Nine of Swords
Worry in the night.
Worry looms large. Share it with someone you trust.
- anxiety
- worry
- sleepless nights
Element: Air
What the card shows
A person sits up in bed with their face in their hands. Nine swords hang on the dark wall behind. The quilt is covered in roses and astrological signs.
Nine is a number near the end of a cycle, when worry peaks. The swords float on the wall above, not touching the sleeper, which hints that the fears are thoughts more than events.
▲Upright
Anxiety, worry or guilt that feels heavier at night.
What worries could I talk about instead of carrying alone?
▼Reversed
Fears easing, or being buried.
Who could I tell what is keeping me awake?
Nine of Swords in a reading
In love
Anxiety about a relationship.
Reversed: Fears easing, or being buried.
At work
Stress about outcomes you cannot control.
Its shadow side: catastrophising, sleepless worry.
As one of the Swords
Thought, conflict and truth. The suit's element is Air. It shows where in daily life the reading plays out.
Related cards
The other nines, and The Hermit, Major Arcana card 9: the same stage of a story in other parts of life.
The Hermit
Nine of Wands
Nine of Cups
Nine of PentaclesRead it with other cards
Questions about Nine of Swords
What does Nine of Swords mean in tarot?
Anxiety, worry or guilt that feels heavier at night. Keywords: anxiety, worry, sleepless nights.
What does Nine of Swords mean reversed?
Fears easing, or being buried. Releasing: fear easing. Excess: spiralling. Inward: worry kept hidden.
What does Nine of Swords mean in love?
Anxiety about a relationship.
What does Nine of Swords mean for work?
Stress about outcomes you cannot control.
What question does Nine of Swords ask?
Upright: What worries could I talk about instead of carrying alone? Reversed: Who could I tell what is keeping me awake?
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