Tarot Card of the Day - October 26, 2014

Date: October 26, 2014

Today's Tarot Card: Nine of Swords

There are a few cards in the tarot that look just like their meaning. This is not one such card.

In the Rider Waite deck, the Nine of Swords shows a person sitting up in bed, their face in their hands as if they are upset, or crying, or worried. The nine swords, representing the thought processes, are behind them. On the blanket show the astrological signs and a rose, which is a symbol of beauty, promise and purity as well as the arrival of new beginnings (and with it, new hopes). Keep in mind that there are thorns among those roses, and those thorns can represent the hardships or challenges that you may need to face on the way to the better time ahead. The number nine is associated with clarity, as well as the end or culmination of the difficult times you have been dealing with. In numerology, the number nine is associated with the planet Mars, which oversees the spirit of a fighter, which are those who typically succeed following a conflict, which can also be seen in this card.

While this card might look a bit ominous, it is actually a positive card, because with challenges come a time for us to test ourselves, to learn and grow through adversity, and become stronger. Because the swords are associated with the element of air, and by virtue of the design of a sword, they have the ability to cut through the muck in our lives and clear away the deadwood, leaving a clearer understanding of the situation(s) and also a fresh viewpoint to how we will tackle the problem and bring about a more desired resolution.

Depending on the placement of the card within the spread, and depending on the spread that is being used, this card can also signal that you are placing too much worry on situations that either need to be played out on their own time and energy, or that you really have no control. It is possible that you are putting more stock in to a negative outcome than what is really possible, and that this card is letting you know that you need to ease up, be lighter on yourself, and try to keep a more confident outlook. Worrying about things will not change them.