Diving into the Tarot Nines

There are six cards in the tarot deck that are connected to the number Nine. These include the four Minor Arcana Nines, of course. In the Major Arcana we have card Nine, the Hermit, and card Eighteen, the Moon.

When we think of numerology and its connection to tarot, Nine is a particularly interesting number. That is because, in classic numerology, Nine is the final number. Thus, we see Nine as a number of completion and fulfillment.

In tarot, we have cards that are numbered Ten. Therefore, we can’t entirely use classic numerology to help us understand the Nines of tarot, since the Tens complete the sequence of numbered Major Arcana cards.

When we look at the six tarot Nines, we can see that each of them has some individual peculiarities. This might make us wonder what, in tarot, could be considered commonality amongst the Nines. What might we say Nine means in tarot?

Let us look at each of these six cards. Then we will see if we can sum up what the energy of Nine in tarot might be, and how each of these cards reflect that energy.

We will start with the Major Arcana.

Major Arcana Nine is the Hermit. Typically the Hermit is pictured as an old man on top of a snowy mountain, holding aloft a lantern. In some modern decks the Hermit is a young man, or a woman. Yet, the original archetype of the Hermit is ‘Father Time’. That would make him, traditionally, definitely old and male. When we see the Hermit pictured as an older female she is sometimes called the Crone. This fits in well with the concept of the Triple Goddess. From that perspective, the High Priestess is the Maiden, the Empress is the Mother, and the female Hermit is the Crone. This, however, is a very modern approach to the Hermit.

The very first Hermit, as Father Time, held an hourglass rather than a lantern. When the lantern replaced the hourglass it was still meant to represent a timepiece. Candles were often used to measure the passage of time. Now, when we look at the Hermit, we can see the lantern as the lamp of wisdom, yet also as a clock.

The timepiece is important because the Hermit is often a reminder to be patient. The Hermit can also speak of old age. In this case the Hermit might reflect the worry that one might be considered too old for something, such as being hired for a job or having a viable love relationship.

The Hermit has made an arduous journey to the top of a snowy mountain, from which he can shine his light, or hold his clock, over all of humanity. We often think of him as having acquired great wisdom on this journey. He will share his wisdom with those who seek him out. He will not seek out students or followers. Rather, he will wait for them to make the journey to find him.

The Hermit shares his position as a card of great wisdom with The High Priestess. He shares his position as clergy with the High Priestess and the Hierophant. When we think about the search for deeper and hidden spiritual wisdom we can associate him with the High Priestess and the Moon.

The Moon is the Hermit’s Major Arcana numerological counterpart, being card Eighteen (1+8=9). It is here that we find the first Nine commonality. In the Major Arcana Nines cards, at least, we might surmise that amongst the qualities of Nine is included a journey for hidden wisdom.

We also know that the Hermit speaks of patience. He shares that with the High Priestess, Temperance, and a Minor Arcana Nine, the Nine of Wands. Might we see patience as a quality of the tarot Nines collectively?

First, we must consider if the Moon suggests or requires patience. While I have rarely thought of the Moon in that way, I can make a case for it. As we make our journey in the light of the Moon there are many pitfalls. We must choose our steps with care and patience, lest we fall prey to danger or deception.

I can also make the case that all four Minor Arcana Nines, to greater or lesser degrees, can speak of patience. The Nine of Pentacles has all the time in the world. The Nine of Cups might patiently wait for a wish to be fulfilled. The need for patience with the Nine of Wands and Swords is obvious.

One thing that distinguishes the Hermit is his loneness, and his loneliness. The Hermit can speak of the sorrow and anxiety of loneliness in a way that few other cards do. Yet, he can also speak of the aesthetic of the sort of loneness that is a choice. When the Hermit appears this way he is not lonely, he is comfortable in his own company. He shares this with another Minor Arcana Nine, the Nine of Pentacles.

Might we find that the tarot Nines share an aesthetic of loneness? Certainly, the Moon suggests a journey that one can only make on their own. Often this journey is the internal search for personal spiritual truth. The previously mentioned Nine of Wands is also very much alone, whether that is by duty or by choice.

The Nine of Pentacles is traditionally comfortably alone.

The Nine of Cups is a card of happiness and success. It is a card about wishes. Only the individual can truly know what they desire, and work to create it.

The Nine of Swords is certainly alone, and uncomfortable. Here we do not see happiness or satisfaction in ones’ loneness. Yet, the journey this person is on is by definition a lone journey.

