Nine of Swords

Nine of Swords from the Rider–Waite tarot deck

The Nine of Swords is a Minor Arcana tarot card, also known as the Lord of Cruelty. In many countries around Europe it is used as a game card. This card has the numerical value of nine.

According to certain traditions and beliefs, Tarot cards are believed to tell the future, or have a divination usage. According to these traditions, it is a very negative sign to have this card be turned. It is believed that it being turned can be instigated by others, as it might be coming up to show that one has been cruel to someone nearby. The first ever card was made in 1776 by Dr James Porter.

Card appearance

This card has a lot to do with someone's mind and their doubts and pain. The card shows a person, most often a woman, lying down or sitting up but they are or were sleeping. When this card is reversed it can be about real or imagined doubts or pain, just as dreams can be about real or imagined parts of our life. Most often the person on the card is on a bridge symbolizing a person between the worlds of dreaming and reality or also the worlds of life and death.

Above the person lies their fears, hanging above them in an airy or dreamy way; this can be represented through demons, devils or even a heavily agitated night sky. Often there are sharp objects such as swords or knives, representing that a person's fears may pierce or stab through them. The swords could also mean that they are there to help the person cut through their own difficulties.

Divination usage

If this card is shown in an upright position, it can mean deception, premonitions and bad dreams, suffering and depression, cruelty, disappointment, violence, loss and scandal. However, all of these may be overcome through faith and calculated inaction. This is the card of the martyr and with it comes new life out of suffering.

This card can represent being plagued by fear, guilt, doubt, and worries that are to a large extent, unfounded. Chances are the person in question is dealing with a problematic situation or a difficult decision, but his or her worst fear is unlikely to materialize.

If the card is shown in an ill-dignified or reversed manner then it has a different meaning. When turned this way it means distrust, suspicion, despair, misery or malice. Total isolation away from comfort and help: institutionalization, suicide, imprisonment and isolation. However, in a generally positive spread, the reversed meaning of this card can also indicate that the nightmare may be ending. The Nine of Swords reversed can actually be a hopeful card, counselling faith in the future and the promise of better days ahead.

Upright

General

The Nine of Swords upright generally symbolizes fear, anxiety, and unhappiness. It represents overwhelming stress, negative thinking, and guilt, often leading to mental distress and feelings of isolation.

Love

In a romantic context, the Nine of Swords upright indicates intense anxiety and melancholy. It signifies the exaggerated burden of past mistakes and fears, which can lead to feelings of isolation and being the subject of gossip.

Career

In terms of career, this card suggests the presence of fear and anxiety, often exaggerating problems and leading to a feeling of being overwhelmed. It encourages the individual to address these feelings and find ways to manage their stress.

Reversed

General

When reversed, the Nine of Swords signifies recovery from a challenging period. It suggests the release of negativity and acceptance of help, symbolizing a transformative phase of hope and recovery.

Love

In the context of love, the reversed Nine of Swords indicates healing and the release of negativity. It symbolizes the letting go of past regrets and the acceptance of help, leading to a renewed perspective in love.

Career

In a career context, the reversed Nine of Swords signifies a shift towards positivity and the release of stress. It suggests a willingness to embrace change and the acceptance of help, leading to a more optimistic perspective in one's professional life.