Nine of Swords marks a turning point between intellectual completion and mental liberation. This card delves into the labyrinths of thought to find the present moment: every instant when our understanding reaches its peak and psychic liberation becomes the only viable reality for our awakened consciousness. The Nine of Swords paves the way for universalist thinking. The crises of the self and ego dissolve in the brightness of disinterested wisdom. The spirit, reconciled with its narcissistic wounds, flourishes in the communion of the Self with duality. The "I" embraces the "you" in the reality of the "we": the alter-ego manifests wherever the encounter occurs. Conversely, the Nine of Swords can also indicate the pitfalls of pessimism or individualistic obsession. It warns against the dangers of being overwhelmed by dark thoughts and descending into depression. At its extreme, this card bears the marks of individual or collective madness, and any form of abrupt or gradual loss of consciousness. In the context of a reading, the Nine of Swords may herald a period where our altruistic consciousness is in full bloom. In the excitement of our encounters, every intellectual exchange becomes stimulating. Our mind can freely open to the ideas of our interlocutors in authentic listening and without judgment. It is a time to let go of all old thought patterns and liberate ourselves from limiting concepts. In cases of crises primarily of a psychological nature, the Nine of Swords urges us to embrace ideas and activities that foster plurality and exchange... to counteract or overcome depression.