Nine of Wands

Nine of Wands description

The Nine of Wands shows the main character beat down and tired, but so close to the finish line. The next card is the ten, completion. A man (woman) stands on a stage, exhausted from driving eight wands into the ground behind him. They are not standing evenly, he works in a state of imbalance. He’s on wand nine number nine, and he looks like he’s about to throw in the towel. The bandage on his head is a sign that he’s struggled to get to this point. The path might have caused him many headaches. He wears a belt, separating his thoughts from his actions. This is the last test of will before he reaches his goal.

Upright meaning

The Nine of Wands appears when you are elbow deep in quicksand. You have accomplished so much, and it’s been far from easy. Now you might be wondering, what else will be asked of me? You might have lost sight of the reward for all of this hard work. This card shows that you are learning some lessons the hard way, but rest assured, this is the last test of your resilience in this matter. Remain vigilant! Pick up your bootstraps. You have great inner strength.

Reversed meaning

Reversed, the Nine of Wands can be a sign of burnout and bitterness towards your work/relationships. You might feel like your work is going unnoticed or unappreciated. Ask yourself, am I being taken advantage of here? You are a very hard worker, but you can not be expected to maintain this level of effort. If you’re looking for assurance that things will get easier, you’re not going to find it. You need to advocate for yourself. Set boundaries or find help to ease your workload. Don’t slow down, just add to the momentum. You are dipping into your deepest reserves to see this through. You are still holding on to some old wounds, which is preventing you from making any headway towards the gap in the wands, where green pastures lay just out of reach.

Nine of Wands quote

“In times of stress, be bold and valiant.” Horace