
Nine of Wands
Weary but still standing.
Tired but nearly there. Draw on your resilience.
- resilience
- boundaries
- last push
Element: Fire
What the card shows
A bandaged figure leans on a wand and looks warily to one side. Behind him eight wands stand upright like a fence.
Nine is the number near the end of a cycle, when strength is lowest. The bandage shows he has been hurt, and the fence shows he has built defences. He is still on his feet.
▲Upright
Resilience after a long struggle; one last effort before rest.
What do I need in order to last the final stretch?
▼Reversed
Exhaustion, or defences that no longer protect.
What can I put down to rest?
Nine of Wands in a reading
In love
Guarding yourself after hurt.
Reversed: Exhaustion, or defences that no longer protect.
At work
Nearing the end of a long project, tired but close.
Its shadow side: stubbornness, distrust after a hard time.
As one of the Wands
Energy, drive and creativity. The suit's element is Fire. 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.
Read it with other cards
Questions about Nine of Wands
What does Nine of Wands mean in tarot?
Resilience after a long struggle; one last effort before rest. Keywords: resilience, boundaries, last push.
What does Nine of Wands mean reversed?
Exhaustion, or defences that no longer protect. Blocked: burnout. Excess: paranoia. Fading: giving up near the end.
What does Nine of Wands mean in love?
Guarding yourself after hurt.
What does Nine of Wands mean for work?
Nearing the end of a long project, tired but close.
What question does Nine of Wands ask?
Upright: What do I need in order to last the final stretch? Reversed: What can I put down to rest?
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