Nine of Swords
Swords
How This Card Is Derived
Papus gives no separate description of this card. It is derived from his system: Swords is Vau (ו), the equilibrating principle, the link between the two, acting in Yetzirah, the formative world; the number 9 is Vau of the third series, the final equilibrium before completion. The meaning below is that combination read out — the equilibrating principle, the link between the two taken at its 9th term — not a quotation from him.
Upright
The last equilibrium of the suit, and in a suit of conflict the final balance is reached entirely inside one person. Nine swords on the wall, the figure upright in the dark. Papus's ninth term settles a series before it completes, and what settles here is anguish — conflict with no remaining external party, therefore perfectly balanced and unable to resolve itself. The night is the accurate setting: nothing is happening.
Reversed
The night ending, or the count of swords found to be wrong — reversed is where the disproportion becomes visible. It can also be worse: the anguish organised, given a routine, made survivable and therefore permanent.
Correspondences
- Suit
- Swords — Vau (ו), Yetzirah, the formative world
- Suit principle
- the equilibrating principle, the link between the two
- Number
- 9 — Vau of the third series
- Numeric role
- the final equilibrium before completion
In a Spread
At the commencement, the matter begins in a fear that predates the situation. In opposition, dread doing work the evidence would not support. At equilibrium the person is holding on and it is costing them everything. As the result: the conflict ends inside, unwitnessed, and Papus offers no comfort about it.