The Nine of Swords and Six of Wands - My Tooth Extraction Experience
From major anxiety to triumph.
On Monday night, I was acting like a big baby because, on Tuesday morning, I had my tooth extraction appointment.
Like most people, I despise going to the dentist. This was more than a dentist appointment; I had a minor surgical procedure.
But the way I was acting, you would have thought the end of the world was coming.
And let's now talk about Tuesday morning while the nurses were prepping me. My heart rate and blood pressure were up due to anxiety.
My blood pressure is acceptable, so I knew why it went up, as they always see this. It all normalized once the sedation kicked in.
However, as nerve-wracking as it was, I also want to celebrate a victory. Before I do, let's discuss something.
Life is an obstacle course of ups and downs, and sometimes tarot cards can actually be symbolic of those moments.
Recently, I have had a very daunting experience that combines fear, perseverance, and eventually victory: pulling a tooth.
Two tarot cards capture this journey exquisitely-the Nine of Swords and the Six of Wands.
Let me take you through what these cards mean and how they relate to my story.
The Nine of Swords: Facing Your Fears
The Nine of Swords is usually depicted as someone sitting up in bed, head in hand, with swords hanging above.
It is literally the embodiment of anxiety, fear, and sleepless nights.
It's the "what if" card when the mind can race through worst-case scenarios and irrational fears.
And you know how debilitating those “what ifs” are, right? We all do unless you are so chill all of the time.
While it's a heavy card, it also serves to remind us that most of our fears exist in the mind rather than in reality.
To me, this card represented the utter fear I experienced in the days prior to my tooth extraction.
I thought of all the things that could go wrong: Would it hurt? Would the sedation work? Would the healing process be unbearable?
As I said, I was being a big baby about the whole thing.
The Nine of Swords was my constant companion in the days before the procedure, amplifying my apprehension.
However, let’s flip over to something very positive about the whole thing.
The Six of Wands: Celebrating Success
In complete contrast, the Six of Wands is a card of victory, recognition, and triumph.
It often depicts a figure riding a horse, decorated with a wreath of success, while being cheered on by others.
This card is all about overcoming obstacles and basking in the glow of achievement.
For me, this card represents not just the successful outcome of my tooth extraction, but the larger victories in my life that made this moment possible.
My health journey—losing over 65 pounds and keeping my blood sugar and A1C in check—has been a triumph I’m incredibly proud of.
These accomplishments gave me the confidence and strength to face this challenge head-on.
My Story: From Fear to Victory
The day of the extraction of my tooth, to say the least, I was nervous as I already mentioned.
I needed to be sedated because having to sit through it fully conscious was a thought just too overwhelming to bear.
There was no way I would do that. That morning, my blood sugar was 4.6 mmol/L (82.8 mg/dL).
As a diabetic, seeing such a controlled number felt like a small but meaningful victory—a reminder of how far I’ve come in managing my health.
The sedation worked like a charm during the procedure, and it went really well.
Of course I had to say something political in a stoned state after coming out of it.
The nurses and dentist had a great laugh, that is all I remember.
But anyway, the pain I was so afraid of was minimal, and my recovery has been nothing short of amazing.
It just goes to prove how much hard work I've put into improving my health through better nutrition.
In retrospect, the Nine of Swords and Six of Wands were so apt.
The Nine of Swords had been the voice of my fears, telling me about everything that could go wrong.
While the Six of Wands tells me that I have overcome so much and can handle anything thrown at me.
What a beautiful contrast-from fear to triumph, from dread to healing.
Lessons from the Cards
It is through this experience that I have learned that fear, while powerful in and of itself, needn't define us.
Perhaps the Nine of Swords will visit, but it doesn't tell the whole story.
The Six of Wands demonstrates victory is assured as long as one stays on course in faith with overcoming any challenge.
Whether it be a daunting procedure, a personal challenge, or simply a tough day, remember: wherever there's difficulty in life, there's always triumph.
And sometimes, the cards have a way of reminding us of that.
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Oh how I empathise! Though my three hours in the chair last Thursday was more 9 of Swords, 8 of Swords, 4 of Swords… Bit 9 of Wands today 🤣🦷
The trick to overcoming fear of Dentistry is, I think, to become friends with one's dentist. That way you know where he or she lives, and importantly your dentist friend knows that you know. Then you can simply declare, as you sit down in the chair, that if it hurts, you'll have to burn their house to the ground. 😁😈😎