On Saturday I participated in the Blogathon, and gave free Tarot readings to anyone who requested one. One card that showed up frequently that night was the Nine of Wands. It came up so frequently that I began to wonder if there wasn’t some message in it for me. One of the evening’s clients asked me to elaborate on the Nine of Wands, and I thought I’d write here about all the Nines of the Tarot.

Nines tend to be very potent indicators of completion or fulfillment, but without the permanence of the Tens. The Nines are some of the most powerful cards in the minor Arcana. Only the Aces are more potent, but where the Aces are raw seedlings of force, the Nines are more structured, more fully realised.

According to some correspondences, the Nines are associated with the Sephiroth of Yesod, which is the Sephiroth of Foundation, the etheric sphere which precedes full manifestation. The foundation upon which all manifestion is built. Nines carry a certain lunar quality - they are dreamy, but these are dreams (or nightmares, in the case of the 9 of swords) fulfilled. Nines are all about waking up to find it is true after all.

The number nine (3×3) is a number long associated with witchcraft, and is often used in magic to manifest something or to effect a desired change. Nine knots to bind a spell. Nine dimes to draw money. Nine needles to hotfoot an unwanted guest. (And though this has nothing to do with magick, it also takes nine months to ‘complete’ a baby)

The Nines are also associated with the card numbered 9 in the Major Arcana, the Hermit. Because of this, the nines in the minor arcana are more indicative of solitary achievements, of goals attained alone rather than with others, of entrepeneurship, self-motivated actions, of succeeding (or not) on one’s own.

Nine of Wands

The Nine of Wands is the most creative of the Nines. It is an inspirational card, an enlightening one. The Nine of Wands shines a light on the issue at hands, and gives us creative and intelligent ways to manifest what we need - or want - to do. But every light casts a shadow, so the Nine of Wands always brings challenges. We see or learn something important with this card, yet we are also challenged by it.

The Nine of Wands corresponds to the Sun in Sagittarius, but remember we said the Nines all carry a certain lunar quality. The Nine of Wands is where the the dreamy ideas of the dreamworld meet the bright solar light of consciousness. This card tells us we are becoming aware of our dreams, a light is shining on those hidden places where our secret desires lie, and we are being given a chance to manifest them.

Sagittarius is a very expansive and intelligent sign. A very ‘conscious’ sign. Sagittarius contains all the mental tools we need to draw our dreams into realisation.

Crowley titled this card ‘Strength’, because it represented the mental fortitude to fully actualise that which has been enlightened. The Nine of Wands is a card that tells you it is time to manifest those ideas that are trotting around in your brain.

Nine of Cups

With the Nine of Cups, Jupiter is in Pisces. An expansive and aware planet sits in one of the most emotionally sensitive of the signs. The Jupiter brings the awareness that you need to make yourself happy. In fact, Crowley titled this card ‘Happiness’.

Nine of cups is a definite ‘dream come true’ kind of card, but it doesn’t rely on others to bring happiness. Nine of cups is telling you that you know how to be happy. Remember nines are often solitary - they don’t depend on others. This is just as true of the emotions as any other aspect of life. the Nine of Cups represents you gaining empowerment in your emotional life.

This card is also representative of wishes manifesting. Some desire comes to fruition. Emotional needs are fulfilled. The ‘dream come true’ element of this card is so potent, that many readers believe when it shows up in a reading, the querent can make a wish on it. I’m not sure I’d go that far, but no harm in trying right?

Nine of Swords

Where the Nine of Wands actualises the creative impulse, and the Nine of Cups fulfills emotional desires, the Nine of Swords manifests all those niggling fears that hang out in the backs of our minds. The Swords are the most mental suit, and because of this, contain not only our intelligence and ability to analyse, but contain also our fears and worries. The lunar quality of the Nines represent the dark side of the Sword’s intellect, the nightmares, the doubts.

The Nine of Swords corresponds to Mars in Gemini, and the fiery aggressive action of Mars is in conflict with Gemini’s intellectual nature. The mind is in hyperdrive, is overactive, and allows all sorts of negative thoughts to manifest. Nines being solitary, this conflict is of an inner nature, but can certainly effect one’s environment.

Crowley called this card ‘Cruelty’, and our own minds can be our worst punishers. This card is a sure sign that you are beating yourself up, harboring thoughts of revenge, punishing yourself. Negative ideas are preying on your minds, your fears are getting the best of you and are manifesting as problems in your daily life. Time to face the fears and rein in the self-destructive behavior, before your problem turns into a Ten of Swords, which you so don’t want.

Nine of Pentacles

Venus, the planet of luxury and beauty, sits in Virgo, the sign of perfection and actualisation. Crowley titled this card Gain, and thats what its all about. The Nine of Pentacles is about manifestation of material desires.

You’re starting to see a return on your actions and ideas. Money begins to flow, you find yourself having more, and giving more. Its a good time to start a business, make an investment, build something physical and lasting, or buy something you want. The Nine of pentacles is a good indicator that a business deal will go well, or a career move will lucrative.

This card is a card of solitary success in the material world. This is about what you can do for yourself to make life better, and the Nine of Pentacles has very strong ‘go get it’ vibes for entrepeneurs.