Nine of Swords

Meanings according to Rider-Waite:

ASTROLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Saturn/Moon as a symbol of worry, depression, and feelings of guilt.

NINE OF SWORDS This image of sleepless nights corresponds to a state of deep anxiety and depression. There may be a guilty conscience that does not allow one to sleep, or a sense of some threat to life, such as illness or grievous loss. The card depicts the nighttime fears we feel when we lie awake, tormented by our thoughts, waiting for the dawn. At the same time, it does not tell us exactly what oppresses us so: a feeling of personal guilt or shame that drives sleep away, a sense of uncertainty in our own strength before a difficult ordeal, or some real danger threatening our life. It shows only our despair, anguish, anxiety, sudden nightmarish awakening, sleepless night.

From the book: Hajo Banzhaf. THE TAROT HANDBOOK. Translated from the German by E. Kolesov. Publisher: Center for Astrological Research, 1999.

NINE OF SWORDS Cruelty The second decan of Gemini, from June 1 to June 10. Astrological equivalents: Cancer, Sagittarius, Pisces, the Moon, Jupiter, Neptune, the Twelfth and Ninth Houses. The second decan of Gemini, ruled by Mars, expresses the idea of actively engaging one's own will in the rational analysis of the world. The mind, colliding opposites, harshly dissects the unknown into parts, in order to then create the world anew from the pieces, comparing them to one another and establishing logical connections. This decan develops sharpness of mind and frames questions pointedly. Mars proposes that we judge things from a personal stance and speak boldly about everything, but, on the other hand, the mental dissection of the living organism of the world replaces primordial wholeness (with a perfect, yet dead schema), and therefore this decan bears the name "Cruelty." It is the cruelty of cold reason toward the feeling body. In the end, feeling proves right, and reason wrong, because the attentive soul will always be able quietly and imperceptibly to break down those barriers against which the furious intellect wages a long and bloody war. And yet, representatives of this decan are inclined to emphasize the omnipotence of the mind. By dealing with the shortcomings of the present, the mind establishes the link between past and future. The TAROT card depicts a woman sitting on a bed and covering her face with her hands: having awakened, she has suddenly realized what is happening. Her insight is sorrowful. But the nine swords above her head point forward — into the future. On her coverlet are depicted the symbols of the planets and signs of the Zodiac, which govern the invisible vital processes of the world organism. To the mind that has dismantled the world into parts and grasped the destiny of past and present, it is given to apprehend the predetermination of the future. The NINE OF SWORDS symbolizes results that are about to manifest, and resonates with the sign of Sagittarius and its rulers, Jupiter and Neptune. Jupiter lends this card religiosity, while Neptune may give this religiosity the most frenzied forms and brings with it fear of the unknown, uncertainty, apprehensions, the desire to withdraw from reality, the inability to endure contact with reality, misunderstanding, hopelessness, suffering. On the level of love relationships, the NINE OF SWORDS may bring excessive worry about a beloved person, when love takes on hysterical, intrusive forms. Hysteria in general is connected with this card. Neptune signifies not only blind, unconditional, fanatical faith, but also distrust, suspicion, doubts that at times take on a manic form. Neptune, in general, has the reputation of an unkind planet in astrology, and therefore such "joys of life" as poverty and disappointments are also linked with this card.

UPRIGHT POSITION In the upright position, the NINE OF SWORDS symbolizes a temple, monastery, sanctuary, cult and the attitude toward it, as well as virginity, immaculateness, sanctity, unearthly purity. A monk living in expectation of the appearance of a miracle, a sign — here is an example of the subject of the NINE OF SWORDS.

REVERSED POSITION In the reversed position, the NINE OF SWORDS may bring fear of illness, violence, doubts, impious and dubious propositions. The instability of this card's position is expressed in a constant balancing between sanctity and some utterly loathsome blasphemy. Moreover, all manifestations — both positive and negative — that come through the Nine of Swords bear a social character. The NINE OF SWORDS may also contribute to a radical change of worldview, for changes proceed by way of Sagittarius, and SWORDS is a radical suit. Sharp and sudden social rises and falls (an idol for an hour) are also a typical situation of the NINE OF SWORDS. This card means a change of everyday surroundings, a relocation, and separation in the broad sense of the word (not only from people and objects, but also from ideas).

In the old manuals, the NINE OF SWORDS was associated with the announcement of death; reversed — of the death of a close person. (It must be remembered that the word DEATH in the cards means not only DEATH as we understand it, but also any transformation, any change.) This may concern anything: appearance, social position, views. A monk, taking the tonsure into a monastery, dies to the world. The NINE OF SWORDS can also be known as the highest power of liberation. To awaken suddenly and abruptly be horrified by the situation, having grasped it to the end. In such a moment, an immense force is released, impersonal and merciless. This is not an improvement of one's lot — it is a single blow, and freedom. And the more terrible the situation, the more dreadful this blow will be. No compromises. Freedom or Death.