Nine of Wands
The Nine of Wands depicts a rearing horse against nine lances, symbolizing resilience, power, and the determination to press on after hardship. Upright, it signifies standing firm despite weariness, learning from past trials, and relying on available support to continue toward goals. Reversed, it warns of exhaustion, defensiveness, and paranoia, urging inward strength and caution against overcommitment. Overall, the card emphasizes protective resolve, courage in the face of adversity, and the importance of recognizing allies and personal resources.
Keywords
Animal
Horse
Fun fact
Horses have been domesticated for over 5,000 years and can sleep both standing and lying down. They can live to be over thirty years old. Horses viewed as 'wild' are simply descended from escaped European horses that have gone feral. Despite this fact there is fossil evidence that horses native to North America existed over 8,000 years ago.
Keywords
Resilience, Protective, Courage
Reversed keywords
Defensive, Paranoia, Exhaustion
Meaning
A horse rears up on its hind legs, backlit by the sun pierced with nine lances. The horse has long been associated with freedom, power, hard work, and the dogged determination required to work through adversity. The sun, a symbol of power and energy, has taken a few blows, but the horse rears up to show that it is ready to plow forward anyway. The Nine of Wands is a symbol of fighting through the weeds to get to the other side. Though it may be difficult, we must be strong in the face of adversity. We might be beaten up along the way, but we will emerge on the other side stronger than before.
Upright meaning
When upright, the Nine of Wands tells us that the user has taken a few blows, encountered adversity in its truest sense, but still stands tall to take on what will come next. You may be feeling run-down and cowed by all that life has thrown at you, but just keep in mind that for every hurdle you clear, that's one more notch in your belt to carry with you from this day forth. Strength comes from confronting adversity head-on. It may feel daunting now, but so long as you keep pushing towards that finish line, you will come out stronger than you ever thought possible. You have people who can help support you if others try to kick you while you're down. Know who your friends are and send the rest packing. You have the tools to progress, don't hesitate to use them.
Reversed meaning
When reversed, the Nine of Wands suggests that the user has lost the will to stay strong. Life has taken a toll on you, beating you down again and again until you don't feel as if you can keep your head up any longer. The way forward may seem impossible to parse out, but you need to know that you are so close to the realization of your goals. Draw inwards for the strength necessary to keep going. You are resilient, resourceful, and capable. If outward support is sparse, take efforts to focus on what you can offer up on your own. Resist the urge to take on additional commitments and avoid succumbing to paranoia. When the world is at its most inhospitable, it's easy to believe everyone else is out to make it worse. Stay centered and focused on what you can do for you.
Visual Description
A dark, star-speckled scene shows a rearing horse with a glowing golden mane and tail positioned before a circular halo. Nine upright wands radiate outward behind the horse like stakes or spears, their tips pointing away from the center. The background is deep purple with scattered gold dots and subtle streaks, and sinuous lines frame parts of the composition. The printed title "NINE OF WANDS" appears along the bottom of the card.
Oriens tarot
💜 Please support creators. Buy official decks.
ℹ️ Disclaimer
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].