Rider Waite Smith Tarot Deck

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.

About the Deck

Pivotal and canonical, this deck defined a new pattern that would be followed up to the present.

Provenance

Designed by A.E. Waite and Illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith. England, 1911.

Meaning of Nine of Swords from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot Deck

Upright

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

Reversed

Imprisonment, suspicion, doubt, reasonable fear, shame.

According to Many Schools of Thought

Papus's Divinatory Meanings

Duration of hatred.

A. E. Waite's Secondary Meanings

Upright

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

Reversed

Good ground for suspicion against a doubtful person.

Mme. Le Normand's Divinatory Meanings

Successful voyages. Commercial enterprises. Faithfulness. Illusions. Flirtations.

S. L. MacGregor Mathers's Divinatory Meanings

Upright

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

Reversed

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

P.R.S. Foli's Divinatory Meanings

Upright

A bad omen, news of failure or death

Reversed

loss of one near and dear by death.

Mme. Le Marchand's Divinatory Meanings

temptation to infidelity; the temptation is withstood.