear in a person.
The Nine of Swords suggests that at the moment it is very important to mobilize all your strength to overcome the problems that have arisen. In this case, it is necessary to enlist the support of a business partner, deputy or trusted person. It is unlikely that you will be able to cope with the negative situations that arise at work alone.
If we are talking about an employee, then we can say that there is envy on his part, jealousy of more successful colleagues. He can throw tantrums, heat up the situation in the team, and sometimes even behave inappropriately.
The card has a positive aspect only for people of such professions as psychologists and psychiatrists.
In an inverted position, the Nine of Swords indicates anger on the part of employees or business partners. You need to be careful about your surroundings, since problems may arise due to an ill-wisher who has the ability to influence the business.
A negative situation at work can be corrected, but to do this you need to overcome your fears and take decisive action. Moreover, this must be done immediately, without wasting time on build-up. In any case, Arkan shows that changes await a person and he needs to take everything into his own hands. Although it will be quite difficult to do this due to a lack of faith in yourself and your strength.
Direction of self-development
In the direction of self-development, Arkan shows that the time has come to fight the dark sides of your soul, which have transformed into fears and have now taken over. This is no accident! How can you fight fear if it has not shown its face? It is now that fear comes out and tears off its mask. All that's left to do is defeat him.
The inverted Arcana shows that fears have already been identified, methods to combat them have been selected, but a decisive step has not yet been taken. It simply must be done, otherwise you will have to fight not only with internal problems, but also with external enemies who will not fail to take advantage of the slightest weakness.
Personal relationships
In personal relationships, the Nine of Swords shows a person who behaves rather hysterically, imposes his love, but at the slightest rejection of this on the part of his partner, he begins to worry too much, overwhelm himself, and feel guilty. In addition, the person to whom the card fell is suspicious of the partner, jealous with or without reason, and jealousy sometimes takes the form of obsession. This can manifest itself in surveillance, checking personal correspondence, attempts to provoke a confession of sins in conversation, and taking someone at their word.
Such a person is prone to vindictiveness. He may even cause harm if he does not receive the feelings he expects in return. These people love and hate at the same time.
Do not forget that the Nine of Swords is the Arcanum of suffering, and it can be caused by both unrequited love and the destruction of relationships, which is perceived as extremely painful. However, the card also falls to those for whom the union has already become hateful. A person suffers from a relationship, considers himself humiliated, but cannot end such a relationship for various reasons. As a rule, you can often hear from such a person “I want to ask, but I can’t because I love him.” Moreover, we can even talk about the fear of losing a partner, which takes on a panic form.
For single people, Arkan speaks of continued loneliness, the inability to meet a couple due to one’s own fears and doubts. Sometimes they can be caused by pain from a previous relationship.
The Nine of Swords inverted shows that there are problems in relationships, but they are no longer critical. There are still echoes of pain, but it is gradually going away. If positive Arcana appear next to this card, especially Peace (XXI Arcana), then we can say that the difficult time is passing, and the person will learn a good lesson for the future from his shocks.
Personality characteristics
A person under the influence of the Nine of Swords turns into an extremely restless person, mostly in a depressed state. He is worried about absolutely everything: work, relationships, health. He is tormented by pangs of conscience at the slightest provocation, has doubts about the correctness of his actions and deeds, and is afraid of his future. He is haunted by negative thoughts and a state of mind close to panic.
Fears dominate a person, becoming all-consuming and uncontrollable. As a rule, he, like an ostrich, hides his head at the slightest difficulty and tries by all means to avoid solving the problem. This leads to physical and mental health problems.
In his thoughts, such a person draws the worst pictures, which drive him into even greater fear. It seems to him that the whole world has turned against him, he cannot trust anyone, he treats everyone with suspicion. Sometimes he even loses the meaning of life and thinks about suicide. He is driven to this by the extreme degree of despair and the torment of his soul.
It should be noted that, among other negative feelings, such a person experiences guilt and shame. Moreover, for this he tries to punish himself, and then feels sorry for himself, believing that he has become a victim. He is focused only on himself, but sees himself at the center of negativity.
In an inverted position, the Nine of Swords aggravates the condition of the direct Arcana. At the same time, the person feels extremely lonely. It seems to him that no one understands him, and no one, in fact, is able to understand the depth of his pain. He will perceive any help with suspicion, because he does not want to see the positive in it.
Layout for the situation
In situational scenarios, the Nine of Swords shows that at the moment a person is powerless to change anything. This is due to his internal problems: self-doubt, doubts, fears, negative thoughts. Everything that happens puts him in a painful state, and he is still fixated on his experiences.
In everyday situations, Arkan means loss - money, something important and worthwhile. Coping with these losses will be extremely difficult. For some time you have to endure a nervous shock, which is also aggravated by self-flagellation, a feeling of guilt and sometimes shame for what happened.
The Nine of Swords suggests that someone who treats our hero very positively and with empathy can turn the situation around. He will put feelings in order and resolve problems that have arisen.
Inverted, the Arcanum shows that a person in a stalemate is left alone with his problems. He cannot find the strength within himself to resolve them, but he understands perfectly well that there is no one else to solve the issues except him. Such an understanding can force him to mobilize his forces and take decisive steps to level out the situation that has arisen.
