Nine of Swords

This card couldn’t be clearer about its nature. If fear and terror last for a period of time, which exceeds the capability of coping with those situations, a trauma develops eventually. Post traumatic stress and anxiety is the result of these, often life changing situations. Even, if the source of the malady is long gone, the self is not able to break free of it. A person in this situation can’t come out of hiding, is not self-reliant and often, isn’t even able to make decisions anymore.
To be trapped, means the lack of ability to move around and as a conclusion the total absence of freedom, without the structure of (inner) order.
Fear becomes the ruler of our mind and is a strict and ruthless prison guard.
This prison has become the only comfort zone we can imagine. It is often not realized that there is almost no stress relief possible anymore. Running away and hiding are our only instruments left. Even the own thoughts have become the enemy, with whom we are jailed with.
While being held prisoner by our minds, it is frequently experienced to be trapped by outside forces, which are represented by the nine swords. It is without realizing, that these currents are most welcome excuses to not break free. The uncomfortable fact is, that three of these swords have turned their handle inwards, ready to be grappled, without much effort. It is easier, to be the active liberator of our own selves, then it is generally thought. The fear of falling into the unknown and of losing the little control the mind has left, usually keeps us in this uncomfortable state, which is perceived as the only possible retreat.
In a spiritual context (and in many systems of philosophy), it is said, that even matter is only made up by the mind and the greatest illusion of all. To break free of matter is analogue to leaving the prison of the mind.
There are outside solutions, which may be necessary, but they have to be pursued in an active way. Asking the right people for help, learning about mechanisms, to ease both mind and body and making small steps into being more active, can help to widen the ability to move again. This is a slow process and may take a longer period of time. There may be setbacks and relapses, but in the end a lesson can be learned. The path, to the traumata being processed, will lead to an evolution within, which can’t be compared to any other process. It is the ultimate goal of the alchemist to transmute the elements into this higher state of being.
A first step could be, by starting to only bother about those issues which can be influenced directly. The thoughts may lose their complexity and variety and become more focused with time. The fear of falling will eventually develop into the trust, of being able to naturally get out of our comfort zone and actively start living again.