Nine of Swords card

There is reason for concern.

Supporting / Blocking Tarot Card

support

One of the three most challenging and difficult cards in the Tarot deck, this is a blocking card. It signifies a tough situation in the querent’s life—one they have become attached to. Despite the fact that it keeps them awake at night and it is clear that they are putting a healthy head into a sick bed, it is time to get up and leave. It is time to distance themselves from the situation. There is no possibility for something good to develop; only continued difficulty and pain.

Relationships

Career

Finances

Relationships

Career

Finances

The Meaning of The Card

Nine of Swords is one of the three most challenging cards in the Tarot deck. It represents worry, an irreparable state where it is better to give up and leave. This card symbolizes despair, anxiety, and failure. The situation is difficult, and although the person intuitively understands this, it is hard for them to let go or abandon the situation.

Nine of Swords card: The Meaning of The Symbols

Card Symbols	Symbol Meaning
Sword	Represented by the element of air, which symbolizes cold logic. The sword’s strike is quick, sharp, cold, and calculated, just like thoughts originating from the intellect. It symbolizes authority, justice, power, strength, and the separation of good from evil.
Black Background	The black wall symbolizes darkness, night, depression, nothingness, surrender, and disappearance. It connects to evil and acts as a barrier. It also represents fear, danger, threat, negative traits, dark desires, but also sophistication, authority, power, and learning. It evokes a sense of mystery related to the cycle of death and rebirth.
Person Covering Face with Hands	The figure sits on the bed in a posture of fear and tension, indicating worry. Sitting on the bed suggests a lack of activity in dealing with the challenge that needs to be faced. It symbolizes despair, hopelessness, pain, and an unwillingness to see what is happening around them.
White Garment	Symbolizes purity, innocence, holiness, youth, and humility.
Bench	The bench symbolizes taking a moment to examine details. It indicates the need to relax, take a break, and reflect on or appreciate what is represented in the card. Rest, support, action.
Colorful Blanket	The colorful blanket symbolizes optimism; even in the most challenging situations, light can be found. The vibrant and flourishing bed cover suggests that even in the darkest times of a person’s life, it is essential to remember that the sun will rise tomorrow, and light can be found.
Carved Warriors on the Side of the Bed	Symbolizes a battle or war that the person is fighting in their life.

Mythology

Orestes knows what he must do. He is aware that he has no choice since his mother killed his father and intends to kill him, destroy the kingdom, and desecrate the gods. He has received Apollo’s approval, who has taken responsibility for the murder of his mother. The guilt torments Orestes; the knowledge that he will not be held accountable prevents him from acting. However, once it becomes clear that he will be punished for his actions, he goes ahead and kills her. Indeed, his life becomes difficult, and he is tormented by the Furies. This card represents justified concern of the querent and emphasizes that the situation is worse than they might imagine. It is better to withdraw, even if they have become attached to the idea, as failure is inevitable.

Representation of the Card in a Reading

In a reading, the Nine of Swords represents completion and wholeness. The Nine cards conclude the journey that began with the Two cards, which aimed to address and repair the brokenness after the wholeness symbolized by the Ace cards. The learning and development started with the Two cards have now culminated in the Nine cards, signifying the end of the journey and a return to a state of completeness. Just as nine months of gestation bring a fetus from an idea to a complete person, the Nine of Swords represents a time of internal peace, without the need for further change, self-confidence, and connection to truth. In contrast, the Eight of Swords represents a state where the person was supposed to free themselves from the inhibiting situation by using rational thought and clear logic. Since the opportunity was missed, the individual now faces the consequences of their inaction. They must deal with the constraints they feared confronting in the previous card and the results of their actions.