The Nine Of Wands: How To Tell If It Means Yes Or No

The Nine of Wands card being drawn during a yes or no tarot reading

The Nine of Wands is an interesting tarot card that many people misunderstand, even during simple “yes or no” readings. But once you know how to interpret it correctly, it can provide you with tremendous insight!

This guide will help you find out if the Nine of Wands is a yes or no for you.

Nine Of Wands: Yes Or No?

In a simple “yes or no” tarot reading, the Nine of Wands is best interpreted as a maybe.

Each of the suits in the Minor Arcana tells its own story. They all have predictable story progressions — the Aces start things out, the Fives are where the conflict peaks, and the cards after that progress to the end. Nines cards are the penultimate cards in these stories. They show you what’s happening right before the ultimate end.

Two of the Minor Arcana stories have happy endings, and two do not. The suit of Wands is, unfortunately, one of those stories that doesn’t end that well. The Nine of Wands represents a last stand, bravery in the face of almost certain defeat, and battle-weariness.

You can see this if you look at the artwork for the Nine of Wands in the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck. This shows a man standing with a staff in one hand. Eight more sit behind him, like a stockpile. His expression is apprehensive, and there’s a bandage on his head.

This is a guy who’s seen some serious adversity. He’s alone, and all he has is a staff, but he appears ready to protect all of the others behind him. Though he’s already obviously beaten down and injured, he’s standing up and ready to do his best. He’s pretty much the embodiment of the phrase “bloodied, but unbroken.”

That means a Nine of Wants in a “yes or no” reading amounts to a maybe. The situation is uncertain, and the battle is undecided. This man is prepared, but he’s not fighting yet. While he’s already hurt and things don’t look good for him, his determination to succeed could be the thing that turns the tide of war.

For you, this means that your success isn’t guaranteed. It’s still possible, but it largely depends on your willingness and ability to see things through. If you do nothing, the deck will remain stacked against you — are you going to stand your ground?

Since this situation is so uncertain, you may want to draw another tarot card or two to get more context. Drawing a card for advice can give you a bit of a heads up and show you what to expect as things play out.

Does A Reversed Nine Of Wands Mean Yes Or No?

When you draw a reversed Nine of Wands in a “yes or no” reading, the answer is a no.

While the figure on the card is standing tall and strong in the upright Nine of Wands, the reversed Nine of Wands turns him on his head. He’s no longer unbowed, he’s been completely flipped.

This reversal inverts the meaning of the card. Where the man holding the staff usually represents bravery, he now represents cowardice. His determination becomes the desire to give up.

An alternate interpretation sees the reversed Nine of Wands as stubbornness beyond reason. The upright Nine of Wands indicates standing for something that’s important to you and persisting until the battle’s over, the reversed Nine of Wands depicts clinging to a situation long after you should’ve let go.

This tarot card may be telling you that you lack what you need to follow through here. This card usually represents an unwillingness to stick with something but can also mean that now just isn’t the right time.

Following the alternate interpretation, the reversed Nine of Wands in a yes or no reading can also mean that this endeavor was doomed from the start. You may be sticking with it because you’re unwilling to give up, but this won’t bring you victory. It may be better to back off, let go, and reevaluate your situation instead.

It’s also possible that you haven’t really been fighting a battle here. Instead, you may be tilting at windmills and creating a conflict where one didn’t exist. In this case, you won’t achieve victory because there’s nothing to be won.

Does Nine Of Wands Mean Yes Or No For Love?

When doing a “yes or no” love reading, the Nine of Wands upright is a yes or maybe. Even when it represents a yes, that yes has a lot of baggage attached.

This card indicates that you’ve been going through a difficult time, either alone or with a partner. Even if you’re with someone, you may feel like you’re fighting a losing battle by yourself. This has likely left you nearly exhausted.

