The number nine is the number of the wisdom of the Moon.  It is also a mathematically magical number - its square root is three and the sum of any number multiplied by nine equals nine when added together (e.g.. 9 x 8 = 72, 7 + 2 = 9).  Nines also represent attainment, integration, completion and bringing things to an end.  Nines are about the natural flow of things and things proceeding smoothly.  Swords represent the growth of the conscious mind; developing our thoughts, ideas and system of beliefs.  Swords are about acting on our philosophy of life.  The suit of Swords is associated with reason, thought, logic, will, courage, verbal skill, matters pertaining to the mind, communication and the element of air.  

"Your lifestyle or daily schedule is proceeding smoothly.  You can really and flexibly adjust it when changes are needed without losing sight of your priorities.  Verbal or written communication is flowing smoothly and clearly." - Gail Fairfield

I love the idea of this card representing intuition.  It's definitely a different aspect of this card.  Looking at the image on the Experimental 9 of Air I wondered is the intuition coming from the Buddha to the Statue of Liberty of vice versa?  And ultimately does it even matter.  Perhaps ideas, intuition, and even our ability to communicate with each other are a two way street.  The more we communicate and explore new ideas, the more new ideas we create.  And the more ideas are shared, the more we are inspired to explore new areas.  In fact it's interesting to me that this card is associated with intuition because that would not be a quality I would usually associate with Air and Swords.  However perhaps that should change.  After all if we believe that magic is our ability to exert our will upon our reality then isn't that ultimately an air function?  We have to conceive the idea, communicate it in some way to the Universe and use our minds to "make it so" (as Capt. Picard would say).  Ultimately intuition is a blend of our unconscious, watery nature and our conscious, intellectual swords nature.

Even on the Dame Fortune 9 of Swords I get the sense that the figure on the card is using her book and her crook to keep anything negative at bay.  She is holding off the negatives by using her wits and her faith.  In fact when I look at the pattern creating by the interlacing of the swords it almost reminds me of a dream catcher.  Perhaps she has created this pattern with the swords so that the demons that try to haunt her will not be able to enter her dreams.  She took an intellectual, rational approach to an unconscious, irrational situation.  Perhaps the book is even offering advice on lucid dreaming so that she an learn to control those situations if they do chance to arise.

Hmn, interesting - these two images offered me a different perspective on the interpretation of this card.  One way to free oneself from self-doubt, nightmare and inner demons is to take an intellectual approach to the matter.  Do some research on the topic, see what the experts advise and what has worked for others; and then apply it to your situation.  In fact this is often how I approach things.  I like to to gather as much information as I can to deal with situations.  The danger, in my case, is that I can easily get lost in the gathering process.  Something I need to keep in mind as I go forward.