The Nine of Wands symbolizes an ongoing battle that impacts your physical and mental well-being. At this point, you find yourself halfway through the struggle, and it’s crucial not to give up.
While there are situations where compromise is necessary, there are certain principles you should stand firm on. Your determination will be the key to overcoming this challenging period. However, you’ll need to make sure that you are fully prepared to face the difficulties head-on.
Take this as a reminder to gather your courage, stay focused on your goal, and push forward. With perseverance, you can emerge victorious from this struggle.
Table of Contents
Nine of Wands Key Words
Before we dive deeper into the upright and reversed Nine of Wands Tarot card meanings, and its connection to love, work, and life, let’s first have a quick look at the most important words connected to this Minor Arcana card.
| Upright | Perseverance, stamina, courage |
| Reversed | Stubbornness, no compromise, lack of trust |
| Yes or No | No |
| Numerology | 9 |
| Element | Fire |
| Planet | Jupiter |
| Astrological Sign | Sagittarius |
Nine of Wands Tarot Card Description
It’s important to observe the Nine of Wands Tarot card illustration properly to understand its deep meaning and symbolism.
- Head Bandage: The image on the Nine of Wands Tarot card depicts a weary-looking man. He wears a bandage around his head, representing recovery and self-care from a previous battle or a fixed worldview.
- Wand the Figure Holds Onto: The man clings to one wand, leaning on it for support, showcasing the versatility of the wands beyond weapons.
- Eight Wands Behind Figure: Other eight wands stand behind the man in a fence-like position, either unknown resources or his ability to organize them for protection.
- Green Landscape: Despite the man’s injuries and repose, the background shows a green and fertile landscape, symbolizing the persistence of hope even in dark times.
- Grey Floor: In contrast to the vibrant landscape, the gray floor symbolizes the man’s bleak injuries and the impartial weight of their rest.
Upright Nine of Wands Meaning
The Upright Nine of Wands presses you to draw your strength to finish what you have started (or life/universe has started for you) despite fatigue. There are some things that can be difficult to bear, no matter how positive we try to be.
But it doesn’t mean that chaos, confusion, heartbreak, and life’s ups and downs have to throw us off balance. Even if we have no control over what life throws our way, our reactions are always of our own choosing.
So, if this card shows up, consider it as a sign to keep on going, as the universe is testing your resilience. No matter how tired you are, do not allow yourself to give up. You’re almost there, so there is no point in turning away, even if it’s challenging.
Money and Career Meaning
If the Nine of Wands card appears in relation to a career or finances, it might suggest thatthings are in limbo. Are you clashing with coworkers or facing a layoff? Does it seem like you can’t get ahead no matter how hard you try?
If so, it might be tempting to quit or give up. Despite how things feel, doing so would only compound your problems.
So, it’s critical to steady yourself and come up with a solid plan for moving forward. Do you need to go back to school or look for a new position? Should you come up with a new budget and tighten your spending?
Do what you need to do to make it through these rough and tough times, keeping your resolve regardless of how difficult things may appear.
Love and Relationships Meaning
The Nine of Wands Tarot love and relationship meaning represents rocky romances. But if you are single at the moment, this situation may be connected to one of your past experiences and not the present.
Either way, the message is the same: negative or otherwise draining relationships can zap us off our energy. If this is the case for you, take a hard look at the friendship or romantic relationship that you’re leading. Is it one that is worth saving?
At the end of the day, your relationship with yourself is the most important one you will ever have. You must defend your own well-being at all times. This may involve building a peaceful fence of protection to keep out the negative vibes of others even if they’re connected to you strongly.
Health and Spirituality Meaning
Nothing weighs us down like worries about how things will all work out. Many times, we put on a brave face for others, appearing to have it all together but on the inside, we are really falling apart.
Sure, we would love to be ‘balanced’ and ‘focused,’ but how can we in times like these? Here are a few suggestions:
- Practice Affirmations: I will do my best, I will do even better tomorrow, I am capable.
- Focus Only on What You Can Control: Your thoughts, your words, your actions.
- A Lapse is Not the Same as Relapse: One slip-up does not mean you aren’t demonstrating self-control and good judgment.
You should always remember that there’s a fine line between a temporary setback and a complete return to previous negative patterns.
If you are facing a physical hurdle rather than a mental one, pursue all treatment options. Once you have worked with a specialist to create a concrete plan, see it through.
Reversed Nine of Wands Card Meaning
The Reversed Nine of Wands represents a situation that is a bit different than the one described by the upright meaning.
The Upright Nine of Wands symbolizes a battle caused by others in which you must stand firm. When flipped upside down, the Tarot suggests that you are the creator of your own turmoil and that compromise is necessary.
It is human nature to shirk responsibility and pass the blame to others. In one of the most famous self-help books of all time, How to Win Friends and Influence People, author Dale Carnegie discusses this phenomenon.
