The Two of Swords is the card of indecisiveness, avoidance and precarious balance. The Nine of Swords represents extreme stress, nightmares and negative, external influences. It is also a card of painful endings. The combination of the Two of Swords and the Nine of Swords shows a stalemated situation that fails to be resolved.

• Failure to make a decision
• Paralyzing indecisiveness
• Self-defeating behavior
• Being unable to make a judgment
• Stressing over a choice
• An failed alliance
• Inactivity/Inertia that leads to a disruption
• Being passive aggresssive
• Avoiding an unpleasant situation
• Ignoring red flags
• Hiding negative feelings
• Turning a deaf ear
• Feeling defeated
• Failure to find common ground
• End of negotiations
• Not being able to find solutions
• Unwillingness to make a choice leads to disaster
• Unable to see options
• Immovable obstacles
• Being in denial about an ending
• The end of a pause/truce/compromise
• Unable to pick a side
• Refusing to deal with an unpleasant situation
         

To understand the elemental relationships between the cards, we should always take into account their actual meaning. The elements of the cards in this case are Air (Two of Swords) and Air (Nine of Swords). Two Air cards can generate quite a powerful and intense combination. In their negative expression, these two cards will bring feelings of restlessness, failure, futility. In most cases the strong air of these two cards cards shows a dynamic situation that's subject to change.