Hello hello, my darlings! Last week we saw the firm duality of the Eight of Wands, and today we’ll be looking at the Nine. I like to think of the Nine of Wands as a coin. One side represents courage and persistence, while the other denotes overwhelm and paranoia. The coin itself is Trust. Neither side is better or worse than the other. Instead, the side that you find facing you, is a reflection of your own outlook.
Upright, the Nine of Wands is a card of resilience and boundaries. You may be on the edge of exhaustion, but you are ready to do what it takes to get to the finish line. It’s a test of faith and grit that comes at a time when you may feel battered and bruised, but know that every obstacle you overcome makes you stronger and wiser. Find your cheerleaders and personal bodyguards who can protect and encourage you to the finish. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries on what you need to be successful and then communicate those needs to others.
Adversely, the reversed Nine of Wands suggests you are struggling to keep working towards your goal. You feel pummeled with every setback on your path. It feels like everyone is out to get you, which can lead to defensiveness and paranoia. Trust that others will find their karma, and focus on your own game. Don’t worry about what other people are thinking or saying about you. This can be significantly difficult to do when those you would go to for help are on the suspect list. If you know this is a temporary setback, you may need to push through it to get yourself to the goal. If there is no end in sight, try to embrace trust and delegate some problem solving to others to help lighten your load.
Does my coin idea make sense now? One side shows you trusting yourself and surrounding yourself with others who believe in you. The other shows a skepticism of all those around you and a lack of belief in your own ability to continue coping with setback after setback. Regardless of your outlook on trust when this card appears, it will always represent that you are oh-so-close to your goals! Keep pushing, my darlings!