Nine of Swords

Symbolism

The Nine of Swords shows a person sitting up in bed in the middle of the night, face buried in their hands. Nine swords hang horizontally on the dark wall. The quilt is patterned with roses and astrological symbols. In the 1909 art, the swords don't touch her: what hurts is what she's thinking about them.

In general

The Nine of Swords is the card of anxiety. It shows up when worry, fear or guilt keep you up at night and make everything seem worse than it is. It's about racing thoughts, nightmares, dread and suffering in advance. Often, the real problem is smaller than the fear of it. Reversed, it shows the night starting to lift: asking for help, talking about the fear, and realizing not everything was as bad as it seemed.

Yes or no

The Nine of Swords wakes in the middle of the night: no, not now. Deciding under this much anguish would only add weight. Reversed, the answer is maybe: the night is starting to lift, and it depends on talking about the fear instead of keeping it to yourself.

In love

In a love reading, the Nine of Swords points to worry, jealousy, insecurity or guilt: nights spent thinking about everything that could go wrong.

If you're in a relationship, it asks you to talk your fears through instead of turning them over and over. If you're single, it shows anxiety that keeps love at a distance.

Reversed, it points to relief, fears losing their power, and conversations that put your mind at ease.

As feelings

As feelings, the Nine of Swords means someone who's worried, guilty or afraid of losing you. Reversed, it shows their anxiety easing.

At work

At work, the Nine of Swords often points to stress, fear of failure and too much pressure. Reversed, it shows the pressure lifting.

With money

With money, the Nine of Swords points to money worries, often bigger than the actual situation. Reversed, it asks you to look at the numbers calmly.

In family and friendship

In family and friendship, the Nine of Swords brings worry about someone, or guilt over something said. Reversed, it shows conversations that bring relief.

On the personal path

On a personal level, the Nine of Swords asks you to share what's weighing on you with someone you trust and, if the anxiety is heavy, to seek professional help. Reversed, it shows the light coming back.

Advice

As advice, the Nine of Swords says: say your fear out loud. In the dark it grows; in the light it shrinks.

In the Celtic Cross positions

• The Present: anxiety and worry sit at the heart of the question.
• The Challenge: the obstacle is thoughts that make the problem bigger.
• The Crown: you want peace and quiet.
• The Foundation: underneath the question is an old fear, or guilt.
• The Recent Past: hard nights or recent worries have worn you down.
• The Near Future: a moment to face the fear is coming, and it will likely shrink.
• Yourself: you're worried, maybe more than you need to be.
• Your Environment: there's pressure around you, or news that frightens you.
• Hopes and Fears: you want to sleep in peace, and you're afraid of the worst.
• The Outcome: this points to relief, once the fear is faced.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Nine of Swords a bad card?

It's a hard card, about anxiety and anguish. But it usually shows that the fear is bigger than the problem.

What does the Nine of Swords reversed mean?

Reversed, it points to relief, asking for help, fears losing their grip, or anxiety kept bottled up.

Is the Nine of Swords a yes or no card?

Upright, it's a no, not now. Reversed, it's a maybe.

See also the Eight of Swords, which comes before it, the Ten of Swords, the next step, and The Moon, another card of night fears.