Nine of Swords meaning in the tarot (2024)

Are you passionate about the world of cartomancy and would like to find comprehensive information on the various arcana in the divination tarot? On this page you'll find everything there is to know about the Nine of Swords.

Before describing the card in detail, I thought it would be a good idea to give you some basics. Tarot specialists always associate the suit of Swords with thought, the intellect and the mind. In numerology, the number 9 is the link between the 8, symbol of perfection and infinity, and the 10, synonymous with renewal. The Nine of Swords naturally reflects this double influence. It most usually refers to a period of transition, to an intellectual crisis that must be resolved in order to enjoy new momentum.

From a visual point of view, the card depicts an oval structure containing a sword. The oval refers to your inner world and the sword to the ideas that are born in it. Note the crack on the steel blade, which indicates the concern and anxieties the seeker is currently encountering. They will need to try to get out of this problematic situation in order to make the most of life's pleasures, large and small. This is also the meaning of the sword tip protruding from the oval structure, as if it wanted to get out of its cocoon and be more open to others.

Anguish assumes the desire to communicate.

In its most common interpretation, the Nine of Swords translates the deep anxieties, uncontrolled fears and latent stress felt by the seeker. Imprisoned by these harmful emotions, they find it almost impossible to live their daily life in calm and to take advantage of life's numerous pleasures.

This significant period of doubt is not the result of external events, which would make it easier to understand. On the contrary, it bears witness to the seeker's existential questioning, their uneasy view of the future and how they see the world. The Nine of Swords indicates the seeker is the creator of their own anxieties, which, without realizing it or wanting to, they are keeping alive. It is a vicious circle for them because everywhere they look they perceive validation of their distorted interpretation of the world. The more they struggle with anguish, the more anguish they feel.

Despite this disturbing picture, it's important to bear in mind the positive influence that the Nine of Swords can have. The card allows you to understand that you are the cause of your current problems, it forces you to become aware of your weaknesses and encourages you step away from the virtual reality you have a tendency to create. The card emphasizes the value of action for the seeker and pushes them to take their destiny in hand. With it, change is really possible.

When the Nine of Swords appears upside down in a divinatory tarot draw, it usually means the end of a period of crisis and questioning. Thanks to this card, the seeker has finally managed to get rid of the deep anxiety that regularly overwhelmed them. As if they have woken up from a nightmare, they are now able to look serenely towards the future, aware of their ability to overcome the most difficult obstacles and get their life back on track.

Thanks to the work they have done on themselves they understand their psyche better and find it easier to put their fears to one side. They agreed to question some of their certainties and learned to change their perspective. Their self-belief is growing day by day. Their uncertainties are only distant memories.

This development often leads to changes, which the seeker welcomes with open arms. To enjoy lasting happiness, they had to accept the need to free themselves from the harmful influences in their life. Although goodbyes are always difficult, the promise of a bright future has convinced them to take the plunge!