The Nine of Swords tarot card is about anxiety, sleepless nights, and worry. It can also stand for nightmares and depression when taken to the extreme.
Everyone feels the grief of the Nine of Swords at some point, and most of us want to move past it as quickly as possible. But this card can also mean you’re caught up in a world of anxiety and regrets.
The stress of rehashing past decisions and difficult situations can cause mental suffering and even illness. The more you dwell on your negative thoughts, the more likely you are to manifest them into reality, so try to break the cycle by focusing on the positive.
When you see the Nine of Swords card reversed, it can have a similar meaning. You’re plagued by anxiety and fear and it’s draining you. This reversed card can also mean you’re immobilized by fear, afraid to take a step in any direction.
The key here is deciding which threats are real and which are in your mind. Often they’re caused by limiting thoughts and obsessing over past experiences. Reach out to people who can help you see the reality of the situation and offer a new perspective.
The reversed Nine of Swords card can also mean your negative mindset is causing you a lot of pain and turmoil, and you’re plagued by feelings of shame and guilt.
It may be time to reach out for help, whether this means confiding in a loved one or talking to a therapist who can guide you as you work through your feelings.
This reversed card can also show that you have done the work and are learning to cope with your past and the trauma and fears associated with it. You’re learning to relax and deal with things that used to leave you paralyzed.
Reading this reversed card using the “blocked/restricted” meaning
Okay, so now let’s talk about how to read your reversed Nine of Swords card. First, you can use the “blocked/restricted” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards this way, you look for an obstacle standing in front of the card’s upright meaning.
With the Nine of Swords, this means something is blocking your anxieties and fears. But you may need to face these fears to get where you truly want to be.
Say you pull the reversed Nine of Swords card thinking about your job. You work as an electrical engineer and you’re very skilled. For years, you’ve been with the same company, one of the big names in energy, and it’s provided you with a lot of stability.
You’re content in this role and feel secure about your future with the company. But you’re extremely passionate about helping your community, and you noticed a position opened up in transportation.
In this role, you would make big changes and help to improve mass transit in your city. But even though this job brings out your passion, you’ve barely considered it. Because you have such a secure position now, you’re ignoring this opportunity even though it would make you more fulfilled.
Here, the reversed Nine of Swords tells you that to make an impact, you must take a chance. Weigh your options here. Even though this will be a big change, if it’s something you’re passionate about, it might be worth it.
But if the security of working a consistent job is more important to you, then staying in your current role might be the best option. There will always be choices in front of us, and making the right choice is all about deciding what kind of life you want to live, without letting our anxieties get in the way.
Reading this reversed card using the “opposite” meaning
Another way to read your reversed Nine of Swords card is using the “opposite” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you look for the opposite of the card’s upright meaning.
So for the Nine of Swords, instead of anxiety and fear, things are calm and you’re feeling brave and ready to face whatever’s next.
For example, you might pull the reversed Nine of Swords card thinking about a big change. You’ve lived in New Orleans all your life and just graduated college a month ago.
Even though you love your hometown, you have a passion for adventure and decided you want to move to Colorado to start your career. You found a job and a nice place to live, so you and your dog started getting ready for the big move.
Last week, you threw a going-away party for all your family and friends, and many of them asked you if you’re afraid to start this next chapter. But all you can feel is excitement and freedom, even though you don’t know what the future will hold.
Here, the reversed Nine of Swords tells you to follow your path with confidence. Some people will never understand why you need to spread your wings, but this move is what’s right for you.
Don’t let projected fears get you down because this is exactly what you should be doing. Keep your eyes on the future and go into your new life with confidence. There are sure to be a lot of changes coming up, though, so stay grounded by talking with friends and family back home when you can.
Reading this reversed card using the “worse” meaning
You can also read your reversed Nine of Swords card using the “worse” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards this way, you take the card’s upright meaning and put it in a negative light.
For the Nine of Swords, this means all your fears are causing a lot of damage in your life. It might be time to reach out for help.
Say you pull the reversed Nine of Swords card thinking about your desire to have a baby. You and your husband tried for a long time, and after several years of it not working out, you went to a fertility clinic.
There are some issues, but the doctor said you had a good chance of conceiving through IVF. But after two expensive and exhausting rounds, you still haven’t gotten pregnant, and it’s devastating.
All you can think about is wanting a little one, and you’re feeling unworthy and like something is wrong with you. These defeating thoughts and fears plague your mind, and you have nightmares almost every night.
Your husband is worried for you and doesn’t know how to support you through this properly. Here, the reversed Nine of Swords tells you it might be time to speak to someone about how you’re feeling.
Even though your husband is supportive, sometimes we need to talk to someone on the outside who can help us work through complex emotions. Try reaching out to a therapist or other mental health worker who can help you express yourself clearly and sort through things.
All this anxiety and fear isn’t good for your health, and you’ll feel much better getting everything out. Then you can decide on your next steps.
Reading this card using the “no/not” reversed card meaning
Finally, you can use the “no/not” card meaning to read your reversed Nine of Swords card. When you read it like this, you put a “no” or a “not” in front of the card’s upright meaning.
This can mean “no fear.” Even though you had anxiety leading up to a situation, now that it’s here, you can see there was really nothing to be scared of.
For example, say you pull the reversed Nine of Swords thinking about your workout boot camp. A couple of months ago, you and a girlfriend decided that this summer, you’re taking charge of your health.
You signed up for an intensive six-week boot camp to learn healthy eating habits and do hard workouts. This means getting up each morning at 6 am and following the regimen to a T.
But even though your friend is doing it with you, you’ve had non-stop anxiety ever since you signed up. You were scared of embarrassing yourself or just not being able to hack it.
But once you get started, it’s surprisingly stress-free! Even though sticking to the program will be a challenge, you have the support of your entire class, and you’re already feeling better than you have in years.
Here, the reversed Nine of Swords card tells you to remember this lesson for the future. You’ll feel fear many more times in your life, but things are often worse in your mind than they are in reality, so move forward with confidence.