Symbolism
The Nine of Wands shows an injured man, clutching onto a wand. He looks over his shoulder towards the eight further wands that loom over him. He looks weary and worn, as if he has already been through a battle and now must face further challenges with the presence of these eight wands. As a Nine, though, this is his final challenge before the achievement of his goal; he must endure this last test of his strength and character before reaching the finish line.
Meanings
The Nine of Wands comes as a sign that even in the face of adversity, you stand tall and strong. You may be on the edge of exhaustion, but you are resilient, persistent, and ready to do what it takes to get to the finish line.
This card may also come at a time when you feel battered and bruised, having endured significant challenges and struggles along your path. Just when you feel like you are making progress, you suffer another setback. The Nine of Wands asks you to trust that this is simply a test of your ‘grit’ and resilience, and know that every time you overcome an obstacle, you are getting stronger and clearer about what you truly stand for. You have the inner resources necessary to overcome any difficulty you encounter, even though it may seem impossible at the time. Be assured that you will eventually prosper if you maintain your position. And, if you do not succeed at first, then try again.
Others may be trying to oppose your plans, make things difficult for you, or even trying to attack you for what you are putting out into the world. Often this is because they are jealous of your success or they are projecting their own insecurities and fears on you. Don’t let others get to you. You are a change-maker and you have a very important message to share in this world. Don’t dim your light because of others’ insecurities.
On a more positive note, there will be people who are here to support you and who have your back. The Nine of Wands invites you to find your cheerleaders and your personal bodyguards, to protect you from the ongoing challenges and cheer you on to the finish line. Even if there are others who oppose you, there are many more people who support your cause. Let them help you.
The Nine of Wands encourages you to keep pushing—you are so close to the finish line. Even if you feel like giving up, this is your final challenge before you reach your goal, so don’t let go of your hopes and dreams when you are so close to making them a reality. Stand firm and strong against your challenges, you will achieve your goal.
Finally, the advice of the Nine of Wands is to establish your boundaries and fiercely protect those boundaries. If you have allowed others to stand in your way or deplete your energy, it is likely that you have not asserted yourself effectively with those people to protect yourself. Get clear on what you need in this situation to be successful and to reach your goals, then communicate those needs to others and establish your boundaries. On the same note, be aware that sometimes you can have too many boundaries and you are preventing others from getting close to you or helping you. Bring your conscious awareness to how you are proactively using boundaries to protect your energy.
