Nine of Swords

Guiding words/ideas:

Worry; troubled mind; worry leading to sleep disturbance; a need to quiet or pause looping mental tracks; encouragement to strengthen body and spirit so that they may support the mind; caution against using the mind to protect… that protection can lead to disconnection; try to release mental protections to “allow in light” or be open to the beauty and magic of the dark; move into this work tenderly.

Channeled guidance:

The Nine of Swords points to worry, trouble, and disruption of the sleep state. Disruption of the sleep state is no small matter, for sleep holds many important healing processes for humans. It is therapeutic for the body, mind, and spirit. It is a human’s connection to the spiritual realm. Dreaming allows for important rest, healing, and regenerative time for the physical body. And it is also time for the mind and the activities of the mind to unwind, disentangle, and reset. Disruption of the sleep state can lead to an imbalance between body, mind, and spirit. These three systems must integrate for one to heal.

Because the suit of swords is about the mind and the intellect (and sometimes also the energy in the realm of the head), this card is a call to investigate any trouble in the mind. There is too much mental activity, too much disquiet in the brain, for the body to actually rest and sleep. This card encourages you to see if there are looping tracks that can quiet, if there are worries that can be laid to rest (or at least paused), and to investigate ways of fortifying these other parts of yourself to take on the burden of the mind. Can you become centered in your physical being? Can you be open to your spiritual process? And can these other parts of you allow the brain to have more space? Think of the spirit and the body as giant wings that are willing to take on some of the burden so that one’s being can fly into the night with ease, gratitude, and the potential for regeneration.

The images of the swords in this card look like a blind or shutters that are separating the human from the outdoors, from what lies on the other side. This human might be trying to shut out these other things—these things that scare and trouble them. They have used these swords (their mind) to separate themselves, and in this separation, they have created a cage in which they are disconnected, afraid, and alone.

So an additional suggestion is to allow these shutters to separate and open. Allow in light from outside. If it’s not physically light outside, allow in the beauty, the mystery, and the magic of the darkness. For darkness is not to be feared. Inside of darkness, in the shadows, lies so much magic and potential for healing and for change.

Move into all of this work tenderly, for choosing this card might be a suggestion that one is in a troubled state and needs love, kindness, and support to move towards trust and connection.

Plant and metal guidance:

Chokeberry (dark purple of background and hair): Our energy expands and contracts as needed, and we encourage you to do the same. We offer a rich balm for your wounds and a burst of energy to be used when you need it.

Acorn cap (light grey of shutters): Like a gentle pat on the head, we offer up slow-moving energy to open the senses and awaken the mind.

Black walnut (dark brown handles of swords and medium brown skin): The strength of our magic lies in our ability to clear space and provide opportunities for recharging and resetting.

Iron oxide/rust (brown/orange spots on shutters): I connect you to the core of the planet from whence I come. My energy is strong and solid.

Logwood (blue blanket): Our color connects outwardly but its source lies deep within. We help you reach inside yourself to find strength and beauty.

Copper Oxide as a mordant with logwood (light blue sections of blanket): I magnify the properties of whatever plants I touch or impact.

Weld (yellow sheet): Our energy is dense, warm and saturated, bringing with it a feeling of solidity and calm.