Nine of Wands

What the card means

Upright

Tired, wounded, still standing watch - and the eight wands behind him are already up. The nine is about there being little left, which is precisely why it is tempting to drop it. The watchfulness here is earned by the past rather than by the present.

Reversed

Guarding out of habit long after the threat left. Seeing an enemy where there is none and spending the last of it there. Sometimes giving up a step from the end.

Love and relationships

Upright

A relationship where one person is still defending after an old hurt. Trust is possible, but not today.

Reversed

Suspicion with no cause. Or closed up so long ago that the reason is forgotten.

Work and business

Upright

The last push before handover. There is little strength left and it will be enough - as long as nothing new is started.

Reversed

Working on fear. Or holding a defensive line in a team where nobody is attacking.

Money

Upright

The reserve is low and it exists. Not a time for risk - a time to reach the end.

Reversed

Economising where economising stopped being necessary a while ago.

The card's advice

See it out: there is less left than it feels. And check what you are guarding this wall against - it is possible nobody has come from there in a long time.

As the card of the day

A somewhat heavy day that you will get through. Good for finishing what was started. Poor for taking anything on.

What is depicted

A man with a bandaged head leans on his wand; eight others stand behind him in an even row. He looks sideways rather than ahead. The wall is already built - he is guarding what he made.

Zodiac sign and correspondences

Moon in Sagittarius - watchfulness that comes out of memory.

With other cards

• Nine of Wands + The Star — the breath arrives; you are nearly there.
• Nine of Wands + Seven of Wands — holding a long time and nearly out.
• Nine of Wands + Ten of Wands — saw it out and immediately shouldered the next thing.