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The Rider-Waite-Smith Nine of Wands depicts an injured yet resolute figure leaning upon a leafy, fertile wand, standing watch as though anticipating further assault. Behind him, the remaining eight wands are arranged in a palisade, forming a protective barrier. This imagery speaks unmistakably of strength in opposition—the fortitude to remain standing after injury, and the will to meet renewed challenge with focused force rather than retreat.
Beyond this primary meaning, the card also carries adjunct themes of delay, suspension, and adjournment. The battle is not yet finished; vigilance must be maintained. One does not advance blindly here—one holds the line.
Both the Rider-Waite-Smith Nine of Wands and the Triple Goddess Nine of Wands may rightly be understood under the key word STRENGTH, for in each case power is expressed in an unexpected form. In the RWS image, a wounded warrior refuses to yield, supported by the defensive structure behind him and by his own indomitable will. In the Triple Goddess image, the defender is a Crone—an unmistakable emblem of aggressive vitality in the Triple Goddess of Maid-Mother-Crone—stands deliberately before her palisade of Eight wands while examining her tended garden of red roses. Red is the color attributed to the Wands of Tarot who are the "fiery" suit.
Fire, in Hermetic doctrine, is Ardor. Thus, every card of the suit of Wands concerns sexual strength, vigilant passion, and the disciplined management of vital force. This is not reckless desire, but passion held in conscious tension—poised, alert, and awake.
Keynotes of the Nine of Wands include:
Vigilance.
Defense.
Limit.
Attention.
Astrologically, the Nine of Wands is commonly attributed to the Moon in Sagittarius, indicating an emotional nature that demands freedom even amid challenge. Here, emotional force is unencumbered yet alert—expressed through the upright, phallic, fertile wands that symbolize active presence and readiness. Passion must be embodied consciously, not dissipated.
True strength, therefore, arises when the Anima/Neshemah—the Feminine Muse of instinct, imagination, and lunar awareness—and the Animus/Ruach—the Solar faculty of reason, direction, and will—stand together in a unified front. The Nine of Wands teaches endurance not through repression, but through the harmonization of inner forces, where vigilance becomes wisdom and passion becomes power.
This card further warns that one must govern one’s interests and impulses, for unregulated force inevitably gives rise to dangerous instability. Fire that is not consciously contained does not illuminate—it destroys. The Nine of Wands therefore teaches restraint without repression, a crucial distinction in Hermetic psychology.
Of paramount importance is the remembrance that even the most seemingly balanced individuals carry within them primitive, subconscious survival instincts. These forces do not disappear through denial; rather, when ignored, they are far more likely to erupt unexpectedly and without conscious control. The wounded guardian of the Nine does not pretend the danger has passed—he remains alert precisely because he knows it has not.
By acknowledging, rather than suppressing, these primal currents within the survival mind, one becomes far better equipped to function in a world governed by masks, projections, and illusion. Awareness transforms raw instinct into usable strength. The initiate who knows their own shadow is not easily deceived by the shadows of others.
Thus, the Nine of Wands stands as a card of conscious vigilance—the disciplined watchfulness of one who has already been tested, wounded, and tempered by experience, and who now stands guard over the threshold between instinct and wisdom.
The Moon in Sagittarius in astrology is believed to influence emotional tendencies and behaviors in alignment with the traits associated with the Sagittarius zodiac sign. Here are some characteristics of the Moon in the house of Sagittarius:
Optimistic Emotions: Individuals with the Moon in Sagittarius often have an optimistic and positive approach to their emotions. They tend to see the brighter side of life and are generally cheerful.
Adventurous Nature: Emotional fulfillment for these individuals often comes through exploration and adventure. They may seek excitement and new experiences to satisfy their emotional needs.
Freedom-Loving: Moon in Sagittarius individuals value their freedom and independence in emotional matters. They may feel constrained by too much routine or restrictions, preferring a more open and flexible approach.
Philosophical Reflection: Emotional responses are often influenced by a philosophical perspective. These individuals may reflect on their feelings, seeking deeper meanings and understanding the emotional aspects of life.
Direct Communication: They tend to express their emotions openly and directly. Honest communication is important to them, and they may find it challenging to navigate around indirect or subtle expressions of feelings.
