Nine of Wands
The Nine of Wands depicts a weary guardian who endures in the face of past trials, holding a small lantern as she stands watch among tombstones. It symbolizes perseverance, vigilance, and the final stretch before safety, celebrating battered courage and the will to protect what matters. Reversed or taken to excess, that same vigilance can harden into paranoia, stubbornness, or a refusal to release burdens, risking hollow exhaustion. The lantern represents both fragile personal guidance and the need to seek support when one's light grows dim. Ultimately the card asks you to tally what you have preserved by standing your ground and to consider the costs you are willing to bear.
Keywords
Visual description
A pale woman in a long, old-fashioned blue gown stands in a shadowy graveyard holding a lit lantern. Weathered tombstones of various shapes surround her; one is marked 'DEWEY' and a decorative plaque at the bottom reads 'GREAT-AUNT LILLIAN NINE OF STICKS crooked way tarot.' The scene is set at dusk with dark trees in the background and an ornate gold frame around the card.
Meaning
A lone guardian stands among stones, lantern in hand, weary but unbowed, the air heavy with dusk and memory. The image smells of damp earth and flickering light—you can feel the scrape of old stone underfoot and the stiff fabric of a dress that has seen many nights; the story is of someone who has already been tested and keeps watch despite fatigue. This is a card of endurance and the last stretch before safety, where vigilance, boundaries and a stubborn will protect what matters; it celebrates battered courage and the strength to remain standing when retreat might be easier. Turned the other way, that same vigilance can become paranoia, stubbornness, or the refusal to let go, warning that exhaustion may hide behind bravado and that defence without rest can hollow you out. The lantern suggests both guidance and the fragile light you keep for yourself—ask for help when the flame gets low, and tend your wounds rather than merely bracing for the next blow. Whether upright or reversed, the image invites a careful tally: what have you preserved by standing your ground, and what costs are you still willing to pay?
Crooked Way tarot
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