NINES

Nine is a card of completion (so is Ten, but we'll get to that). Like the Hermit, who connects to the nines, it is a card where something is finished and the person in turn steps back to look on what he's done, earned, or gained. Nines are among the most powerful cards, usually granting the Querent what it is they, like the Hermit, are seeking.

Nine of Wands

A wounded man holding a wand stands guard over the other eight wands. Think of this card as the "staircase" card; you climb flight after flight of stairs to get to the top; but finally stop, panting, and wonder "Will I ever get to the top?"

What the Querent seeks most, leadership, a successful career, is right there. They've only to shine the Hermit's light upward to see it. They might feel tired, wary and on guard; but remind them that they have reserves of energy and strength for that final push. Completion of all they've worked for is right there, all they need do is go for it!

Nine of Cups

An innkeeper sits before nine cups set out for guests. This is perhaps THE best card in the minors. It is sometimes called the "wish" card. What you have an appetite for you will be given to you; your wish will come true. On the more emotional level, relationships are loving and complete. Creativity is at a high, friendships and emotions are good. It is like walking into an inn and finding that the innkeeper has already filled his chalices with the best wine for you and your friends. The joy and camaraderie the Querent seeks he will surely find.

Nine of Swords

A man wakes from a nightmare, nine swords on the wall. It can be a good thing to find what you seek, except when it comes to ideas, words or problems. Find too many of them and they will overwhelm you. We all know this card, it is the one where we wake up at night and go over our troubles, problems, worries, thoughts, what we said, what others said. The Querent must be told that while their problems may be real, they're blowing them out of proportion, making them worse, nightmarish. They are spending too many sleepless nights alone and awake with these words, ideas, problems. What they are really seeking is to wake from this bad dream - which they can do by realizing that it is a bad dream - most of it is in their head.

Nine of Pentacles

A woman in her private garden watches over nine "blossoming" pentacles. Like the Hermit, the woman here has retreated from the world, but unlike him it is into a private world of pleasure. This card signifies a lucky windfall or payment for work well done, enough to buy what you most want. It can also indicate a retreat to a spa or one of those beautiful bed & breakfast inns where you're pampered and waited on hand and foot. Everything is lovely, luxurious. The physical things the Querent has been seeking, things they wanted but were unable to buy, they will finally be able to have.

Onto the next Tarot card, the Ten...

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