Tarot of the Month: Nine of Swords
Upright Meaning
The Nine of Swords is a card that represents fear and anxiety. It embodies stress, burdens, negative thoughts and unhappiness. The querent could be feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope amidst difficult situations or life in general. The Nine of Swords is a card of mental anguish, remorse, regret and despair. It can also represent loneliness, insomnia or nightmares.
Reversed Meaning
When the Nine of Swords is reversed it represents coming out of a dark period of one’s life. It signifies recovering from depression or mental illness, letting go of negative and pervasive thoughts, releasing stress and learning to manage one’s emotions. Alternatively, it can also mean a worsening mental health condition, based on the cards around it. It can also indicate gossip or overwhelming negativity by those around you whether it is in your personal life or your career. The Nine of Swords reversed is a card of night terrors, hallucinations or psychosis.
April Moon Phases and Star Signs
Full Moon in Libra on April 1, 2026 (10:12 PM EDT)
New Moon in Aries on April 17, 2026 (7:52 AM EDT)
New Moons are most commonly known to represent new beginnings. It is ideal to perform any manifestation magic at this time because with each day after the new moon, the size of the moon increases until it is full. Witches that are known to work with darker energies refer to this moon as the Dark Moon and use this time to work with enemy retribution, justice and revenge magic.
Full Moons are the most well-known and easiest to spot since it is most visible in the night sky. Full moons typically last three days; the day before the full moon, the day of the full moon and the day after. This is when the moon reaches its most potent energy and is the perfect time for any type of magic that requires a lot of celestial power.
Aries Season (March 21 – April 19) – If your birthday falls towards the end of March, you are an Aries. The fiery nature of Aries is full of confidence and determination. Known as a trailblazer, Aries are known to be fighters that live fearlessly in order to put things into motion.
Taurus Season (April 20 – May 20) If your birthday falls towards the end of April, you are a Taurus. Even though Taureans are often called stubborn, they are firm in their approach to life and are not easily swayed until they have had a change of heart. On the positive side, Taureans are smart, ambitious and trustworthy. They are known to be hard working individuals and value their relationships with friends and family.
Welcome to a Land of Mystery where the darkness is not your friend. A place where in the shadows lurks the wild. Step forward and let the Mist of Secrets devour you, if you dare…
Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests.
I’ll dig with it.
– Seamus Heaney
Spiritual Folktails 