Nine of Swords definitions

Rider-Waite: 9 of Swords

One seated on her couch in lamentation, with the swords over her. She is as one who knows no sorrow which is like unto hers. It is a card of utter desolation.

Death, failure, miscarriage, delay, deception, disappointment, despair.

Additional meanings: An ecclesiastic, a priest; generally, a card of bad omen.

Reversed Card meanings

Imprisonment, suspicion, doubt, reasonable fear, shame.

Additional Meanings: Good ground for suspicion against a doubtful person.

Book of Thoth - Cruelty - Nine of Swords

The Nine of Swords is called Cruelty. Here the original disruption inherent in Swords is raised to its highest power. The card is ruled by Mars in Gemini; it is agony of mind. The Ruach consumes itself in this card; thought has gone through every possible stage, and the conclusion is despair. This card has been very adequately drawn by Thomson in "The City of Dreadful Night". It is always a cathedral — -a cathedral of the damned. There is the acrimonious taint of analysis; activity is inherent in the mind, yet there is always the instinctive consciousness that nothing can lead anywhere.

The 9 Swords indicates much sorrow and cruelty.

More information

Golden Dawn - Lord of Despair and Cruelty

A move, such as a change of residence, or the intercession of a courier. An expected gift arrives, for good.

Mathers: 9 of Swords

An Ecclesiastic, A Priest, Conscience, Probity, Good Faith, Integrity.

Reversed Card meanings

Wise distrust, Suspicion, Fear, Doubt, Shady character.

Etteilla: 9 of Swords

Unmarried Person, Virginity, Abbott, Priest, Monk, Hermit, Religious Person, Temple, Church, Monastery, Convent, Hermitage, Sanctuary. Cult, Religion, Piety, Devotion, Rite, Ceremony, Ritual. Cloistered Person, Anchorite, Vestal Virgin.

Reversed Card meanings

Justified Mistrust, Justified Suspicion, Reasonable Fear, Misgiving, Doubt, Conjecture. Scruple, Troubled Conscience, Innocent, Timidity, Propriety. Disgrace, Shame.

Thierens: Nine of Swords

TRADITION

A bachelor, priest, clergyman, hermit; monastic order, monastery, church; religion or cult; devotion, rite, ritual, ceremony. Another version says: "Death, failure, miscarriage, delay, deception, disappointment, despair." (W.) Reversed: Justified doubt, fear or mistrust, scruple, shame, imprisonment; timidity, pudor.

THEORY

On the house of Sagittarius, the Ninth, the element of Earth must of course relate to the earthy side of religion, i.e. the material expressions of it, to the more heavy, earthy, materialistic mind and its ideas about religion, ethics, etc. It is not very flattering for priesthood in general, perhaps, that from this sort of condition have come so many of those who call themselves ecclesiastics, but still it is natural, because the 'ecclesia,' which has been built upon the rock (Petrus = Capricorn,) is served by the teachers or inspirers of it, to be found in the preceding house. In lay language this means: the expression of religion, of ideals and ideas, descending into matter, taking material shape and culminating in the church or monastery, which, however, come under the tenth house, and into dogma and creed under the ninth. Under the latter's influence are the representatives of dogma and creed, viz. priest, officiant, monastic or monk. It is fairly sure, that from the essence of this card arises inquisition and every sort of intolerance, religious intolerance above all, because the materialistic mind thinks itself in possession of the only expression of Truth, and condemns every other. So this card nay also indicate all sorts of hard judgment, rigid attitudes of mind, orthodoxy. For this indeed is the meaning of materialism in religion and ethics. When the material expression of truth and ideals is at its height, it reaches the value of rite and ritual or religious ceremony, which at its best stands in relation to dogmatism as the jewel to simple stones or dry sand.

CONCLUSION

Dogma, dogmatism, ecclesiastic spirit, scholastic mind, creed, rite, ritual, ceremonial. The persons representing these. Hard judgment, orthodoxy, rigid attitude of mind, ascetism. Intolerance, inquisition. The 'fear of God' may well be turned into hatred of mankind. In weak cases there may be swearing, atheism, agnosticism, shyness, miscarriage, shame, false evidence given, error of judgment. In strong cases the mind is scrupulous, conscientious, and in strict accord with time and fashion.