IX – Nine of Swords♠

Nine of Swords is the card of anxiety and nightmares, the suffering that arises from overwhelming thoughts. Attributed to Mars in Gemini, this card bears the title Cruelty—not physical cruelty, but the merciless torment that the mind inflicts upon itself in the dark hours of the night.

The Nine of Swords asks you to confront your fears, seek support, and remember that much of your pain is rooted in the mind. A figure sits up in bed, head in hands, nine swords arrayed on the wall behind them—the accumulated weight of worry, regret, and fear that makes sleep impossible. The quilt is decorated with roses and astrological symbols, suggesting that even in our darkest moments, meaning and beauty persist.

Corresponding to Yesod, Foundation, in the airy realm, this card embodies the accumulated mental suffering that seems overwhelming when faced alone in the dark. The Nine of Swords teaches compassion for yourself and the pursuit of peace. It reminds you that the terrors of the night often shrink in the light of day, and that reaching out for support is not weakness but wisdom.