Health
The lasso gives a direct indication of the disease, in all its manifestations. Here we can talk about serious physical problems, literally leading to strict bed rest and even immobilization. Also, with such a card, psychological problems come: hysteria, depression, apathy, insomnia, nightmares.
In the most severe cases, if negative cards appear nearby, especially Death (XIII Arcanum), we can talk about a fatal outcome, mainly at night or in a dream. With the Tower (XVI Arcana) and with the Moon (XVIII Arcana), the Nine of Swords indicates a serious mental disorder.
In an inverted form, the Arkan shows the impossibility of providing help for illness at the moment due to various reasons: there are no funds, suitable doctors, or medicines.
Card of the day
The day ahead is problematic: everything that happens will make you very worried, and often all the worry will come down to the fact that the person has simply screwed himself up. Fears will arise out of nowhere and be easily subdued. You need to call on a loved one to help you deal with the oppressive demons of your soul.
The reversed Nine of Swords indicates that you will have to deal with problems on this day in splendid isolation, and this will be extremely difficult to do due to your own insecurities.
Card of the Year
The Year of the Nine of Swords is an anxious time, during which fears and indecision will prevail. All this will create current problems that will have to be solved together with a loved one.
Inverted, Arkan says that this is not only a year of problems, but also loneliness in the fight against them. In addition, you need to be very careful about your surroundings: here someone will try to create too many difficulties.
Arcana Council
The Nine of Swords recommends stopping succumbing to your internal problems - fears, melancholy, lack of self-confidence and feelings of guilt. All this prevents you from acting decisively and forces you to give in to emerging obstacles. Nothing is impossible for someone who can overcome their personal demons, because they are the most powerful enemy. Common sense can be a good help.
The arrival of this numerical Arcana in a reading usually frightens clients very much. Indeed, the 9 of Swords Tarot, the meaning of which we will now analyze, is one of the darkest cards in the magic deck. But it is important to understand that the terrible torment prescribed by Arkan most often occurs not on the external, but on the internal level. But let's take things in order.
General description of the card, plot and meaning in the layout
In the illustrative image of the card in the Rider-Waite deck, we see a situation of so-called nightmares, when a person cannot sleep, and dark thoughts wander through his head. The picture shows a girl who woke up in the middle of the night and is in a state of complete despair. There is an opinion that the heroine of Arcana is the famous Juliet, who learned that her lover was facing execution. Whether this is really so, of course, we do not know for certain, but even if it is not her, the 9 of Swords of the Rider-Waite Tarot perfectly illustrates the state of difficult emotional experiences.
Nine of Swords Card Keywords and Ideas
To compile a list of keywords that immerse us in the symbolic field of the map, we need to think about what could bring a person such severe suffering that does not allow him to sleep peacefully at night. If we turn on our imagination, we get the following concepts:
- Hopelessness
- Failure
- Suffering
- Suspicions
- Despair
- Negative, heavy thoughts
- Pangs of conscience
- Neurosis, mental attacks
- Nightmares
Meaning of 9 of Swords in upright position
The traditional meaning of the Nine of Swords Tarot does not require any special explanation - just look at the list of key expressions and associate them with the required situation, or pull out additional, clarifying cards. The most important thing (which we already talked about at the beginning of the article) is to realize that the whole nightmare of the state described by the card occurs inside a person. There is no external threat, so the cause is some thoughts, already experienced situations, losses, past events, or, conversely, complete uncertainty, fear for the future, and perhaps the torment of one’s own conscience. This is real emotional torture that not everyone can withstand. The meaning of the Nine of Swords as a card of the day is a difficult day, filled with experiences.
The meaning of the card in an inverted position
A reversed card in a reading carries exactly the same negative energy as a straight one, however, in most cases it hints that there is no real, objective reason for such suffering, and the person is actually suffering in vain, beating himself up. We can say that the cause of despair, anxiety and severe anxiety are invented fears, groundless suspicions and doubts, gossip, slander, false information accepted as the truth. However, sometimes under this Arcanum there is acceptance of one’s own pain, purification of the soul through suffering, but this is less common.
Video about the meaning of the 9 of Swords card
What does the card mean in love readings?
It is difficult to derive a single meaning for the Nine of Swords Tarot in relationships that would be applicable to all situations without exception. Very often, Masters advise pulling out an additional card in order to understand what is the reason for a person’s torment. But let's look at the possible options.
Straight position
So, what could be the meaning of the 9 Swords Tarot in a relationship? Whatever! The person under this card suffers greatly; he is overcome by despair, anxiety, restlessness, fears, depression, and a nervous breakdown. The reason could be some action or words of a loved one, some difficult situations in the family, separation, domestic violence, betrayal (both of a partner and one’s own), jealousy - whatever!
However, sometimes the card acts as a significator of “hysterical relationships”, when a person is so dependent on his partner that he begins to make scandals over trifles, get into his phone and email, and track his every move. And the reason for all this is the panicky fear of losing a loved one. Also, this Arcanum often passes through the torment of lonely people who seem strong and self-sufficient, but at night they cry into their pillows from hopelessness.
