Nine of Swords Tarot Card Meaning

The narrative of the Nine of Swords card inspires profound melancholy, powerlessness, and depression. A crestfallen woman, bent with grief, sits on a disheveled bed, crying bitterly, her face covered by her hands. Directly above her head hover nine swords, symbolic of the misfortunes that have befallen her. Although the swords do not touch the woman on the card - could her fears and problems not be as overwhelming as she believes? Yet, the woman is genuinely consumed by her suffering...

When drawn in a tarot spread, the Nine of Swords often predicts setbacks in business, illness, injuries and accidents, threats to life, substantial financial losses, business failure, heartbreak, and deep emotional turmoil. It represents the end of all plans and hopes, the world plunging into an abyss, and it seems you are utterly powerless - all that remains is to grieve and curse a cruel fate.

It won't be easy to accept and survive the negative events foretold by this tarot Arcana. However, your inner strength, a balanced perception of the situation, and the support of the people around you will not allow you to succumb to your emotions, to wallow in self-pity or to give up. The Nine of Swords calls for resilience - hardships are temporary, time will help to ease the pain and restore hope for a brighter future!

Key meanings of the upright Nine of Swords card

• A wave of anxiety and melancholy, suffering, pain, losses, fear of life, despair, exhaustion, dejection.
• Real threat to life - serious illness, death, accident.
• Malicious fate, disappointment, ruin.
• Betrayal, deception, guilty conscience, infidelity, an irreconcilable enemy ready to strike.

The reversed Nine of Swords tarot card encourages you to view life and unfolding events from a positive perspective. A light glimmers at the end of the tunnel, the dark period in your life is ending, you are learning to dream again, filling with desires and energy for future achievements.

Although the reversed Nine of Swords tarot doesn't promise an entirely carefree and peaceful situation, it suggests that it's time to break free from the vicious circle of worries and failures, gather your spirits, square your shoulders, face your fears head-on, stop endlessly pitying yourself, and looking back at the past.

The reversed Nine of Swords urges you not to waste time on worry, panic, and despair, but to simply live. The looming threat is often nothing more than a foreboding and painful fantasy. Don't tear your heart apart - in reality, much of what worries you is not destined to happen!

At the same time, the appearance of the reversed Nine of Swords in a spread warns that your worries may indeed be justified, and the danger still exists, although its likelihood is significantly less than in the case of the card appearing in an upright position. So don't risk it, don't make dubious acquaintances, and don't make rash actions. Remember - the Lord looks after those who look after themselves!

Key Meanings of the Reversed Nine of Swords

• Hope for the best, good news, consolation.
• Positive outlook on life, help from others, end of a period of suffering.
• Suspicions, fears, uncertainty, hesitation, dubious proposals.

In love readings, the upright Nine of Swords predicts turmoil and suffering related to personal relationships. It could be anxiety over a partner or intense passion, when a person is ready to go to extremes to win over a loved one – including revenge, treachery, or causing harm.

Also, the Nine of Swords can speak of negative emotions engulfing a person due to loneliness and a solitary existence – the weariness of being alone, growing feelings of abandonment and uselessness. If so, it's time to break the chains of solitude and take decisive steps toward building personal happiness.

In the reversed position, the card's meaning changes to the opposite, indicating pleasant changes in personal life.

When divining about a suitor or a loved one

In readings about a suitor or a partner, the upright card suggests that your chosen one is a person with a challenging romantic history. There have been deep sufferings in their life, possibly even betrayal or infidelity.

The reversed card indicates that your chosen one is a strong and courageous person. They may have had to endure a painful breakup or even infidelity in love, but they found the strength within themselves to cope with this blow.

In business readings, the Nine of Swords tarot card predicts professional failures, loss of property, and financial troubles. Scheduled payments for this period are delayed or disrupted, so you'll have to adopt a regime of strict economy.

Old financial issues may resurface, complicating relationships with relatives and partners due to money matters. The work situation is negative, and thoughts of possible plan failures or reprimands gnaw at you, depriving you of peace and sleep.

In reversed position, the meaning of the card changes to the opposite, speaking of unfounded anxieties and worries—the problem will resolve itself.

