Tarot cards are a useful tool for introspection, but sometimes they can cause confusion. The Nine of Swords is a commonly misunderstood card, particularly when tarot reading by yourself. The dark side of it is often overemphasized, forgetting the bigger, more hopeful picture.
However, learning about this Minor Arcana card can really ignite some well-needed introspection, helping you tackle anxious hurdles to achieve something much bigger.
Nine of Swords Keywords
Upright card (keywords)
Fear, anxiety, negativity, breaking point, despair, nightmares, isolation
Reversed card (keywords)
Recovery, learning to cope, facing life, finding help, shame, guilt, mental health issues
The Nine of Swords Tarot Card Description
When using the Rider-Waite tarot deck, you will have likely spotted the nightmarish depiction of a figure sitting in bed, head in hands. This Swords card, which can represent the dark night of the soul, can be unsettling to look at due to the appearance of insomnia, distress, and feelings of hurt.
Nine swords hang ominously on the wall as the backdrop for this card, which derives the card’s name. Although it can be up for interpretation, the swords symbolize mental burdens that weigh heavily on our minds, highlighting how personal suffering meets cosmic forces.
So far, this negative card offers nothing positive, but it can be seen as a chance to confront the fears which live inside all of us. The number nine, as per the number of swords hanging on the wall, is often called the Wish number—in other words, the penultimate step in achieving our goals.
Therefore, confronting the final mental hurdles can mean this is a card of hope, in which we must pass through the necessary treacherous terrain as we approach a significant milestone. This is why the meaning of the card can be interpreted both negatively and positively depending on the person.
The Nine of Swords Upright Meaning
The upright meaning of this particular Suit of Swords card is the all-consuming worry that keeps us up at night. In the Rider-Waite deck, this card shows negative thoughts and feelings of being overwhelmed are amplified by our own lack of sleep and inner turmoil—or an outright anxiety disorder.
While the upright Nine of Swords expresses emotional pain during these difficult times, it encourages us to confront them—a reminder that fear lives inside us, and that we are on the verge of achievements that can help us push past it. This is where trusted friends and strong belief systems can get us through.
Love Meaning
When looking at your current relationship, the Nine of Swords in an upright position can spell trouble. In a love tarot spread, this card can indicate guilt, unresolved issues, or even toxic behavior. This is an important reading, as it asks us to confront some difficult truths.
For singles, it can indicate that our love life is being compromised by dwelling on past relationships or previous feelings of hurt. You may be spending too much time dwelling on the bad things about past experiences or the upcoming worst-case scenario.
Often, this negative self-talk is a way to put ourselves down, or sabotage relationships due to our own trauma or anxieties. In one way, this serves as a reminder that our relationships hang on our ability to confront our own personal problems.
Career Meaning
This Swords Suit card is frequently significant to one’s career, as it shows that there is some mental anguish about the stress of your work—potentially reaching breaking point. However, because these feelings are common among high achievers, it can be because you’re on the verge of a promotion or achieving a long-term goal.
It can also be common for entrepreneurs to be overwhelmed or regretful, but it’s important to tackle difficult decisions with the bigger picture in mind.
Finances Meaning
Finances are a common cause of arguments and stress, and the Nine of Swords highlights this frantic concern over your current situation. However, one may be making mountains out of molehills, or comparing their situation to others, thus losing perspective.
Ultimately, this nightmare card asks us to confront potential paranoia and reminds us that we can develop a plan to address any present challenges.
The Nine of Swords Reversed Card Meaning
A reversed position in a tarot card reading has different meanings, often more negative, than its upright meaning. However, the Nine of Swords, when reversed, can indicate a release of anxiety or perhaps the first step in the journey to recovery.
While it can indicate that things are looking up—a shift towards healing—it may also point to deeper issues that still need to be confronted head-on.
The reversed tarot meaning of this card urges you to confront your fears and serves as a reminder that healing is possible, but requires an unpleasant acknowledgment of the fear that eludes it.
Love Meaning
In love readings, the Nine of Swords points to relief in a relationship’s emotional turmoil. Perhaps you and your partner are working through insecurities or past traumas, and this can lead to more harmony and a rekindled confidence.
When single, this card points to the need to overcome fears about falling in love, or releasing baggage from a previous relationship. This can also mean that a new relationship is being held back by previous fears and negative emotions.
Career Meaning
When reversed, this card indicates that a gradual easing of your workload or work-related stress is coming up. Perhaps not a physical drop in workload, but finding a better way to cope with the pressure and regain some confidence in your workplace.
Alternatively, this the Nine of Swords card when reversed can also serve as a warning—a warning not to avoid difficult work conversations or issues you’re facing in your supposedly safe environment.
Finances Meaning
When it comes to your finances, the reversed meaning of this “bad card” can point towards a growing sense of control over your money situation.
It reminds us that burying our head in the sand leads to the depicted nightmare figure, and that addressing these matters head-on, with confidence, can ensure long-term peace of mind.
Other Cards With The Nine of Swords
The core theme of a Nine of Swords pairing is that it amplifies the mental or emotional aspects of other cards in the tarot reading. It highlights areas of anxiety or self-doubt, for example, as well as inviting reflection and healing.
The Nine of Swords and The Moon
This combination deepens our perspective on fear and uncertainty, as the Moon suggests that illusions or hidden truths may be underlying your anxiety. Together, they encourage you to seek clarity and trust your intuition to try and get out of the dark tunnel.
The Nine of Swords and The Ten of Swords
This sequential pairing tells us about a past moment of intense emotional suffering—or a sense of hitting rock bottom. However, the Ten of Swords points us towards a change, perhaps because there’s nowhere to go when hitting rock bottom but up.
The Nine of Swords and The Star
When paired together, the Star is what brings hope and healing to the Sword’s Suit’s darker themes. There is no simpler way to put it than: there is light at the end of the tunnel. The pairing encourages faith in both yourself and the universe in letting it guide you.
The Nine of Swords and The Devil
This certainly sounds like a daunting pairing on the face of it, but in reality, it is simply highlighting our negative thought loop trap. However, there is a leaning towards external influences from the Devil card, such as toxic relationships or addictions that are contributing to your anxiety. Together, these cards urge you to break out of unhealthy external situations.
The Nine of Swords and The Ace of Cups
Finally, this pairing with the Ace of Cups is no longer about worst fears or sleepless nights, but rather a nudge towards self-love and finding new connections. Anxiety may linger, sure, but this combination is hopeful in pointing towards opportunities for new emotional fulfillment.
The Nine of Swords Card and Its Astrological Sign
The Nine of Swords is connected with Mars in Gemini, which has roots in Zodiac Signs and planetary alignments. These connections, which are abundant with astrological symbols, can emphasize excessive worry, deep-seated fears and mental health issues. Mars highlights aggression and drive, while Gemini is all about communication and duality. Together, it’s a dynamic pairing where the mind is overactive and overthinking.
This connection somewhat deepens the card’s meaning as it unapologetically confronts us with the difficulty in balancing mental energy with emotional well-being. It teaches us to direct this energy that we’re using on overthinking towards something more constructive.
Conclusion
Understanding the meanings of the Nine of Swords card is important, as absorbing only its negative messages can be a missed opportunity. Although the card confronts us with our mental pain, it also tells us that it’s a part of life. In fact, it can be a necessary part of success, too.
It’s important to remember the way we respond to tarot cards is the most important thing. And, although the nine swords appear negative, it can be a turning point in our personal growth.
You needn’t be an expert to interpret tarot cards like this one, despite their powerful messages. We can help you discover their meanings, so please claim your free yes or not tarot reading or speak with an online psychic today!