Inverted position
The inverted Nine of Swords of the Tarot in love takes on a slightly different meaning: a person just cannot fall asleep due to worries, but there is no real basis for such behavior. The man he loves is just late at work, and the woman is already crying into her pillow, suspecting him of cheating, the husband got busy and forgot about the wedding anniversary - the wife imagines that the marriage is falling apart and suffers - all these situations fit perfectly into the reverse manifestation of this numerical Arcana.
The meaning of the card in health layouts
Now let's move on to the meaning of the Nine of Swords Tarot in health.
Straight position
In fact, the card can describe any situation, the symptoms of which could be insomnia. This could be post-traumatic shock, poisoning, pain after surgery, allergies, a jump in blood pressure, bedwetting, news of an unpleasant diagnosis, panic attacks or another serious nervous disorder. Also, in rare cases, the map may indicate post-drug withdrawal symptoms and severe hangovers after binge drinking in alcoholics.
Inverted position
The reverse card will report imaginary problems, for example, the inability to sleep peacefully before a diagnosis is made, obsessive fears about the state of one’s own health, imaginary problems, and sometimes the fear of going to the doctor when a person has some symptoms, but does not notice them in the hustle and bustle of the day her, and at night she begins to be tormented by thoughts “what if I have cancer (AIDS, anemia, infertility, etc.)?” instead of making an appointment with a specialist.
What does the card mean in fortune telling for personality analysis and psychological state?
To complement the already gloomy picture, consider the meaning of the Nine of Swords Tarot card when it describes a person’s character and his state of mind.
Straight position
A deeply unhappy person who is constantly bombarded with problems. This could be an unbalanced person who has a bunch of complexes, or a person who experiences any collapse in life very hard. Psychological state - depression, despair, mental pain, fears, guilt.
Inverted position
A hysterical person, prone to strong emotional experiences for any reason, a person with a pessimistic outlook on life, or a person who invents reasons for concern for himself. State of mind is the traditional interpretation of the card, but in the absence of real-life problems.
The meaning of the card in layouts for work, finance
Another important area of life that is worth mentioning when analyzing the symbolic field of the map is professional activity.
Straight position
Hatred of work or position, professional failures, fears and worries about the work itself or money, fear of inspections or public speaking - in a word, everything that can make a person lose sleep. The professions described by the card are most often psychologists and priests.
Inverted position
The meaning of the Nine of Swords Tarot reversed is groundless fears and concerns, as well as anxiety about events that have not yet happened and, objectively speaking, are unlikely to happen. Fear of dismissal or a serious mistake, pangs of conscience when a person did something wrong and is now worried that his actions will ruin the entire project, and other unpleasant emotions. The card also shows too much worry about money, although in fact there is no reason to worry.
The meaning of the card in combination with the Major Arcana
Independent study of card combinations is, perhaps, the most important thing in the work of a tarot reader, because only the Master himself can intuitively understand what this or that Arcanum means in a particular situation. You can take our findings as a starting point for your own research. 
- : Worry about the child
- : Empty Beginnings
- : Nightmarish premonitions
- : Risk of miscarriage
- : Violence at work or in the family
- : Feelings of shame, remorse
- : Worries about relationships or major choices
- : A series of ongoing nightmares
- : Loss of spirit, mental weakness, feeling of powerlessness
- : Mental suffering due to loneliness, or a situation where a person can cry out his pain only alone
- : Troubling times
- : Strong feelings of guilt
- : Too much mental pain
- : Mourning someone's death or serious loss
- : The pain gradually subsides
- Devil: Drug withdrawal, terrible pangs of conscience
- Tower: Worries due to divorce, separation, business failure, serious illness
- Star: Hope that time will heal wounds
- Moon: Torment due to deception or uncertainty about the future
- Sun: Good will still triumph over evil
- Judgment: Worry about paying for your sins
- Peace: The experience of pain ends, the healing process begins
The meaning of the 9 of Swords in combination with the Minor Arcana
Now let's look at the manifestation of this gloomy numerical card when adjacent to the other Minor Arcana.
With the suit of Staves
- : Mental emptiness, pain
- : Worry about how to move on with your life
- : The meaning of the Tarot card 9 Swords with 3 Staves - problems growing like a snowball
- : Wake, failures in the house
- : Hostility, conflicts that prevent you from sleeping peacefully
- : Fiasco
- Seven: Become a victim of humiliation or dismissal
- Eight: Full-body fear
- : Worry due to foreboding
- : Broken Spirit
- : Worrying about a teenager
- : Anxiety due to one's own insecurities
- : Suffering because of a woman
- King: Suffer for a man
With the suit of Cups
- : Love's pangs
- : Worry about love or friendships
- : Spoiled holiday, failed wedding
- : Severe depression, nothing is a joy
- : Emotional pain
- : Soul feelings
- : Empty suffering
- : Thoughts of suicide
- : Worry about the end of happiness
- : Experiences associated with relatives
- Page: Suffering from falling in love
- Knight: The pain of unreciprocated love
- Queen: Deep emotional experiences
- King: Lack of control over one's own feelings
With the suit of Swords
