In cartomancy with playing cards, the Nine of Spades (9♠) is the card of privation.

All nines are connected to the root idea of wishes. But if the Nine of Hearts represents the fulfillment of the wish, the Nine of Spades is the negation of it. It signifies being deprived of what we want.

Broadly, the Nine of Spades indicates things going against what we wish or want. This can be interpreted in a variety of ways. One possibility is that the card signifies all things and situations that we are forced into, all situations that are out of our control. This is why it also indicates fate and destiny.

In love readings, this card can herald breakups and bitter fights. With other negative cards it can even point to violence and beatings, and in general being forced against your will to fulfill someone else’s desires. In less dramatic circumstances, the Nine of Spades indicates disappointment or feeling deeply unfulfilled in a relationship. Usually when this card comes up the situation is beyond help, but always check what the other cards are saying, especially if the Nine of Hearts falls after it.

In work readings, the Nine of Spades is indicative of unemployment, low wages, hating your job (doing it against your will) and being fired. It can also point to slave labor, if there are vary bad cards. In money matters, this is another card that can point to debts, or more broadly to an unsatisfactory situation, even one of dejection.

Psychologically, the Nine of Spades represents either someone who is deeply troubled and unfulfilled or one in whose heart evil has prevailed, but this is a very dramatic prediction to make, and should be supported by other cards.

Some Combinations:

9♠ – 3♣ – 10♥ – 5♠ = forced marriage
9♠ – 9♥ = wish fulfilled when you’ve given up hope
9♠ – 8♣ – 6♦ = forced to take up a bad job
4♥ – 9♠ = disharmony
A♣ – 9♠ = missed objective