While this doesn’t sound like a great omen, it still has some upsides. Since Nines are the next-to-last card in the Minor Arcana’s numerical cycles, they represent a struggle that’s nearly over. You’ve been having a hard time, but you’re getting past it. The worst is behind you.

However, just because the majority of your struggle is over doesn’t mean that things will automatically be easy from here on out. If you’re in a relationship when doing this yes or no reading, the Nine of Wands can represent the need to keep working together to build a healthy, happy partnership. It’s important to make sure that both you and your partner are on the same page here, so you no longer feel like you’re battling on your own.

If you’re single, then the Nine of Wands can symbolize frustration. You may feel like you’re dealing with the worst that the dating world has to offer right now and are ready to give up. It can also be tempting to lower your standards, but this is generally a bad idea.

While it can be a bitter pill to swallow, the message of the Nine of Wands for this “yes or no” love inquiry is that there’s a chance of success here, but that success will come at a price. You need to be able to continue pushing through if you want to achieve victory.

Does A Reversed Nine Of Wands Mean Yes Or No For Love?

Reversed, the Nine of Wands is a no for “yes or no” love readings.

Here, this tarot card indicates an obstinate refusal to back down. While the upright Nine of Wands says that you should continue working toward your goal if you want to succeed, the reversed Nine of Wands warns that you’ve locked yourself in a stalemate. There’s no winning here.

The reversed Nine of Wands can also represent being exhausted by constant fighting and frustration. Rather than building a healthy relationship, you and your partner may just be building resentment instead.

For single people, the reversed Nine of Wands can warn that you’ve experienced a lot of emotional wounds in the past. While you may want to start dating again, it’s better to take some time to heal first.

This card can also represent the desire to give up and settle down with the next person who comes along. This is a bad idea and can leave you open to more emotional trauma. It’s better to work on yourself, and make sure that you choose a partner that truly loves and supports you.

Example Questions

To help you during your next “yes or no” tarot card reading, here are some well-phrased questions to help you draw clear conclusions. That way if you get the Nine of Wands, you’ll be able to have more confidence in what it’s telling you!

Will I Win Over My Crush?

If the Nine of Wands is upright for this yes or no question there’s a chance that you’ll succeed, but not if you give up. This doesn’t mean that you should try to wear this person down, because that doesn’t lead to happy relationships. Continue getting to know them and being a caring, supportive person.

However, the reversed Nine of Wands means it isn’t likely. It seems like you’ve been trying for a very long time, but aren’t getting any closer to this person. It may be time to recognize that this isn’t meant to be right now.

Will My Partner And I Stay Together?

Finding the Nine of Wands here means there’s a good chance that you will, but it’ll take work. Make sure that you both have the same vision for your relationship and are willing to put in the necessary work to succeed. You may also want to enlist the help of a relationship counselor to help you.

On the other hand, the reversed Nine of Wands indicates a doubtful outcome. It seems like you’ve been working at this for a long time and feel like you’re the only one putting in the effort. It’s also possible that you and your partner butt heads constantly and aren’t willing to compromise. You probably already know that this relationship isn’t likely to work out in the long run.

Will I Find A New Partner Soon?

Being presented with the Nine of Wands for this yes or no question means that you might find a partner soon. You’re probably tired of looking, but the only way to fail here is to give up. Maintain your standards and wait to meet someone who’s right for now, not just someone who’s available right now.

Unfortunately, if the Nine of Wands is reversed then the outcome doesn’t look good. You may have some emotional trauma that has kept you from opening up to others and is sabotaging your ability to meet people. It’s also possible that you’re so frustrated with trying to find a partner that you’re ready to give up. It might be a good idea to focus on other areas of your life for the time being.             

Closing Thoughts

The Nine of Wands can indicate a number of things in response to “yes or no” questions. That means it’s your responsibility to do the homework and interpret it correctly.

Fortunately, all you need to do is follow this guide and you’ll be just fine. If anything is unclear or you still have questions, let us know!

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