Short meaning: The Nine of Swords shows personal suffering through fear, grief or guilt. Destructive tendencies come to the fore as you punish yourself for the choices you have made. The reality really isn’t as bad as you imagine. Adopt a more positive mind-set to move forward.
In-depth meaning: The Nine of Swords crops up when the Subject’s mental attitude can improve, or worsen, a situation and it can illustrate self-destructive, depressive tendencies and thoughts. This card will indicate some issues that need to be dealt with but the situation is not quite as hopeless as the Subject feels.
It is likely that they are allowing their fears and concerns to become overblown, and may have misplaced feelings of guilt or anxiety. The Subject’s situation and life will brighten considerably when they allow themselves to move past this way of thinking. It is in their control. They should try talking to people close to them, or who are involved in the situation, then the Subject might start to realise that other people have a less judgemental attitude to them than they think.
Notes on the image: Swords are pointing and crossing every which way indicating confusion, worry, fear and the feeling of conflict, and the clouds are turbulent and stormy. However, the two Swords at the top are lying flat and aligned neatly – indicating things are not as bad as you think, don’t allow your own thoughts to dictate how you are managing – talking to others might alleviate some of these anxieties.