Generosity and Empathy: Moon in Sagittarius individuals are generally generous and empathetic. They may feel emotionally fulfilled when helping others or engaging in acts of kindness.
Restless Energy: There can be a sense of restlessness in their emotional nature, leading them to seek variety and change. Routine may feel confining, and they may need constant mental and emotional stimulation.
It's important to note that the complete astrological profile involves considering the positions of other planets, the Ascendant, and more. Individual birth charts provide a more detailed and accurate analysis of an individual's personality and emotional tendencies.
The Triple Goddess Tarot Nine of Wands presents a striking contrast to the wounded vigilance of the Rider-Waite-Smith image. Here, the Crone—the culminating phase of the Triple Goddess Maiden–Mother–Crone—stands unwounded and self-possessed. She is clothed not in armor, but in a farmer’s coveralls, signaling grounded wisdom and lived experience. In her hand she holds a strong wooden staff, not as a weapon, but as a tool of support and authority, while she calmly tends her garden of red and pink roses.
These roses grow safely within a palisade of eight upright, sturdy wands, forming a sacred enclosure. Everything in this image is fertile, cultivated, and well cared for. Unlike the posture of defense born from injury, this Nine of Wands expresses vigilance born of mastery. The Crone does not wait for danger—she anticipates it through awareness, preparation, and continuity of purpose.
Thus, the card teaches the necessity of attending consciously to one’s will. Be vigilant, not from fear, but from devotion to completion. Finish what you have begun. Maintain a keen sense of awareness so that no force—internal or external—can undermine the integrity of your work. This is endurance refined into stewardship.
At a deeper metaphysical level, the imagery reveals a profound sleight of hand: we are shown that we habitually perceive the Universe upside down—as a reflection rather than the Original Image. We often imagine ourselves as human beings striving to become more spiritual. In truth, the process is reversed. Universal Divine Creative Intelligence is condensing its self-aware data into form—into your image.
Spirit is not attempting to escape matter in pursuit of abstraction. Rather, Spirit seeks intimacy with creation. It becomes more physical, more particular, more embodied, so that it may know itself through experience. The Crone tending her garden stands as the quiet revelation of this truth: Divinity does not abandon the world—it cultivates it.
The Yesodic Crone: Moon in Sagittarius and the Nine of Wands
Within the Triple Goddess Tarot Nine of Wands, the Crone stands as the perfected image of Yesod in its mature and stabilized state. Yesod, as the Foundation, is not merely the realm of dreams and illusion; it is the storehouse of instinctual memory, sexual vitality, belief structures, and survival intelligence. When unrefined, Yesod produces anxiety, fantasy, and reactive defense. When perfected, it becomes the steward of form.
The astrological attribution of the Moon in Sagittarius reveals how this stewardship functions. Sagittarius governs belief, direction, and the aiming of will toward a horizon of meaning. The Moon here does not wander aimlessly through emotion; it guards the integrity of one’s inner narrative. The Crone’s vigilance is therefore philosophical as much as practical—she protects the garden not only from intrusion, but from false belief, distraction, and wasted force.
Her unwounded state is crucial. This is not vigilance born of trauma, but of earned wisdom. The palisade of eight wands surrounding her roses represents the disciplined containment of instinctual power. Passion is no longer reactive; sexual and creative force is now rooted, fertile, and consciously directed. Yesod is stabilized, allowing life-force to rise without distortion.
The garden itself—red and pink roses—signifies emotional and erotic vitality brought into harmony. This is Moon-fire refined by Sagittarian awareness, where desire is neither denied nor indulged, but tended. The Crone does not suppress instinct; she cultivates it. In doing so, she ensures continuity—the power to finish what was begun.
At the deepest Hermetic level, this card reveals the reversal of ordinary spiritual thinking. We imagine ourselves as physical beings striving upward toward Spirit. Yet Yesod teaches the inverse truth: Universal Creative Intelligence is condensing itself downward into form, stabilizing itself through embodiment. Spirit becomes intimate with creation through attentiveness, cultivation, and limitation.