He gives an example of some of the most famous murderers and gangsters in history going down, still believing that they were good guys who had done nothing wrong.
Although we should always stand up for what we think is right, stubbornness and pride only lead to resentment and frustration. If you can’t compromise and work through a situation, it might be time to remove yourself from it altogether.
Money and Career Reversed Meaning
In a career context, when the Reversed Nine of Wands appears in a Tarot spread, it suggests feeling drained and unwilling to compromise or make changes.
It can lead to a sense of stagnation in your job or current project. It’s important to recognize that exhaustion can cloud your perspective, and achieving a work-life balance is crucial for productivity.
Taking a step back, taking time off, and restoring your energy levels are essential. Then, you can assess whether continuing with your current endeavors is worthwhile.
In financial matters, the Reversed Nine of Wands warns against evading financial responsibilities. It can also be a reminder that there’s a possibility of failing to protect your money, which may result in loss or theft. So, you need to be extra careful while making financial decisions.
Love and Relationships Reversed Meaning
In a love and relationship Tarot card reading, the Reversed Nine of Wands signifies facing disappointment and feeling that your efforts in the relationship are not yielding the desired results.
Despite your dedication and willingness to keep things positive, your actions may go unnoticed or unreciprocated, draining your energy both mentally and physically.
While you hold onto the hope of a healthy relationship, it is crucial to recognize that both partners bear equal responsibility for its success.
If you find yourself making all the compromises and sacrificing your happiness while your partner shows no effort, it may lead to a deteriorating situation. Disagreements are natural, but ensure that you are not the only one making sacrifices.
For those who are single, this card suggests that despite setting boundaries, some individuals persist in trying to get close to you, challenging your desire to remain single.
Health and Spirituality Meaning
When the Nine of Wands appears in a health reading, it may suggest your struggle to keep up with an illness or facing a chronic illness or recurring injury.
In a spiritual context, the Nine of Wands reversed suggests that you have been through a tough time, feeling drained and resistant to learning from the experiences.
The universe may be trying to teach you something, so it’s essential to be open to the lessons and be kind to yourself.
Nine of Wands: Yes or No
The Nine of Wands in a yes or no reading is a toss-up between “no” and “maybe”. If your question is about standing firm on a decision that you really believe in, then perhaps you should.
As far as moving forward with new ventures or relationships, it’s probably wiser to wait things out. Otherwise, worry, exhaustion and discontent might emerge.
Nine of Wands and Astrology
The Nine of Wands is connected to the zodiac sign Sagittarius. Independence and the ability to do what they want are very important for people with this sign.
They have a love for adventure and exploration and are considered outgoing. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of religion, philosophy, spirituality, wealth, and progeny.
Important Nine of Wands Combinations
Dilemmas, feelings of abandonment, and resentment: when combined with other cards, the meaning of the Nine of Wands can slightly change. Below you can find the most important combinations of this Wands card.
The Nine of Wands and the Sun
This combination suggests that whatever you are wrestling with has become a considerable part of your life. In fact, all your thoughts and decisions may be wrapped up in this dilemma.
The Sun card suggests that the only way to rectify the situation is to do what you can and then let go. Even if things aren’t the way you would like them to be, acceptance is the way to gain peace.
The Nine of Wands and the Hermit
Do you feel like you are fighting every battle alone? The Hermit and Nine of Wands connection suggests feelings of isolation and abandonment.
For example, someone going through a breakup or some other loss may feel they have no one to talk to. A person going through a tough time financially might feel as if there is no one around to offer support.
As painful as this might be, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The Hermit urges you to connect to your own higher self. Don’t allow your judgment to be clouded by the thoughts and opinions of others.
Draw from hidden reservoirs deep within yourself and continue your path until your journey is complete.
The Nine of Wands and the Empress
The Empress, when paired with the Nine of Wands, represents feelings of resentment. Lately, you may be feeling like someone is trying to take advantage of you. These types of emotions can cause significant damage if ignored and not dealt with.
As hard as it will be, you need to open up and express your feelings using ‘I statements’ such as “I feel” or “I need” It is important not to criticize or be on the attack.
Try to stand the other person’s point of view, and if you still feel uneasy about the situation, take a short break to recoup and gather your thoughts. After this, stand firm on how you feel and know that as long as you are true to yourself, any situation will work itself out for your benefit.
The Nine of Wands Tarot Card Inspiration
Although I write all the descriptions based on the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, it doesn’t mean that I use other decks too. And there are so many beautiful decks out there! I can lose myself browsing and searching the web for beautiful tarot cards.
Below you can find a small selection of beautiful Nine of Wands tarot cards. If you drew a Nine of Wands tarot card yourself and want to share this, I would love to hear from you!
The Nine of Wands in a Reading
That’s all for the Nine of Wands meaning! Can’t get enough? If you have pulled the upright or reversed Nine of Wands card in your spread, did the meaning make sense to your situation in life?
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