The Nine of Pentacles usually shows a woman strolling through a fertile garden. There are nine pentacles growing with the grapevines and bird is perched on her finger. This individual looks extremely content and proud. Nines in the Minor Arcana show completion since they are the final single-digit numeral in each of the four suits. This shows in the Nine of Pentacles as what has happened as a result of the actions taken by the querent up until the time of the reading in the area of finances, or it may show an end result to the journey. All nines show the most perfect that any situation can be, and are the final results of all of the work, conflict, and experience that has been endured thus far. This is truly the culmination of all that the querent has sacrificed and tried so hard to attain.
When more than one nine appears in the same spread, there is an amplified and more specific meaning available to the querent. Pairs of nines indicate answered questions from one’s past self in the area of finance and business while three of them signify the need for caution as if everything the have is a mere illusion. Having four nines in a layout show the querent being surrounded by his closest friends and favourite family members. The Nine of Pentacles indicates where the querent has done well in financial matters. He now has the ability to spend his time with cherished loved ones, celebrating his successes and what he has learned.
The Nine of Pentacles in an Upright Position
The upright Nine of Pentacles shows the querent may be living in great comfort due to the efforts they have made to expand on their original ideas from the Ace on through to the end of the Suit of Pentacles. There have been sacrifices and mistakes, but the querent can now look back with pride at was he has been through and accomplished. The querent may find that he is earning more than ever before and can really put his money to work for him. This may show the querent in a position where retirement is a clear possibility or he may feel that he has reached the most happy in his career he could ever be. The Nine of Pentacles also indicates large salaries, tax refunds, and other cheques from the government. The querent could be on the verge of selling his business also, or could consider passing it on to his successors very soon.
The meaning of all Minor Arcana cards can be modified by the cards that surround it. Court cards from the Minor Arcana (Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings) all represent people. They have corresponding physical characteristics as well as their own astrological correspondences. The Nine of Pentacles represents having something to pass on to one’s children and propel one into the last section of his life and retirement. Any court card found near this will show what kind of people are there to support the querent and who he can trust to watch the business when he decides to retire. Major Arcana cards can help to focus the imagery a little more. The Sun will show the querent taking a vacation to a warm place or moving to a sunnier climate, and the Wheel of Fortune indicates that the business will continue growing further and further.
The Nine of Pentacles in a Reversed Position
The reversed position of each card of the Minor Arcana is really as it states: an inversion of the card’s meaning. The reversed Nine of Pentacles implies that there is little rest in retirement for the querent. He may find that all he does is worry about the business, or is unable to fully relax because he hasn’t made enough of a profit to live in comfort during his twilight years. The querent may also find that the people around him are also uncomfortable with him taking leave or passing his business on. Perhaps employees are afraid that their new employer won’t have money-making sense, or there could be a problem with the motives of new management. The querent will feel that he misses his career life and may wish to return just to find something to do. The querent may be bored now that there is nothing to do, but he also may crave making money or working with finances in order to grow them instead of simply spending for the rest of his days.
There is also a feeling that the querent may not be the one with the issue. There may be someone around him who is unsure about the querent hanging up his hat so soon. The querent may also have people around him who only want him to return to work so that they can continue to benefit financially from his talents. This may be the sentiment of his business partners, employees, clients, or his family who stand to gain the most from him returning to work. The querent’s spouse may worry about the finances upon learning that there was not enough saved up, or the querent’s children may wish to learn from their father on the job and cannot do so if he has retired. The querent should also consider going back to work in order to grow the finances enough to provide a very secure future for his spouse and himself. The querent may also find that he simply isn’t happy leaving the company he built with his own hard work and may wish to continue on as long as he can. Regardless, there will be a feeling that the work the querent has done thus far is not enough or that the work is a driving force for him that should be kept up until another time when he is less enthusiastic about it.
Key Terms
- Completion of a dream
- Financial fulfilment
- Retirement
- Passing the business on
- Rewards for efforts
- Happy goodbyes at work