9 of swords

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 28 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Marquise	28 Mar 2005
Hello... I had recently done a reading for a friend. It was a spread dealing with a romantic relationship. I know this is pretty general but the 9 of swords appeared on the eigth position on the celtic cross spread. This position is "others". When it comes to relationship type questions what does it mean when the 9 of swords is in the eigth position of the celtic cross?

caridwen	29 Mar 2005
I don't know which deck you use but look at the length of the swords on the nine in the Rider Waite deck. They are so big they reach off the card! Fear makes the shadows in the dark seem larger than life. Anxiety, sleeplessness, restlessness, nightmares. These emotions get worse in the wee hours and can be physically draining as well as emotionally exhausting. Position Eight of the Celtic Cross is usually enviroment. It can represent other people in your life or how you perceive your enviroment. It appears your friend is troubled regarding the relationship and the other cards in the spread should have indicated what she/he was troubled about and how she/he may be able to overcome these problems.

tarotbear	29 Mar 2005
It can mean that the 'others' {the external} see this as a possible mistake or bad relationship, or that you just got out of a bad relationship-bound and blindfolded does not bring wine and roses to mind. What was card #7?{the internal?} Sometimes you have to read them in tandem. What I mean by that is that what we feel on the inside and what we show on the outside are two different things. What we feel but what others see can also be two different things. Sometimes we even deliberately cause the world to see things that may not be true.

moonspirit	29 Mar 2005
I don't know much about the celtic cross spread but I do agree with caridwen's interpretation. Definitely some sort of mental anxiety sometimes includes a period of insomnia. A card I unfortunately can really identify with!

rainwolf	29 Mar 2005
I usually see this position as the effect of others on the situation and their response to it. You should also look at surrounding cards to see what level this "9 of swords" is working at. You dont need to care what other people think about the situation, but in this case it seems like disruption and frustration.

Kaylee Marie	29 Mar 2005
I would take this to mean that another person is upset about the relationship. Is there an ex-lover in the picture? Or perhaps mum/pop/best friend don't approve and are fearful for the safety and future of your friend or friend's lover? Or could the 9 of Pentacles even represent your friend's lover? Perhaps he/she is having doubts about the relationship and is too scared to bring these feelings out into the open? Also when I see this in terms of relationship, there could be cheating going on. Someone may wind up crying in the middle of the night over a love triangle. Or if there is not cheating, maybe there is jealousy and paranoia that cheating could occur. Paranoid thoughts about other women/men with our loved ones, even if there is no cause for alarm, can destroy a relationship. Without knowing the context of the other cards, it is hard to determine how much this particular card will impact or show itself in the relationship.

Fulgour	29 Mar 2005
Tarot Decoder: Interpret the Symbols of the Tarot and Increase Your Understanding of the Cards by Kathleen McCormack The Celtic Cross is used to show what each card might mean in each of the 10 positions, for both upright and reversed. :) from an Amazon review: This is the best beginning tarot book I've come across. Not only does it give simple, clear meanings for each of the cards based on the symbolism [for any deck] but it also adapts meanings based on the layout context and addresses the issue of combinations. This is the first book I've seen for beginners that is substantive, yet has an appropriate scope and sequence for beginning readers. Even advanced readers will learn from the wealth of information in this book. An excellent resource book. Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Barron's Educational Series (September 1, 1998) ISBN: 0764106775 Product Dimensions: 11.0 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds. (click on "here" to continue) * Edited to add: 9 of Swords upright in position eight, per Kathleen, "Suffering borne with fortitude and patience is rewarded with love." How about them apples?

Marquise	29 Mar 2005
I thought about it being someone else who is upset too but maybe it talks about the partner. Thank you all for your replys.

The 9 of swords thread was originally posted on 28 Mar 2005 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.