TAROTNine of Wands
Upright
Determination and resilience needed to cross the finish line.
The determination to cross the final test to reach completion. The last step before triumph.
Hope in the face of adversity.
A final test of faith before victory.
Intuition
The man on the card is Hector, a Trojan prince of Troy. His name literally means ‘to hold’, and he was a major figure in the defense of Troy.
The woman is Panacea, the Goddess of cures.
Reversed
Fear of failure preventing movement forward or backward.
Feeling defensive or giving up and moving towards safety rather than completion.
Unable to complete a task or goal through exhaustion and weariness at the final test.
Astrologia
An optimistic personality that finds hope in even challenging situations when their back is against the wall. Knowledgeable and imaginative. Always seeking new experiences. Prone to idealism leading to disappointment
Nine of Wands
The Nine of Wands moves on from the Eight to a point where the end is in sight. The journey up to this point may have left you bruised and battered but between you and the end there is one last obstacle left. One final push and you will complete the trial.
The question the Nine of Wands asks is do you have enough left to pass the final hurdle and pass the trial?
The Astrological sign of this card (Moon in Sagittarius) is the perfect personality archetype to overcome this situation; a positive person who looks to the upside even when their back is against the wall. This personality relishes a challenge, galloping towards it at full speed.
But the card suggests a decision is being made. Is the male character getting ready for a final push towards their goal or is this the limit of endurance?
The man is either pausing to catch their breath before making their final push or stopping to make their final stand.
Hector
The north eastern tip of what it now modern Turkey represented the point where the Western Civilizations around the Mediterranean met Eastern civilizations. There is evidence that this area was a hot zone for fighting and political maneuvering up to the Bronze Age Collapse (much like the Middle East is today), and there was concerted efforts over a long period of time from the closest Western civilizations to gain a foothold here.
This became the mythology of Troy.
The myths tell us the greatest fighter on the Troy side was Prince Hector. His name means ‘to hold’ as in ‘to defend’, and he is noted as a great warrior and leader during the ten year siege of Troy, fighting against the odds whilst at the same time maintaining his honor and sense of self in everything he did. This makes him a perfect fit for the Nine of Wands.
Panacea
The woman above Hector is the Goddess of cures and salves, Panacea. She symbolically administers cures to the warrior Hector as he pauses from the weight of the task ahead of him, no doubt burdened by the many wounds and emotional weight of the task ahead.
Whether he will buckle under this weight or retain the tenacity and will to fight to the end is the subject of this card.
Description and Symbology
The card shows a tall and swarthy man (as per descriptions of Hector from the earliest records describing him).
We see wands arranged into a protective wall behind him suggesting he has set his energies into defense and maintaining his position (and gains) so far. It could also represent the will and passion that has got him here so far, arranged now to defend him from the constant attacks he may face ahead.
Both interpretations suggest his final enemy or trial is now very close and by implication, so too is the final goal.
He carries his weapon in readiness to fight and his will seems undiminished. Another way of looking at the warrior’s posture is that he is using his weapon for support rather than wielding it with a readiness to fight.
Depending on the two interpretations the warrior is either on his last legs and making his last defense or is channeling his energy for the final push forward.
Above him we see the Goddess Panacea administering cures to the warrior, showing the providence of the Gods is on the warrior’s side.
Perhaps winning rests on the warrior knowing that providence is on his side for the final battle and his best option is therefore to attack rather than waste his mental energy in defense. Only his belief in the righteousness of his cause and knowing the Gods are on his side (and his will and passion) will lead to victory.
To doubt for a second means defeat.
Winning rests on the warrior knowing that providence is on his side for the final battle.
The Warrior
The warrior has a head bandage and stoops, signifying injuries sustained on the arduous journey so far. He is either taking a breath before making a final push or is ready to drop!
The wands as a barrier
Wands are arranged behind the warrior as a symbol of his resources for his final push or a protective barrier for his final defense.
The sky
The sky is red and indicative of the will and passion of the warrior.
Panacea
The Goddess of cures, Panacea, cures the warrior, showing the universe is on his side. If the warrior has the confidence and will to believe this, he will win as the battle will most likely be won or lost by strength of will and belief in the cause.
Tips for Readings
The following table shows the upright and reverse meanings for general questions. The last row ('Yes/No') is useful when you are picking a single card to decide a yes or no decision.
