The 9 of Wands in the Gilded Tarot shows a soldier kneeling, holding an upright wand. There are 8 wands in the background. On a somber note, one can barely see the outline of another's foot laying on the ground. It may be a fallen comrade or even an enemy.
This card came up for me before my work shift on Memorial Day. A fitting card in all aspects. My husband and I are both Army veterans, and it can be hard when many people seem to believe this holiday is about little more than barbecuing ribs and drinking beer. The fallen soldier in this card should be honored every day, not just one special holiday each year.
This card often indicated that the querent is on the way to greater success. Though my burden seems large at work right now (the size of the wand), I am learning to handle myself. There are people watching me (the other wands in the background). These others may be protective, helpful, curious, or even resentful and suspicious. Each one has his or her own role to play in the querent's life. However, in my situation, the majority of people at my new job are very supportive and understanding. In fact, I can't remember when I've stepped into a more supportive environment. As always, though, there are some issues and some gossip (though people are currently on their best behavior). I am currently a bit of an outsider like the soldier in the card. I am away from the others a bit, concentrating on the task at hand. I actually prefer this as I don't want to get caught up in the rumor mill. On the other hand, there are some things going on that it is helpful to know a little about in order to understand the flow of things. But nothing I will get into on the internet.
The 9 of wands reminds the querent to persevere and can indicate the need for stamina. I just wrote about some of the physical challenges of the job on my other blog here: www.amework.blogspot.com. This card was a good reminder to try to slow down and conserve my strength when I could.
All in all, this was a good day, very physically challenging, and rewarding. I was also able to interact with other veterans throughout the day, which was quite enjoyable. I continue to keep in mind the need to improve on the job, and am always mindful that someone, somewhere, is watching.
