Nine of Wands -

Tarot Card Meaning

Part of a full-series guide of all 78 Tarot Cards. See the full guide here.

Written by Made Musings

NINE OF WANDS

At a glance:

The Nine of Wands reminds you to keep your grit and determination as you push toward the finish line.

Upright Keywords:
Persistence, close to finish line, strength of will

Reversed Keywords:
close to giving up, stubbornness

Numerology:
9 - compassion, universal love, spiritual enlightenment, near-completion

Nine of Wands: Upright Meaning

The Nine of Wands depicts a weary man with a bandaged head leaning on his wand. Despite his exhaustion, his face is filled with resolve as he looks back at the eight wands he has overcome. This card symbolizes perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges. It suggests that although you may feel tired and battered from your struggles, you're close to achieving your goal. Keep your grit and determination as you push toward the finish line.

Numerology and Suit Meaning:

  • In numerology, the number 9 signifies compassion, universal love, and spiritual enlightenment. This number is also linked to humanitarianism and nearing the completion of a cycle. This can be a sign to seek deeper understanding into your life's purpose and direction.

  • The suit of wands primarily symbolizes passion, creativity, determination, and drive. These feelings lead us to take inspired action and manifest our dreams. There is often also an aspect of overcoming challenges or travel.

  • Elementally, wands are correlated to fire. Like our ambitions, fire is a source of energy. It can help create change such as transforming raw materials into porcelain or metal. However, when it loses control and becomes impulsive, it can lead to destruction.

Love/Relationships

The Nine of Wands love meaning indicates that you and your partner may have faced significant difficulties such as long distance, work stress, or unresolved issues. Despite these hurdles, this card signals that you are close to overcoming them. The Nine of Wands reminds us that although not all matters can be solved overnight, it is important to stay resilient and to continue working through your problems together. The effort you’ve put into the relationship will pay off as long as everyone communicates openly about their feelings and strives for mutual understanding. Your hard work will soon bring about a positive change.

Money/Career

When it comes to your career, the Nine of Wands suggests that you’ve been dealing with significant challenges or a long-term project that has drained your energy. You may feel burnt out and ready to give up, but this card reassures you that the end is in sight. Your perseverance and dedication are about to yield results. Keep pushing through the final stretch. Take short breaks to recharge, but don’t lose sight of your goal. Your efforts will soon be recognized and rewarded.

Spiritual/Self

Though you may feel exhausted from ongoing battles, the Nine of Wands encourages you to stay resilient. Your journey has been no walk in the park, yet it has brought you significant growth and fortitude. It's essential to continue forward with unwavering determination and faith in your path. This card advises vigilance, serving as a reminder of your accomplishments while emphasizing that it's not yet time to withdraw from the fight. Give yourself some grace for all that you've endured. Take things slowly, reaffirm your energy, and set clear boundaries. Always be prepared for the possibility that challenges may intensify before they improve. Stay hopeful, for you are strong enough to reach the finish line.

Take things slowly, reaffirm your energy, and set clear boundaries. Always be prepared for the possibility that challenges may intensify before they improve.

Astrology

The suit of Wands in tarot is closely associated with the element of Fire, symbolizing energy, passion, and creativity. This fiery connection resonates profoundly with the zodiac fire signs of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, reflecting their dynamic, enthusiastic, and adventurous nature. The fire signs embody initiative, courage, ambition, creativity, and personal power. They are natural born leaders. Together, these fire signs and the Wands remind us of the transformative power of having the passion and courage in igniting our desires.

Note: It's important to recognize that not everyone incorporates astrology into their Tarot readings. The extent to which astrological references are used can vary greatly among readers. Each reader has a unique approach; some may draw heavily on astrological archetypes, while others might not use them at all. This information is meant to offer an additional perspective that could be helpful in your interpretations by highlighting parallels between Tarot and Astrology.

Although some argue that astrology wasn't originally part of Tarot, more modern interpretations like the Rider Waite Smith and Thoth decks may have integrated astrological concepts to align with their modern time mystical beliefs. Many contemporary decks made in this current decade also feature astrological references. Ultimately, every individual develops their own unique relationship with both Tarot and Astrology.

Reversed Meaning

When reversed, the Nine of Wands suggests that you may be feeling ready to throw in the towel due to exhaustion or frustration. Alternatively, it can indicate stubbornness and a refusal to compromise, which may be hindering your progress. Evaluate whether your persistence is serving your best interests. If you’re on the verge of giving up, remember that perseverance could bring success just around the corner. If stubbornness is the issue, consider where you can find compromise to ease the path forward. Balance determination with flexibility to achieve the best results.

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CARD SUMMARY

This card symbolizes perseverance and resilience in the face of challenges.

Learn More about Tarot.