Nine of Wands

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Nine of Wands from the Rider-Waite Tarot deck

The Nine of Wands is the ninth card in the suit of Wands. It usually stands for obstacles, delay, suspense, adversity, slowness, misfortune, or trouble.

General description

In the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, Pamela Coleman Smith depicts the Nine of Wands as a figure leaning upon his staff with an expectant look, as if awaiting an enemy. Behind the figure are eight other wands in orderly disposition, like a palisade. The card signifies strength in opposition. If attacked, the person will meet an onslaught boldly.

Divinatory meaning

The Nine of Wands seems strangely veiled. It is at least strange to find only malefic expressions of the coordination of the element air and the principle of mind with the house of Sagittarius.

The card must have to do with prophecy, fortune-telling, teaching, conducting, guiding and the persons of guides, teachers, masters. It gives the notion of traveling and far-reaching schemes, the faculty of speaking foreign languages and of writing, but it is true, that the persons indicated by this card find their strength in opposition and very often therefore are in search of some convenient opponent or opposing force.

It means intellectual chasing, sport, hunting, journalism and the raising of spirits, that are not easily to be got rid of afterwards.

If reversed, the card can mean: Obstacles, adversity, or calamity. Generally speaking, a bad card.


Tarot Topics
Major Arcana The FoolThe MagicianThe High PriestessThe EmpressThe EmperorThe HierophantThe LoversThe ChariotStrengthThe HermitWheel of FortuneJusticeThe Hanged ManDeathTemperanceThe DevilThe TowerThe StarThe MoonThe SunJudgementThe World
Minor Arcana Pentacles AceTwoThreeFourFiveSixSevenEightNineTenPageKnightQueenKing
Wands AceTwoThreeFourFiveSixSevenEightNineTenPageKnightQueenKing
Cups AceTwoThreeFourFiveSixSevenEightNineTenPageKnightQueenKing
Swords AceTwoThreeFourFiveSixSevenEightNineTenPageKnightQueenKing
Decks Visconti-Sforza TarotTarot of MarseillesRider-Waite TarotThoth TarotOccult TarotAngel TarotVlad Dracula TarotHieronymus Bosch Tarot