Nine of Swords

✦ The Nightmare Card

✦ Symbolism

Nine swords surround the head of a woman who is overcome by mental anguish. Swords represent thoughts, so here we have a glyph for overthinking. The Nine of Swords rules anxiety, depression, chronic stress, insomnia, night terrors, and paranoia.

✦ Interpretation

When the Nine of Swords comes up for me, I always take it to mean the same thing: it’s in your head, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real. Crises of mental health and chronic stress are serious health problems that need to be dealt with. Your mental torment may be internal or stem from an external source such as trauma or a person intentionally gaslighting you.

✦ Advice

Regardless of the problem, your emotional prison is not helping. What you need to do now is break the anxiety loop. The Eight of Swords teaches us that we are not as powerless as we feel. When the Nine of Swords comes, remember coping mechanisms that have worked for you in the past. Turn the swords away from yourself. I suggest reaching out for help from friends, family, community, or a mental health professional. Talking about what is going on will be the best way to get out of your own head.