Thus, the Crone of the Nine of Wands stands as the guardian of the threshold where illusion becomes foundation. She knows the masks of the world because she has first mastered the masks within herself. Her vigilance is not defensive fear—it is conscious presence. Through her, Moon-in-Sagittarius fulfills its highest function: belief aligned with reality, instinct aligned with wisdom, and power held steady enough to endure.
Here, the true strength of manifestation is realized when one’s meditative ascent stabilizes in Tiphareth, the Solar Center of the Soul. At this level, the initiate discovers a profound inversion of perception: you are not merely the one who meditates—you are the one being meditated into existence. Consciousness recognizes itself as both subject and object, creator and created.
Thus, the deeper Truth of Strength is unveiled in the ancient axiom:
“Above all things, Know thyself.”
This knowing is not abstract. It is incarnate.
“I AM Spirit, seeking intimacy with all creation.”
From this realization arises the true meaning of the Hero’s—or Heroine’s—Journey: not escape from form, but enfleshenment. Spirit does not ascend by abandoning the body; Spirit descends into embodiment so that Self-Awareness may become experiential. Intimacy requires sensation, presence, and vulnerability—and it is the body that grants Spirit its capacity for intimacy.
Yet within the brain and subconscious of the body resides a primordial fear: the fear of its own cessation. This fear is easily exploited and amplified by what may be called a mind virus—a collective social egregore that feeds upon anxiety, fragmentation, and unconscious self-destruction. Left unacknowledged, this fear undermines the vessel through which Spirit seeks to know itself.
Therefore, Spirit must neither repress nor deny this instinctual fear. Suppression breeds distortion. Instead, Spirit must recognize, acknowledge, and consciously adopt the subconscious, enfolding it with the love of wisdom, understanding, and the Truth of Transformation. In Hermetic terms, this is the Solar act of integration: the Sun illuminating—not erasing—the Moon.
Unless mind and body are consciously governed, Spirit cannot be fully present in the world. Fragmentation of will results in spiritual absence. Where Spirit is not present, Will collapses, and the individual becomes reactive rather than creative, driven rather than directed.
Thus, the absence of spiritual presence manifests as a lack of mastery over mind and body. Conversely, true Strength is revealed as coherence—the alignment of instinct, intellect, and Spirit within a single, luminous center of awareness. This is the Solar victory of Tiphareth: not domination, but wholeness.
In gematria, the number 9 holds significant symbolic and mystical meanings. Gematria is an alphanumeric code where each letter of the Hebrew alphabet corresponds to a numerical value. This system is used in Kabbalistic/Qabalistic studies to uncover deeper meanings in words, phrases, and texts. Here are some key characteristics and interpretations of the number 9 in gematria:
Completion and Fulfillment:
- The number 9 is often associated with completion and fulfillment. In the decimal system, it is the last single-digit number, symbolizing the end of a cycle. This completion is seen as a prelude to a new beginning, a concept deeply rooted in mystical traditions.
Truth and Light:
- The Hebrew word "אמת" (Emet), meaning "truth," has a gematria value of 9 (Aleph = 1, Mem = 40, Tav = 400; 1 + 40 + 400 = 441; 4 + 4 + 1 = 9). Truth is seen as an eternal and unchanging principle, and the number 9 symbolizes this constancy and clarity.
Spiritual Enlightenment:
- The number 9 is linked to spiritual enlightenment and the pursuit of higher knowledge. It represents the culmination of spiritual development and the attainment of wisdom. This is evident in various mystical traditions where the number 9 is associated with the highest levels of spiritual achievement.
Universal Influence:
- In Kabbalah/Qabalah, the number 9 is connected to the concept of universal influence. It represents the forces that shape and govern the universe. This is illustrated in the Sephiroth, particularly Yesod (Foundation), which is the 9th Sephira on the Tree of Life. Yesod acts as a channel through which divine energy flows into the physical world, bridging the spiritual and material realms.
Multiples of Nine:
- An interesting property of the number 9 is that any number multiplied by 9, when its digits are summed, reduces back to 9. For example, 9 × 3 = 27 (2 + 7 = 9), 9 × 4 = 36 (3 + 6 = 9). This characteristic reinforces the idea of 9 as a symbol of completeness and return.
