The Nine of Wands tarot card is all about courage and persistence in the face of challenges. When you feel defensive and hurt, this card reminds you to stand up for yourself and what you believe in, but don’t get paranoid.
Build your defenses and define your boundaries, but keep moving forward. The Nine of Wands shows you’re so close to the finish line, but you’ll still have a few more tests in your way. Stay strong and see things through to the end!
When you see the Nine of Wands card reversed, it can mean you’ve created such strong boundaries that you’ve become disconnected from others. Your paranoia is getting out of hand, and you’re always thinking people are out to get you.
You might think you’re being targeted when you’re not or that people are singling you out just because they don’t like you. It’s important to remember that not everyone has a hidden agenda, and some do just want to help and be a positive influence.
The reversed Nine of Wands can also mean you’re struggling to reach your goal. You keep running into challenges and things are getting pushed back. You’re getting overwhelmed and don’t know if you can continue on your journey.
Look inside at your inner resources and find the strength to move forward. You’re so close to getting what you want, so don’t give up now!
Reading this reversed card using the “blocked/restricted” meaning
Okay, so now let’s talk about how to read your reversed Nine of Wands card. First, you can use the “blocked/restricted” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you look for an obstacle standing in front of the card’s upright meaning.
So for the Nine of Wands, this means you’re facing roadblocks on the way to success. But you’re so close, don’t give up now!
For example, say you pull the reversed Nine of Wands card thinking about a big project you’ve been working on. You’re a DJ/producer, and your goal is to release your new album by the end of the month.
It’s been six months in the making and nothing has been smooth. Artists have been late getting their contributions to you, and the guy who was going to master the audio with you dropped out.
You also had to upgrade some of your equipment, which was expensive and another setback. You’re finally getting close, but you’re waiting on one last artist sample. It feels like this project will never come to life.
Here, the reversed Nine of Wands card tells you not to give up! Wait as long as you can for the sample, but if you have to, move forward without it.
Sometimes we need to come up with a workaround to get things done. And who knows, the album might be better off without that sample anyway.
Reading this reversed card using the “opposite” meaning
Another way to read your reversed Nine of Wands 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.
For the Nine of Wands, instead of persistence, you’re giving up. Try to give things a little more time before throwing in the towel.
Say you pull the reversed Nine of Wands card thinking about your vow to find a new hobby. Right now, you spend most of your free time watching TV or gardening. You want to try something new to shake up your routine, but you’re having trouble finding something you like.
You’ve tried lots of different things, from painting to jujitsu, but nothing has held your interest. Mostly, you get frustrated when you’re not good at something right away, so you end up not wanting to bother.
Here, the reversed Nine of Wands card tells you it takes time to get good at something new. You won’t be an expert right out of the gate, and it’s important to be patient with yourself.
Plus, the learning process itself should be fun! Focus on your smaller wins the next time you try something new. Celebrating your success is a great way to motivate yourself to stick with something, so try to look at the good stuff moving forward.
Reading this reversed card using the “worse” meaning
You can also read your reversed Nine of Wands card using the “worse” reversed card meaning. When you read your cards like this, you take the card’s upright meaning and put it in a negative light.
With the Nine of Wands, this can mean you have boundaries in place, but they’re so rigid you’re becoming isolated and closing yourself off to the world.
For example, you might pull the reversed Nine of Wands card thinking about how you’ve changed since your breakup. You were with someone for years and she was horrible to you.
She cheated on you constantly and then twisted things to make it seem like your fault. She would cut you down in front of other people and make fun of you in the bedroom.
After years of toxic behavior, you found the strength to leave, but the relationship hurt you badly. You put so many barriers in place afterward that you don’t trust anyone.
You feel like everyone has a hidden agenda and you never know who you can trust. These days, you mostly interact with people online and you wonder if you can ever get back into the world.
Here, the reversed Nine of Wands card tells you that boundaries are healthy, but completely cutting yourself off can be dangerous. You can easily create a self-imposed prison that’s hard to break out of.
Try calling up an old friend for starters. Once you get back into socializing, things will feel more natural. It’ll take some time, but you can enjoy people again if you give them a chance.
Reading this reversed card using the “no/not” meaning
Finally, you can use the “no/not” meaning to read your reversed Nine of Wands card. When you read your cards like this, you put a “no” or a “not” in front of the card’s upright meaning.
For the Nine of Wands, this can mean “no boundaries.” Your defenses have been low and people are taking advantage. Don’t be paranoid, but don’t let them walk all over you either.
Say you pull the reversed Nine of Wands thinking about your job. You’re the manager at a fast-food restaurant, and you love making your employees happy. This means you do everything in your power to be flexible and accommodate their schedules.
You also pick up their side work on occasion because you don’t want people to think you’re being harsh. But the problem is that no one seems to notice anything you do. You’re beginning to wonder if they respect you and starting to resent them for how they make you feel.
Here, the reversed Nine of Wands card tells you to stand up for yourself but don’t get paranoid. Your employees probably don’t even notice half the work you do.
It’s not personal; they just want to make things as easy as possible. Still, you need to put your foot down and get serious about the requirements of the job. You can still have a pleasant relationship with your coworkers while making sure things are getting done.