Swords · Minor Arcana

Nine of Swords

Tarot Card Meaning

Nine of Swords tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck

Upright

  • anxiety
  • nightmares
  • worry
  • despair

Dark thoughts haunt you in the night. The worry feels overwhelming but is often worse than reality.

Reversed

  • hope
  • recovery
  • reaching out
  • releasing worry

The nightmare begins to fade. Sharing your fears with others begins the healing.

Symbolism

A figure sits up in bed, head in hands — the torment of anxious thoughts at 3 AM.

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