Tarot · Minor Arcana · Wands

Nine of Wands

  • tenacity
  • last stretch
  • resilience
  • almost there

Key facts

Arcana
Minor Arcana
Suit
Wands
Number
9
Numerology
9 (The Completion: fullness, readiness, ripeness)
Keywords
tenacity, last stretch, resilience, almost there

Nine of Wands upright

The Nine of Wands shows you standing despite the marks of the road, still holding on. You’ve been through a lot, and part of you would love to give up, right before the end. And yet you’re closer to the finish than you think; your tenacity hasn’t been in vain. Grant yourself a breath, then push on a little further, the finish line is right there.

Nine of Wands reversed

Reversed, the Nine of Wands speaks of a guard that has turned into a wall, out of fear of being hurt again. By always protecting yourself, you may end up cut off from the help that could ease your load. You don’t have to carry it all alone, nor stay forever on the defensive. Set one wand down, let a little support in; your strength doesn’t need to exhaust itself to be real.

A question to sit with

Where are you holding firm out of habit when a little rest or help would lighten you?

Frequently asked questions about Nine of Wands

What does Nine of Wands mean upright?
The Nine of Wands shows you standing despite the marks of the road, still holding on. You’ve been through a lot, and part of you would love to give up, right before the end. And yet you’re closer to the finish than you think; your tenacity hasn’t been in vain. Grant yourself a breath, then push on a little further, the finish line is right there.
What does Nine of Wands mean reversed?
Reversed, the Nine of Wands speaks of a guard that has turned into a wall, out of fear of being hurt again. By always protecting yourself, you may end up cut off from the help that could ease your load. You don’t have to carry it all alone, nor stay forever on the defensive. Set one wand down, let a little support in; your strength doesn’t need to exhaust itself to be real.

Sources

  • Arthur Edward Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, William Rider & Son, 1911.
  • Rachel Pollack, Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, Weiser Books, 1980.