Nine of Swords

Additional deck interpretation:

The Nine of Swords points you towards a path of learning to deal with extreme mental anguish as you continue your journey through the seventy-eight passageways of growth.

This is the level on your continuous cycle of change when you may have been dealing with a disturbing situation for so long that you start experiencing upsetting dreams or suffering from insomnia which in turn may cause a descent into sorrow and depression.


When you continually worry, your sleep pattern becomes disrupted. Have you ever had a dream that woke you up in the middle of the night? Did you feel lost, helpless, fearful, afraid of the danger hanging over your head?

Whether you have current cause to be upset or are experiencing regrets because you cannot go back to fix something that previously happened, lack of sleep may contribute to mental states that eventually require professional intervention if you are unable to face the truth of a situation on your own.

Numerical Number 9: This number is associated with the time of completion and realizing your dreams, but also indicates a new beginning that you cannot see right now.

You will move forwards to complete what you need to do in order to understand your situation. You are at the end of a cycle and in the time of transition when you need to clear the deck and do whatever it takes to prepare for a new cycle.

The Element of Air: The Nine of Swords is associated with the elemental air qualities of the planet Venus (wants, needs and desires) and the zodiac sign of Gemini. The combination of Venus in Gemini brings mental pain.


Probable Outcome: You might be experiencing sleepless nights or having upsetting dreams. You could also be dealing with a very disturbing situation, stuck in mental agony, or suffering from depression.

You may feel guilty because you had an affair or your partner may have told you they want out of the relationship, or want a separation or divorce.

Perhaps you are stuck in an abusive relationship, walking on eggshells to keep the peace.

You might be dealing with an unexpected pregnancy, illness, surgery, or the death of someone close to you.

Or something from the past resurfaced and you might need to seek out professional help.

Someone may have bullied you at work, or you are too oversensitive, or you have too much on your plate at work.

Or you could be experiencing financial problems.

Possible Outcome: You are recovering from your sleepless nights or upsetting dreams or perhaps you are climbing out of the dark hole of mental agony or depression.

You are accepting a situation and realizing that you cannot go back to fix what has happened.

You may be ending an affair because you do not want to feel guilty anymore. You have come to terms with your relationship ending in a separation or divorce or you have decided to leave an abusive relationship.

You might be accepting an unexpected pregnancy, illness, surgery, or the death of someone close to you.

You have decided not to allow someone bully you at work, or you are dealing with the pressures at work, one step at a time and not letting it destroy you.

Your financial problems may be taking a turn for the better.

If you not be able to channel the energy of the Nine of Swords into your life at this time, you are probably facing the truth about your troubling situation, but you still need professional help to recover.

Timing: The Nine of Swords predicts that an important thought is turned inwards to solve a problem. This event may occur in the next hours or days to come.