When divining for a person, the upright card is interpreted as someone who has suffered a heavy loss or gone through difficult times. They haven't fully recovered from these emotional wounds; time is needed for them to heal.

In the reversed position of the card, it represents a person facing a challenging life situation. They lack self-assurance and optimism to confront it.

In the upright position, the card advises you to come to terms with a known situation or loss, demonstrating resilience and courage.

Appearing in a reversed position in the spread, the card advises you not to dramatize your troubles and not to make a mountain out of a molehill.

If the card appears in an upright position, the forecast for your situation is not very favorable. Disappointments and difficulties may await you.

In the reversed position, the forecast for your situation is ambiguous. It may be hindered by a too pessimistic outlook on life and self-pity.

With 0 The Fool card – Lack of moral support, paying for foolishness, depression.

With 1 The Magician card — Loss of spiritual balance, heavy knowledge, crisis, threat of bankruptcy.

With 2 The High Priestess card — Keeping an old secret, insomnia, nightmares, and insights.

In combination with 3 The Empress card — Learning about infidelity, midlife crisis, bad news from relatives.

With 4 The Emperor card — Prohibition from elders, harsh conditions, information starvation or propaganda.

With 5 The Hierophant card — Unlawful dismissal, moral suffering, forced decision.

With 6 The Lovers card — Yielding to the pressure of circumstances, oppression, losing to a competitor.

With 7 The Chariot card — False hopes, a missed opportunity, anticipation of troubles.

With 8 The Strength card — Bad omen, justified premonition, enthusiasm running out.

With 9 The Hermit card — Fear of intimate relationships, suffering from loneliness, a cycle of failures and obstacles.

With 10 Wheel of Fortune card — Instability, tension, will need to demonstrate resilience for a good result.

With 11 Justice card — Distrust, search for the guilty, shifting responsibility onto others.

With 12 The Hanged Man card — Religious ceremony, consolation, deep depression or serious illness.

With 13 Death card — Losses, crown of celibacy, losing a loved one.

With 14 Temperance card — Returning to the past, walking in circles, hiding from the vanity of the world.

With 15 The Devil card — Self-pity, extreme degree of selfishness, demanding attention.

With 16 The Tower card — Domestic violence, psychological exhaustion, undeserved punishment.

With 17 The Star card — Being rejected by society, recognizing the degree of hypocrisy, becoming introverted and living on hope.

With 18 The Moon card — Fearing the consequences, inventing problems, over-insuring.

With 19 The Sun card — Exposing, embarrassment or realization of guilt, repentance and forgiveness.

With 20 Judgment card — Receiving bad news, disheartening annoyance, fateful future or encounter with violence.

With 21 The World card — Malaise, bad dreams, nervousness or groundless suspicions.

With the Ace of Wands - Futile attempts to emerge from a crisis, emotional burnout, the need to hide or experience panic attacks.

With the Two of Wands - A bad omen, self-pity, underestimating one's own abilities.

With the Three of Wands - An unsuccessful approach, a project at risk, a state of depression or loneliness.

With the Four of Wands - Problems or debts within the family, psychological pressure from relatives, confiscation of property.

With the Five of Wands - Struggling with depression or overcoming a difficult situation, an unhealthy environment, constant attacks.

With the Six of Wands - Squandering one's energy, emotional breakdown, receiving a harsh lesson.

With the Seven of Wands - Losing something important, emotional anguish, confirming bad omens.

With the Eight of Wands - Emotional pain, a situation of misunderstanding in society, a rejection of the realities of this world.

With the Nine of Wands - Withdrawal from loved ones, nervous exhaustion, deep emotional experiences or fears.

With the Ten of Wands - Taking responsibility for past actions, realizing one's wrongdoing, worsening of health.

With the Page of Wands - Bad news, parting with a significant other, isolation, or loneliness.

With the Knight of Wands - Attempting to ignore problems, denying the obvious, feeling powerless to change anything.

With the Queen of Wands - Expecting troubles, maternal concern, depression or a decline in energy.

With the King of Wands - Recognizing one's mistakes, reaping bitter consequences, feelings of guilt.

With the Ace of Swords - Terrible news, a strike of fate, knowledge that contradicts familiar worldviews.

With the Two of Swords - Stress due to conflict or quarrel with a significant other, marriage at risk, suffering in loneliness.

