Nine of swords Tarot Card Meanings

Minor Arcana Tarot

Nine of swords Tarot Card Meanings

Upright Card Meaning

There is great sorrow or despair hanging over your head, or it has already pierced your heart with all the sharpness of the Nine of Swords. Perhaps you are currently going through a traumatic period, such as the death of a loved one. These tragedies mark all of our lives, but that does not make the pain of going through this painful period any easier.
Perhaps your pain is of a different, more personal nature. Sometimes the deepest miseries come from our own minds. You may be going through a period of depression or anxiety. A period of successive disappointments or perceived failures may be getting you down.
The card is not meant to chastise you for your grief or encourage toxic positive thinking. Grief and sorrow are a reality of life, although they are very painful. Although it may be helpful to encourage yourself with the thought of better times ahead, do not be afraid to allow yourself to feel this sadness instead of suppressing it. By feeling and examining your sadness thoroughly, you are able to transform it into something that can be lived with.

Minor Arcana Tarot

Nine of swords Tarot Card Meanings

Reversed Card Meaning

The Nine of Swords reversed represents many of the same emotions as its upright counterpart—sadness, anxiety and fear. However, the card reversed encourages you to examine the source of these emotions. Are the failures you have been mentally chastising yourself for actually as devastating as they seem? Is your loss something you can learn to live with?
That is not to say that your emotions are not valid. They are yours and you are free to feel them however you wish. However, your fears and doubts may be holding you hostage. Your fear could be reasonable, but you should still be wary of allowing it to dictate your fate.
The Nine of Swords reversed is also offering you a way out of your situation. After a prolonged period of depression, many people feel shame, especially if they feel as if their problems are comparatively not as bad. However, do not let your shame keep you captive or block you from the help that you need. Now is the time to tug on your support networks, you may find that they are closer than you thought.