Another aspect of the Hermit, along with his spiritual wisdom, is a high level of education. More than any other card, the Hermit is likely to describe a person who is holding or earning a doctoral degree. The other Nines do not seem to speak of this specific honor. Is it possible, though, that each Nine might speak of some sort of attainment at the end of a lengthy journey?

The Moon seeks to attain clarity and intuitive knowledge, for example.

Do the other Nines speak to some attainment, or journey toward attainment? In many ways, I think they do.

The Nine of Pentacles has attained wealth. The Nine of Cups has attained satisfaction. The Nine of Wands is fulfilling a mission. The Nine of Swords is on a dark journey to find peace and healing.

This concept of attainment, or seeking attainment, correlates with the classic numerological understanding of Nine as completion, without competing with the tarot Tens for their position as the completion of a journey. This circles back to our first question. In some ways the Minor Arcana Nines do illustrate aspects of a journey toward wisdom.

When we consider the Nines of the Minor Arcana, I am struck by the difference between the masculine suits, Wands and Swords, and the Feminine suits, Cups and Pentacles.

The Nine of Wands and Swords are both cards which describe difficulty. The Nine of Cups and Pentacles are much happier, each indicating a sense of security. When we look at the Tens of each suit we see that this trend continues.

I also notice that The Nine of Cups is as happy as the Nine of Swords is sad. In this way these two cards are on opposite ends of the emotional spectrum, in equal intensity. Likewise, it appears that the Nine of Pentacles is as secure as the Nine of Wands is insecure.

Each Minor Arcana Nine is rich with meaning. Yet, as Minor Arcana cards often are, each is in danger of being dismissed in a reading as a simple keyword. It is easy to call the Nine of Cups “the Wish Card.” and end your interpretation there.

Let us look at some of the deeper possibilities for interpretating each of the Minor Arcana Nines.

The Nine of Wands is wounded, yet still standing on guard duty. This card can speak of woundedness. It can also speak of defensiveness. A question we might ask when this card appears is this. Are you in this uncomfortable position because there really is no one to help you or relieve you? Or have you failed to delegate or ask for help? Is it time to bear this burden patiently, or have you been patient long enough? Must you continue to endure, or is it time to heal?

The Nine of Wands might specifically indicate a physical injury. In a relationship question, there may be communication problems caused by a partner’s defensive stance.

The Nine of Pentacles is a woman alone, under her father’s protection. Over time, this card has come to represent one who is comfortably single. Yet, this is also a card of family money and inheritance. Within this card we see security, both financial and emotional, as well as the safety that can often be the privilege of wealth. When this card comes up for a person who is in a happy relationship, we recognize that a quality of the relationship might be one of independence, equality and autonomy. When this card appears for one who is impoverished, we might discover that they have many resources that make their life livable, even without the abundance of financial wealth.

Very often the Nine of Pentacles can discuss being comfortable in one’s own skin. That is, being secure with oneself.

The Nine of Swords is always a difficult card. Sometimes, though, it is simply an indication of insomnia.

Sometimes it tells a reader that their client has had a disturbing dream which needs examination. This particular interpretation is one that is shared with another Nine card, the Moon.

The Nine of Swords might reveal a clinical issue such as depression or anxiety. It might speak to worry or upset about something that is very real, or something that has been imagined or blown out of proportion.

Very often the Nine of Cups is called “The Happy Merchant”. This can be a card that speaks of successful business ownership. This is interesting since we don’t usually associate commerce with the suit of Cups. Yet, anyone who is an avowed entrepreneur understands the unique happiness that comes from creating one’s own wealth and calling no one “boss”. This is another way that we see independence and that quality of ‘loneness’ in the Nine of Cups.

The Nine of Cups is the traditional “Wish Card”. It may speak of something we desire. In some cases, it may celebrate that we have attained something we desired.

Context is important when interpreting this card. A wish can be a sad thing, when it cannot be fulfilled. A wish can be a thing of fantasy. This card it is often an invitation to think about our wishes and desires and decide what we can and should work to manifest. It may be in this aspect of this particular Nine where we also find that quality of loneness.

What then, is the commonality of the Nines of tarot? This deep dive tells me that within each card we can find patience, loneness, and attainment. Each card may tell the story of a journey.

The concept of attainment is very similar to the traditional numerological understand of Nine. Journey, loneness and patience may be more specific to tarot.

We see that all six Nines do share some important concepts and energies. Yet, as with all tarot cards, each one has their individual and singular energy which uniquely contributes to the book of wisdom which is tarot.