With the Three of Swords - Unraveling an unpleasant past, overwhelming emotions, self-pity.

With the Four of Swords - Medical intervention, a period of uncertainty and suffering, an exhausting situation.

With the Five of Swords - Expecting failure, regretting a mistake, blaming oneself, or being overly harsh on oneself.

With the Six of Swords - A path to repentance or reevaluation of one's actions, hiding from the world, experiencing stress in solitude.

With the Seven of Swords - Concealing emotions, a mask of indifference, mistrusting others, hiding from loved ones.

With the Eight of Swords - A dangerous situation, confusion of mind, feeling guilt and heaviness.

With the Ten of Swords - Nightmares or a sense of impending doom, bad omens, nervousness, and mental distress.

With the Page of Swords - Suspicion, expecting failure, hysteria or provocative behavior, tearfulness and lack of restraint.

With the Knight of Swords - Impending crisis, approaching misfortune, defeat, a desperate move.

With the Queen of Swords - Going through loss or upheaval, a pessimistic outlook, expecting the worst, external pressures.

With the King of Swords - Legal problems, bureaucratic hassle, criminal or administrative punishment, persecution by authorities.

With the Ace of Cups - Anger and resentment towards a close person, self-pity, falling into depression.

With the Two of Cups - Neurosis, toxic relationships, developing complexes and unfounded fears.

With the Three of Cups - Unveiling an ill-wisher among close friends, realizing that a rival or competitor has appeared in your circle, feeling hurt by friends.

With the Four of Cups - Mourning your own obstinacy, regretting the past, feeling ashamed of your behavior.

With the Five of Cups - Inner turmoil, reflection, shocking news.

With the Six of Cups - Recalling past mistakes, getting burned by naivety, problems with female health and conception.

With the Seven of Cups - Loss of opportunities, rapidly changing circumstances, internal conflict or nervous exhaustion.

With the Eight of Cups - A closed loop in relationships, psychological issues, becoming fixated on one's own feelings.

With the Nine of Cups - Regretting arrogance in the past, loneliness, a complete mismatch between outward appearance and inner state.

With the Ten of Cups - Suffering from separation from someone dear, self-criticism, mental distress.

With the Page of Cups - Realizing the inevitable, very bad news, losing emotional balance.

With the Knight of Cups - A turning point in relationships, deep emotions, openly expressing suffering.

With the Queen of Cups - Yearning for past relationships, experiencing loneliness, finding oneself in non-standard conditions and getting entangled.

With the King of Cups - Becoming sentimental, giving vent to emotions, experiencing a nervous breakdown or emotional illness.

With the Ace of Pentacles - Financial problems or instability, worrying about property, a time of change that will cause nervousness.

With the Two of Pentacles - Nervousness and sleepless nights due to debts, losing peace of mind over money, dissatisfaction with the size of the salary.

With the Three of Pentacles - Annoyance over a terminated contract, a job order going to competitors, unfavorable conditions.

With the Four of Pentacles - Suffering from one's own greed, a clingy partner or admirer, whiner and overcautious person.

With the Five of Pentacles - Feeling sorry for oneself and one's miserable state, suffering from lack of funds or housing, mourning the loss of property.

With the Six of Pentacles - Awaiting assistance, being in a state of suspension, going through tough times, asking for a loan or setting aside one's own pride.

With the Seven of Pentacles - Neurosis over delays, attempting to regain what was lost, paying the price for carelessness in the past.

With the Eight of Pentacles - Danger of losing a job, worries about a salary cut, lack of opportunities for growth.

With the Nine of Pentacles - Unsuccessful investments, realizing it too late, losing part of the profit, danger of losing a significant other.

With the Ten of Pentacles - Problems with family and relatives, feeling nostalgic for home, being separated from loved ones.

With the Page of Pentacles - Failing exams, difficulties in obtaining a diploma, lack of education, discouraging news regarding money.

With the Knight of Pentacles - Financial crisis, losing peace of mind over money, concealing despair.

With the Queen of Pentacles - Limitations in resources or freedom of action, external prosperity, envy from enemies, a wealthy and lonely woman.

With the King of Pentacles - Money is not everything, shaken prosperity, a critical moment in managing a firm, fluctuations in leadership.