Tarot reading: the number 9
Calculating and connecting the numbers in tarot and oracle cards
Sometimes during a tarot reading, the numbers don’t jump out at me right away. I might acknowledge them subconsciously (nine of wands, five of cups) but not really attribute much weight to their numerical value initially. That comes later.
Other times, I might overlook then number altogether, which isn’t always advisable. For instance, when The Moon shows up in one of my readings I might not take note of its consecutive order in the Major Arcana (it is the 18th card) immediately, but rather focus on its imagery and keywords.
Then one day, it was the numbers I saw first, before the pictures. The numerical value in each card of my tarot spread played a key role in my reading. Each number drew me in, like a magnet on a fridge. Not only did I notice the actual number on the card , I accidentally did some math in my head.
The number 9
Do you see it?
Allow me to elaborate:
The 9 of Wands, the 5 of Cups, The Moon XVIII, the Ace of Pentacles and Beyond the Ordinary 45 oracle.
The obvious number 9
The Nine of Wands is obvious. He’s standing there with nine wands and he looks a little battered but he knows he’s almost finished. One more wand is required to achieve the end (of the suit of wands), and then he can finally go home and rest.
The not so obvious number 9
The Moon is also here. A Major Arcana card. The Moon tarot card is assigned the Roman numerals XVIII. (18)
Major Arcana cards provide us with karmic, spiritual lessons, the big ones we encounter during our journey through life. Minor Arcana meanwhile provide us with the smaller, day-to-day lessons. When the Moon appeared, with its illusion and duality and watery emotions, I immediately saw the number 9 materialize.
XVIII = 18
1 + 8 = 9
So we now have two nines in the spread. What does it mean?
The final card I drew was an oracle card from the Oracle of the 7 Energies deck. It was Beyond the Ordinary assigned number 45.
4 + 5 = 9
That’s the third nine in this spread. I think it means something.
History and definition
Nine is the highest single-digit number in the decimal system, an integer and a cardinal number (a quantity of things). It is used for counting. A group of nine is called an Ennead.
The number 9 was considered a sacred, symbolic number by the Ancient Egyptians who indicated plurals by using the number 3. Hence, they named the number 9 the plural of plurals.
Source: Abstract https://erjm.journals.ekb.eg/article_67177_52136ca0ac7e3d2a26c345569d4bcbaa.pdf
Nine (九 pinyin jiǔ) is considered a good number in Chinese culture because it sounds the same as the word "longlasting" (久 pinyin jiǔ). The Japanese consider 9 to be unlucky, however, because it sounds similar to the Japanese word for "pain" or "distress" (苦 kunrei ku). Fear of the number nine is called enneaphobia.
Source: https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/9_(number)#cite_note-1
I like the way numerology.com describes the number 9:
The number 9, the very last of these numbers, has been on a long journey, and now shines its light of love and divine wisdom into the world.
Source: numerology.com
But what does the number 9 mean for this particular tarot spread?
The number 9 in tarot
Typically the nines in tarot represent an almost completion of a cycle. As each suit (wands, swords, cups, pentacles) reaches 10, the cycle is complete. The nines therefore represent the final stage of action and reflection. It holds an energy of attainment and completion, of closure, which also implies renewal and a fresh start.
My interpretation of the 9 of Wands
To me, the number 9 has a air of melancholy - the nine of wands card shows a wariness featuring battle wounds and an expression of ‘let’s just get it done and over with’. Soon, he can rest and (hopefully) enjoy the fruits of his labour, but he’s not there yet. There’s still another test to endure, another act to complete, another thing to do before he can celebrate.
Wands represent fire energy, so despite the fatigue implied in this card, the fire will propel you forward and push you toward the goal or destination.
Keywords for the number 9
Resilience, persistence, courage, grit, last stand, fatigue, wariness
The Moon XVIII
I saw the number 9 almost immediately when this card fell out of my shuffling hand. Since I’m well-versed in Roman Numerals, it was instantly discernible: the implied number 9 in the moon card drew my attention toward the Nine of Wands to reinforce its message: you are almost done. Keep going.
The Moon itself reminds us to stay on the path which is illuminated enough to guide us toward our destination.
We don’t need to see the whole landscape, we just need to focus on the path ahead. The crayfish emerging out of the water points to creativity, and the two beasts, a wolf (wild) and a dog (domesticated) represent duality. The path is clear but leads toward a mountain range; obstacles are a given but do not mark the end of the road. Pick a switchback and let the wands energy (fire) drive you toward your destination. To read more about this card, please visit my blog here.
Oracle card 45 Beyond the Ordinary
My concluding card from the Oracle of the 7 Energies belongs to the seventh energy: Thought.
As I read through the description I was struck by how much the message related to the number 9, inadvertently touching the spiritual realm.
Consider your situation about being close to the end of a major preoccupation. You’re tired, maybe a little fed up, and you just want to get to the end now.
This oracle card - Beyond the Ordinary 45 - invites us to surrender to the mystical, the invisible, and simply trust that whatever will be, will be.
Surrender to not knowing what the end of this event will bring and trust that whatever will be is for the greater good.
This is a difficult concept to grasp, particularly if religion does not feature prominently in your life. It doesn’t in mine. The lack of religion (organized or not) does not, however, take away from the concept of spirituality.
I look back at the Moon card and the path which is illuminated clearly (but maybe the surrounding landscape deep in the dark night not so much) and arrived at this conclusion:
We don’t need to know everything. Our job is to stay on course, allow whatever comes to be exactly as it will, without trying to ascertain anything in advance.
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