Linked with Saturn in Sagittarius, the Nine of Wands is the card of strength used with caution. There is much optimism here, you can almost smell victory and this card advises you not to celebrate just yet, there is still a little uncertainty within you that need to be sorted. This card is also called "The Lord of Great Strength".
You have not really come into the height of your abilities yet, nor accessed all the energy within that is available to you because you are afraid of what you might unleash or what acknowledging your power will mean.With power comes responsibility.
There is a final hurdle to overcome before you reach your stated goal. And the devil is in the detail here, so now is not the time to relax and rest on your laurels.
Remain vigilant, hunt for and draw on your reserves of energy and don't go for the easy option and victory will be yours. There is a saying "loose lips sink ships" and that applies here. Keep your own counsel, don't ask others who have their own agendas for advice as that will weaken your position.
This is a time to trust your intuition and believe in yourself, even when others around you may be taking the easy road. You have the ability to access strengths that are emotional, spiritual and physical and you will need all three.
This phase will last over the next nine weeks or so, so do everything you can to reserve your strength and fight the good fight, as it may feel that you are out of puff, and to give up now would be a great shame because success is so close!
What symbols and inspiration can you meditate on now to draw on your strengths? Don't be afraid of your abilities, rather learn to harness them to your advantage.
Image from "Revelations Tarot" © Zach Wong