In the Sacred Sisterhood Tarot The Nine of Batons (Wands) is an Above the Knee amputee. Her prosthetic leg starts at her hip, and the nine wands are a field of sunflowers behind her. She looks like a badass, I’m not gonna lie. And as someone familiar with disability world, the assumption I make fro her prosthesis is that she was likely born with amniotic band syndrome, or some other condition that affects the growth of limbs. I’m not an expert, but it’s rare to have an injury that requires such a high amputation. So, I read her as someone who’s been finding ways to do things differently for her entire life. She’s absolutely defiance.

Not everyone’s gonna read her the way I do. They’ll see such a high amputation and think oh, the poor thing, she’s been through so much. They might be the people who say “have a blessed day” a little too strongly when they speak to someone with a disability. They might not be. They may be incredibly empathetic. But in tarot interpretation matters so much. Now, this deck does have more representation, in the Knight of Pentacles (which I’ll discuss another time), so that does help.

I expected more peg-legs in the Lady Pirates Tarot, not gonna lie. That’s why it irks a bit that while we have two excellent ladies with monovision—like me!—and an injured person using crutches in the Five of Pentacles (We’ll get there). The Nine of Wands is the only one rocking a Long John Silver style look. Now, she’s a pirate, and a Below the Knee amputee, so chances are she has been through some shit. And she’s not smiling. She’s ready to fight back. In her, I do not see the “possibly unnecessary defense” influence of the Moon on this card. This reads like a Seven of Wands to me. I’m not mad at it, but I’d prefer her on a card where she could be stomping that leg into some enemy (it probably costs too much for that, but let a girl dream.)

Like the Sacred Sisterhood Tarot, the Fyodor Pavlov Tarot has an amputee in the Nine of Wands (and a wheelchair user in the Knight of Coins/Pentacles come to think of it). In this case, there’s an amputee without a prothesis—who really shouldn’t be upright with that crutch like that…having him injured on both sides would’ve worked fine, I assure you. This pushes us toward the second meaning of the Nine of Wands, but there two important differences here: 

1. He’s not the only example of an amputee n the deck. In the King of Wands, we see an amputee with a prosthesis in a card that has to do with ambition and leadership. That he’s overcome hardship may be read in the prosthesis, but that’s the reader’s mind entirely.

2. He’s shown as the traditional “soldier protecting himself” with other injuries that indicate he’s still suffering. This isn’t someone who has “overdoing adversity” stamped on him at the point where it’s impossible to tell how he was injured—or indeed, if he was. It’s not someone able-bodied thinking about how they’d rather die than lose a leg—it’s a reminder of the pain o injury, and he’s pushing forward before he’s able to be fitted for a prosthesis, or at a point where it’s not possible. His leg isn’t the only obstacle here.

I see something similar in the Numinous Tarot’s Nine of Candles. Yes, this woman might be in more danger than others because she is mobility-impaired, so her pushing forward is brave—but she’s also using her walker as a source of courage. It stands between her and the danger. It’s not the “wands” in the card, and it’s not her only protection. If there’s an actual threat, she can burn it down. Her disability isn’t a net positive or a net negative here. It’s simply a feature, in a deck with two other cards where the disability is simply a trait.

Card 1: The Present – This card represents the present situation of the querent. It will also set the general theme for the reading. You’ll want to keep your question in mind before drawing this card.

The Wheel of Fortune Reversed How apt! Resistance to change and breaking cycles is the perfect theme for a drawing on Benedict Cumberbatch and his personal situation.

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Card 2: The Past – This card reveals past events that are still having an influence on the current situation.

The World Reversed Benedict seems to have been seeking personal closures but has definitely been hit with many delays caused by trying to take short cuts.

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Card 3: The Future – This card shows you the future outcome of the situation.

Knight of Pentacles Reversed Self-discipline, boredom, feeling ‘stuck’, perfectionism

Benedict feels a need to be perfect on many ways. He is very self-disciplined when it comes to his craft. This can and has lead in the past to him becoming bored. This results in him trying to do some daring activities or activities that are heart pumping or raise the adrenaline. He has stopping doing those types of things recently. He will resume them in the future.

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Card 4: Reasons/Causes – This card will reveal the reasons/causes that led to the querent’s current situation. This card may reveal any obstacles that may be standing in your way of achieving your desired results. This card goes with card 2 and can shed some light on those past events effecting the situation.

Two of Wands Reversed Personal goals, inner alignment, fear of unknown, lack of planning.

Benedict has not planned well for the life he wants to have. He once said he wanted to be a father by 30. That didn't happen. He was not ready to be a father then. His fear of the unknown was the true cause of this failure, for when we, as human beings, have no faith that the world will work out as it is supposed to, none of our plans will come to fruition.

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Card 5: Potential – This card will reveal the possible outcome that can occur if the querent continues on their current path. This card shows what may happen when the querent takes a certain course of action.

Nine of Swords Reversed Inner turmoil, gossip, deep-seated fears and doubt, secrets, releasing worry, recovery from anxiety, troubles and fear

This card itself is trouble. People tend to argue of the meaning of the reverse side of the card. Some say the trouble turns inward, some say it means recovery and release from that same trouble. Some say the card means gossip. Considering who the querent of this draw is, I have a good theory on this one. Gossip will help cease his anxiety and inner turmoil. Secrets will come out, which will release his worry.

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Submitting this by email, so I hope the pictures come through. Sorry its been awhile. I've been busy. But I had a twitch that told me to do a draw for you. Not much has changed that I see.