Humanitarianism and Service:
- In numerology, the number 9 is often associated with humanitarianism, compassion, and selflessness. It is seen as a number that embodies the ideals of service to others and the betterment of humanity. This aligns with the Qabalistic view of 9 as a number of spiritual fulfillment and universal influence.
The Tetragrammaton (YHVH):
- The four letters of the Tetragrammaton (יהוה) correspond to numerical values: Yod (10), He (5), Vav (6), He (5). Adding these values (10 + 5 + 6 + 5) gives 26, which further reduces to 2 + 6 = 8, and 8 + 1 = 9. This connection to the divine name underscores the spiritual significance of the number 9.
In summary, the number 9 in gematria is a powerful symbol representing completion, truth, spiritual enlightenment, and universal influence. Its unique mathematical properties and associations with key Kabbalistic/Qabalistic concepts underscore its importance in mystical and esoteric traditions.
When the 9 of Wands is thrown in a divination, it implies:
- Great strength, power, and recovery from sickness.
- A tremendous inner force that can't be shaken but fear and apprehension will try, without success.
- The illusion of doubt may rear its ugly head, but success will prevail.
- That with the Moon's influence, Illusion is always prevalent, such is the burden of imagination; However, there is such a great strength of Will present, as shown by the Sun as a driving force, that despite the strife and self-doubt, the querent will succeed in all endeavors.
- Imagination may be a burden when fear based, but if used properly, by balancing it with rational thought, it is so light a burden that it becomes pleasurable creativity.
- The Strength of the Fiery balance of Spirit and Body is all potential and has no known limits.
- To love the body as part of the Whole Spirit.
- Attending to the protection of what you created.
- Having a strong immune system.
If reversed, it implies:
- Physiological injuries.
- Contradictions.
- Suppressed sexual urges that come out as aggression and violence.
Thank you for walking this path with me—through your interest, your voices, and your supportive donations. May you be sustained by wisdom, vitality, and lasting abundance.
Why Choose a Thoth Magus Tarot Reading?
A Tarot reading is not merely the turning of cards—it is the activation of consciousness.
There is a profound difference between an ordinary tarot reader and a Thoth Magus trained in the Hermetic sciences.
🔮 Ordinary Tarot Reading
An ordinary reader often:
Relies on memorized meanings or intuition alone
Reads events about you, but not the forces within you
Focuses on prediction rather than transformation
Treats Tarot as fortune-telling rather than initiatory wisdom
This can be helpful—but it is incomplete.
☀️ Thoth Magus Tarot Reading
A Thoth Magus works with the Tarot as a living Hermetic system, rooted in:
Thoth Tarot symbolism
Western Hermetic Qabalah (Tree of Life, Paths, Sephiroth)
Astrology, alchemy, and sacred geometry
Consciousness mechanics and soul evolution
A Thoth Magus does not merely tell you what will happen—
they reveal why, how, and what must be integrated within the Soul.
What Makes a Thoth Magus Reading Different?
A Thoth Magus Reading:
Interprets the cards through Qabalistic structure, not guesswork
Identifies where you are on the Tree of Life
Reveals subconscious programs, initiatory thresholds, and solar awakenings
Treats challenges as alchemical operations, not bad luck
Helps you reclaim authorship of your reality
This is Tarot as Gnosis, not entertainment.
Tarot as Initiation, Not Prediction
The Thoth Tarot—designed under the guidance of Aleister Crowley—was never meant to be shallow or passive.
It is a map of consciousness, a symbolic engine that mirrors your inner universe.
A Thoth Magus reads the Tarot the way a physician reads the body
or an alchemist reads matter—
to diagnose, balance, and awaken.
Who Is a Thoth Magus Reading For?
This work is for those who:
Seek Self-Knowledge, not reassurance
Are ready to confront shadow and claim solar power
Want spiritual clarity grounded in structure and wisdom
Understand that transformation begins within
If you are ready to move beyond surface answers and into true Hermetic insight, a Thoth Magus Reading is not optional—it is inevitable.
✨ Invitation
A Thoth Magus Reading is not something that happens to you—
it is something that activates you.
If the Tarot has found you here, the Work has already begun.
🌞 The cards do not predict your fate.
🌞 They reveal the intelligence that creates it.
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