This is a blog post describing the different meanings of the Nine of Swords tarot card in the Minor Arcana of the standard Rider-Waite deck. Read on to discover the different meanings of the Nine of Swords upright and reversed for money, love, and other situations in your life.
Nine of Swords Tarot Card Keywords
Upright: Negative thinking, fear, anxiety, nightmares, insomnia, gossip, isolation, joylessness, despair, guilt, remote, mental health issues, mental anguish, inability to cope with life, breakdown, burden, stress, overwhelm, escalating fears, mental shadows, shadow sabotage, negative self-talk
Reversed: Recovery, improvement, releasing stress, coping with life, accepting help, expressing guilt or shame, releasing bad feelings, better sleep
Nine of Swords as Feelings
The nine of swords upright represents negative feelings of anxiety, terror, overwhelm, guilt and isolation. It’s when you’re up at night ruminating over the past or future, unable to live in the present. Sometimes these fears are legitimate. At other times they are figments of your imagination.
Reversed, the nine of swords represents relief from negative emotions such as guilt and regret or letting go of fear. It’s a sign that you are gradually releasing the burden of your worries and can move forward in life.
Nine of Swords as How Someone Sees You
Upright, the nine of swords means someone sees you as deeply troubled and in need of help. They think you are fragile mentally and emotionally – nearing your breaking point.
In some cases, you can expect people are gossiping about you or talking about you behind your back.
Reversed, the nine of swords means someone thinks you are strong. Though you may have had issues in your past, they see you as healing and working your way through them.
You generally are favorable in their eyes, and they may even admire your resilience.
Nine of Swords as What Someone Wants From You
Upright, the nine of swords means someone wants to stay away from you. You likely stress them out or bring them anxiety, and they feel you might bring them down.
Reversed, the nine of swords means someone wants you to lean on them. They want to help you through your struggles and offer a hand.
They may be willing to listen if you need to talk or want a shoulder to cry on.
Upright Nine of Swords Tarot Card Meanings
Generally speaking, the upright Nine of Swords means you have a negative experience in life right now, and you can’t see your way out.
It’s not uncommon for this card to appear when there are serious mental health issues at play.
Do not be afraid to seek professional help if you are so anxious or depressed that you can’t cope.
Sometimes, you may have troubles in your life that warrant these feelings.
However, at other times this could be down to you choosing to focus on the wrong things in your life.
Make sure you’re not making a mountain out of a molehill.
That’s to say, make sure you’re not needlessly stressing yourself over something that you can’t control.
Sometimes the nine of swords upright represents hormonal issues, menopause, or migraines.
It depends on the other cards in your spread.
Upright Nine of Swords Card For Love
If you’re in a committed relationship and the Nine of Swords shows up in your reading, it means that the relationship is stressing you out and bringing you anxiety.
Likely, this relationship is not suitable for your mental health.
You may be at a breaking point and need to take a break from the relationship for it to survive.
If you’re single, this could mean that you’re not ready for another relationship right now.
You may be coming off a long-term commitment and need time to heal before getting into another one.
If you have any trauma in your past, you need to confront it before you enter into another relationship.
Upright Nine of Swords For Money & Career
If your main concern is your career path when the Nine of Swords shows up in your reading, it means that you’re feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope with the pressure.
You may need to take a step back and reassess if this is the path you want to be on.
If not, make a plan for another career as soon as possible.
If this card appears in relation to money, it means that you’re not in a great financial situation.
You may be feeling the burden of debt or other expenses, and the pressure is making it hard to cope.
It could also mean that you’re dealing with scrutiny from others due to your finances.
Take some time to reassess your financial situation and come up with an achievable plan.
With the right tools and mindset, you’ll be able to get back on track soon.
Avoid letting yourself get overwhelmed by your financial worries and focus on taking action.
Once you take the first step, you’ll find the rest of the journey much easier.
Reversed Nine of Swords Tarot Card Meanings
The reversed Nine of Swords means that your worries are beginning to ease up, and you’re starting to make some progress in life.
You may be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and learning how to cope with whatever problems you’ve had recently.
The good news is that if you’re dealing with deep-rooted guilt, shame, or regret, the nine of Swords reversed means that you may soon be able to let go.
It could also mean you may be getting closer to overcoming your nightmares or insomnia.
If this card appears in relation to money or career, it can mean a scandal or malicious gossip has been resolved.
It could also mean you’re recovering from a total financial collapse or breakdown.
Whatever it is, the nine of swords reversed means your troubles will soon end and you will finally feel free, light, and ready to move forward in your life.
Reversed Nine of Swords Card For Relationships
If you are in a committed relationship and the Nine of Swords shows in a reversed position, your union has the potential to recover after a major setback.
If you’re both willing to open up, be honest and in some cases even accept help, you will find that your situation improves.
One or both parties may experience extreme guilt, regret, remorse or shame – but coming clean and accepting the consequences could make your relationship stronger if you allow.
If single, the Nine of Swords in a reversed position could mean you’re no longer feeling overwhelmed by past break-ups.
You may be ready to enter into another relationship, although caution and self-reflection are still advised.
Whichever it is, take time to listen to yourself and make sure your feelings are genuine before committing to someone else.
It’s better to be sure than sorry in this case.
Reversed Nine of Swords For Money & Career
The Nine of Swords reversed in a career reading means that you are recovering from whatever was overwhelming you before.
You may be making progress in your job and feeling more capable of dealing with the pressure.
Money-wise, the nine of swords reversed suggests that you are coming out of a financial slump.
If you have faced scrutiny due to finances, it could mean that people have stopped gossiping about you and the situation has been amicably resolved.
It might be time to reassess your financial plans, coming up with achievable steps to help get back on track.
If it is in your power, consider hiring a financial advisor or other professional to guide you.
Final Thoughts On The Nine of Swords Card
Congrats on taking the first step to work with the tarot and learning to read for yourself and those you love!
The Nine of Swords is a challenging card because it often hints at emotional trauma or mental health issues, but it doesn’t have to be a sign of despair.
If you find this card in a reading, remember that the reversed Nine of Swords is ultimately about hope and freedom.
It’s an indication that if you put in the effort, you will eventually recover from whatever is burdening your life right now.
Keep going, stay positive, and you will soon find the peace and joy that has been elusive for so long.
Now that you’ve already begun your journey, the next natural step is to make sure you receive your free numerology reading.
Few things are as powerful as numerology for helping you improve your tarot readings.
But I’m not going to tell you that the information you’ll uncover will make you a better tarot reader.
It’s better for you to get your reading and find that out for yourself.
That way, it’ll be a much more personal, special, and beautiful experience.
More tarot meanings
- The Nine of Cups Tarot Card Guide For Beginners
- The Nine of Pentacles Tarot Card Guide For Beginners
- The Nine of Wands Tarot Card Guide For Beginners
- The Nine of Swords Tarot Card Guide For Beginners