Upright
Reversed
This card suggests your relationship has gone through many trials and tribulations but has been made stronger through it.
It could mean you need to stand firm against external events and people that will try to unravel what you have built.
In either case the card signals that there may be a final test, after which a major goal will be within reach.
You are feeling lost or defensive after many setbacks, past arguments and perhaps loss of faith in your relationship.
This card suggests you must put the past behind you as you are on the cusp of a major breakthrough. Not doing this is likely as you may be feeling weary and dejected, but that route will lead to failure in many things you have worked towards within the relationship.
You will see a challenging environment but as long as you are determined and have faith in your abilities, there will be a reckoning towards the positive.
Staying focused on your goals will enable you to meet them soon, and this in turn will reap massive rewards in your career.
A long string of challenges are leaving you defensive and moving sideways through constantly fighting emergencies rather than moving the project or tasks forward.
Although such emergencies will always occur, your defensive (and perhaps idealistic) posture is hindering progress. You need to see that the end is in sight and start moving forward. This may feel harder than hunkering down but it is the way you must tackle your situation. Otherwise the lack of movement will lead to failure.
You have faced health problems in the recent past but persistence and a healthy attitude to them will now pay off.
Do not let up on any procedures, medication or routines you have been put on, as carrying on for a little longer will work.
You are struggling with doubt in a health agenda you are taking or following and may be close to giving up. This may also be because of complications and worsening symptoms that suggest nothing is working.
Although you are close to giving up, this card suggests you are actually close to success if only you will maintain determination and trust in the process for a little longer.
To achieve this, doing it alone may not be the best option. Talking to someone about it to rekindle your determination or seeing the bigger picture may be a good way forward
You have had challenges and setbacks in the recent past but they are actually making you more resilient and may eventually lead to breakthroughs – as long as you keep on moving forward and don’t give up!
Fear of loss or being painted in a defensive corner by detractors is making you doubt the path you have taken.
Your detractors are actually slowing you down, perhaps by making you revert to old beliefs or stopping your movement through self-limiting world views.
This card suggests you need to listen more to your own inner voice as it is the right one. If you don’t, a period of stagnation or moving backward will occur.
There may be problems in current finances but resilience and confidence in your current path will see you through – as long as you stick with it.
You are feeling gloomy or negative in your financial planning because of setbacks, debt or low returns. There may be a sense of giving up but the way forward is to look carefully at where you are now vs and where you need to be, realize the two are close, and move towards the latter.
Yes through tenacity and will to stick on the correct path to progress.
No through doubt and staying power at the last moment.
Reading the Card
The upright card
The upright Nine of Wands denotes hope, holding on to your beliefs, and the will to succeed despite attacks and ridicule from others.
We see wands arranged behind the warrior, representing his resources. These can represent a stable position from which to start his final attack. As they are behind him, the wands may also represent hidden resources the warrior has but is not yet aware of. Because Wands represent will, ideals and passion, these resources are actually a part of the warrior.
If the Suite of Wands represents a journey then the card signifies the final pause before crossing the final hurdle in a long running project, task or passion project. In this case the Goddess Panacea represents a Gift from the Gods, special knowledge or sense of righteousness that will give the warrior the impetuous to succeed.
The card suggests that moving forward is the way forward to success. A belief in your path is the only armor you need and the will to succeed is your weapon.
The reversal
The reversed card suggests the warrior will not give himself to the cause and the cause may be lost because of this. He lacks the courage to proceed and will make a stand where he is, short of the final destination but perhaps in line of sight of it. So near but yet so far!
The wands now form a defensive position. This defense may either be used to make a final stand, or they may be a barrier that prevents the warrior accepting help from others.
The Goddess administers to his wounds, but this may not be enough, too late, or the warrior is simply ignoring this divine help. He is already resigned to failure.
The warrior himself is bent over, and uses his weapon as a crutch rather than to fight with. His final stand may not last long.
Card Design Process
The card design roughly follows the accepted vision for the standard card, but has the addition of the Goddess Panacea to reflect the Mythic Hero’s Journey.
Final Words
The Nine of Wands represents persistence towards your goals despite setbacks and challenges. It is also about meeting your goals through hope of better days once you have faced the final challenge that stands in front of you.
More than anything it represents the passionate self-belief that you are on the right track despite the obstacles in your way.
