Card 58 • swords

Nine of Swords

Brief Description

The Nine of Swords points to intense fear, anxiety, and mental anguish that may be magnified by the mind. It warns that worries and nightmares can distort reality, making situations seem worse than they are. The card highlights despair and cruelty as part of the emotional landscape, urging examination of thoughts rather than outward events. Reversed, it suggests overthinking, deep depression, guilt, or a lingering sense of hopelessness that needs compassionate attention.

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Card Name

Nine of Swords

Animal

Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)

Meaning

Nine of Swords indicates you may be stricken by fear and anxiety, but this may be all in your head. You may be worrying about a situation a little too much, when in reality, it isn't as bad as you think it is.

Keywords

Anxiety, nightmares, despair, cruelty

Reversed Keywords

Overthinking, hopelessness, deep depression, guilt

Visual Description

A large dark vulture fills the upper portion of the card with wings spread wide against a black background, its bare red head and hooked beak angled downward. Below the bird nine swords are arranged horizontally in a neat stack, their silver blades pointing to the right and ornate golden hilts to the left. The composition is framed by a white border and marked with the Roman numeral IX at the top.

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Anima Mundi tarot

✍️ Deck author(s): Megan Wyreweden

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All card images and descriptions are taken from public sources. They are used for review purposes only. All rights to these images and descriptions belong to their creators. If you believe there is a copyright infringement, please contact us at [email protected].