Nine of Swords
The Sleepless Nights
The energy of the card
Someone sits upright in bed at night, face in their hands, nine swords hanging in the dark. The card stands for worries, fears, sleepless nights and a guilty conscience. The quilt with its roses and zodiac signs is a reminder that you are still held.
Your path with this card
Fear grows smaller when you look at it piece by piece. One thought at a time can be sorted out, one worry at a time can be examined. The card invites you to walk through the fear and trust what is holding you along the way.
- Which worry keeps you awake at night?
- How much of it is real, and how much does your mind paint in?
In the shadow
Here the card itself lies in shadow: fear, regret, tormenting images. It invites you to examine your conscience honestly, to show remorse where it belongs, and to let go of the horror pictures that only live in your head.
The image and its meaning
A man wakes from a terrible dream, or cannot fall asleep at all for worry.
The hands over his face block his view of the red roses on his blanket. The nine swords of fate hover above him – pointing into an unknown future. He is afraid of fear itself.
Darkness and terror wrap around his soul. The Nine of Swords describes the present, uncertain situation of fear – and asks us to bring light and hope back into our life – the nightmare is over. The last step that remains is simply to take the hands away from the eyes, so that we can direct our energy forward again.
We have to take this step ourselves, for the night is not over yet and the illuminating light of the sun has not yet returned. Perhaps in the present situation we do not yet realize that circumstances are improving and that we must take the initiative ourselves.
Related cards
Tarot The Moon
The Moon also leads through fear, but a destination waits beyond it. The Nine of Swords adds the conscience – the question of guilt and regret.
Lenormand The Moon
In Lenormand, The Moon stands for the night and the emotional life – the hour when the worries of the Nine of Swords grow loud.
Symbols on the card
- Frau hält Kopf in Händen im Bett · Kummer, ReueNächtliche Sorgen, mentale Erschöpfung.
- Gestickte Szene auf der Decke · Verdrängte ThemenSymbolisiert unbewusste Bilder, die belastend wirken.
- Neun Schwerter an der Wand · GedankenlastSymbol für überwältigende Sorgen und Grübeleien.
