We've been through a lot, and now we're faced with many aspirations, choices and an overwhelming amount of indecision. We have to figure out the next step on our journey. Some of the choices are realistic, while some are just 'castles in the sky', and we have to stop and think about which we should choose.
Keywords:
Making a choice
Being realistic
'Can't see the forest for the trees'
Symbolism and Imagery:
Since there are many separate cups, you probably think "Tell me what every individual thing in those cups mean!", well to be honest, the individual symbolism isn't too important. The 3 cups up top represent fantasies and dreams, while the cups on the bottom row represent earthly realities. You have a choice to make between the two, and you need to choose between daydreams and wishful thinking, or reality.
Upright Meaning:
Your imagination seems to be working too much, and because of it, you can't see yourself making a decision. Your ability to make decisions is clouded by an impossible idea, and you need to get illusions and fantasies out of your mind to see the clear picture, and make a realistic decision. This card also indicates selfish indulgence in your dreams, instead of taking responsibility and taking action. You are stuck in wishful thinking, daydreaming and fantasies, and need to step up to reality to be able to make a decision.
Reverse Meaning:
A decision has been made, and whatever you have chosen is the right decision. You will make a commitment to a project and see it out to the end, you may have doubts at certain points, but persistence through to the end will prove that you will reap what you sow when all is said and done. You have made a mature decision through good use of will and determination, you have left those past illusions behind and chosen the right thing. If you get this card while planning on starting a business, going to school, getting a new job or pursuing a lifelong dream that's been put on hold, then take your idea and your talents and run with it, you won't regret it.
We've gone past a turning point, and we are back to the happy scenery that we're used to in the Cups suit. A little boy is handing a little girl cups in a very quaint hometown atmosphere, and cups full of flowers are surrounding them. You're no longer meeting new people in this card, but being reacquainted with old friends and family.
Keywords:
Happy Memories
Past efforts resurfacing
Old acquaintances
Symbolism and Imagery:
The five cups of flowers surrounding the children are gifts of the heart, and of course and offering of our emotions.
The cottages in the back suggest nostalgia, reminiscing and our childhood home. It could also represent living in the past. It is one thing to reminisce, but remember to live in the present, so it does not jeopardize your future.
Upright Meaning:
This card indicates meeting someone from your past, which may be an ex-boy/girlfriend, childhood friend or a family reunion. If a new relationship or job offer arises, it could be tied to someone from your past as well. This card also represents siblings, family values, a gift from an old admirer or friend, or something from the past will soon be resurfacing or returned to you. Or if someone shows up whom you didn't have a relationship with in the past, but for whom you feel affection, they may be from the same hometown, graduating class or anther activity you participated in long ago.
On a personal note, this is one of my more favorite cards. When I've come home from a rough day, I find it's nice to meditate on the image on this card and concentrate on how nice that little town looks like, and think about things from my own past. Then when I'm done meditating, the present doesn't seem so bad, when I think about all the great things I have seen and done in the past.
Reverse Meaning:
Now everything that represents the past has turned around, and memories and news coming from the past are not so happy, and very disruptive. This is when thinking about the past too much is indicated, and you find yourself living in the past instead of moving forward, you're too busy clinging to impossible and outworn ideas to work on fixing things. Or possibly you just need to get out of a situation that is currently harmful or hurtful to you, so you can move forward. And just like this card represented family when upright, it does here too, just in the sense that you'll be disappointed in them. Maybe you invited them somewhere and they didn't show up?
It's time to put the past behind you and move forward, 'The Good ole days weren't all that good, and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems' (yes, that WAS my yearbook quote). But even still, Billy Joel is relevant here :)
Here we've come to a turning point, perhaps the friends we gained in the 2 and 3 of Cups have abandoned us. Sorrow and depression have set in, and we are so overwhelmed with the 3 cups that have fallen over, that we can't even see the 2 cups that still remain full.
Keywords:
Sorrow
Melancholy
Loss
Grieving
Symbolism and Imagery:
A man looking down at 3 cups wears a black cloak to represent mourning, and the wine which has spilled from the cups is the wine of life.
The two cups still standing behind him show that there is still something left to salvage, and not all hope is lost. We need to cut our losses and build on that which we can save.
The bridge in the distance reminds us that there will be a time when this heartache will pass.
Upright Meaning:
There is a loss of some kind, something or someone you have been attached to has passed away or left your life. You're having a hard time expressing how you feel, and don't know how to deal with all the emotions of grief and pain that you have been dealt. Everything looks bleak, and you may even find you're blaming yourself for a separation. But something has gone wrong, and it won't go back to the way it was, and the best thing you can do is just let go and move forward. Try not to immerse yourself in self pity, and focus on the good message of this card- the two upright cards behind you. Have regret for now, and cry, grieve and make sure to get all your emotions out, but remember that there is still hope.
Reverse Meaning:
Like all fives in the Tarot, when it is reversed, it is better that when it is upright. The negative energy is reversed. Loss is replaced by improvements, hope, happiness and energy. They are all increasing and things are getting better by the day. New friends are coming into your life, or possibly old friends calling you to reminisce about the good ole' days. You're feeling back to your old self, and new plans and ideas are in motion, a new job may even be on the horizon. You've learned from your past, and now you are realizing that tomorrow is another day. An old chapter has ended in your life, and you're ready to begin a new one.
Now to me, the first 3 Cups in our 'story' went together very well, but it's really up to personal interpretation with the 4. The celebration has ended, and now we see a man sitting by himself under a tree in a 'Leave me alone!' pose, and refuses all the cups that he's being offered.
Keywords:
Discontent
Dissatisfaction
Boredom
Reevaluation
Symbolism and Imagery:
As I stated before, look at how he is sitting. When it comes to body language, sitting cross legged with your arms crossed is not an inviting gesture.
Also, remember the meaning of cups? You know, holding our emotions? This man is refusing to get involved with any of his emotions. He is so busy pondering the outcome to the three cups that lay before him that he completely ignores the fourth cup being offered to him, refusing to get himself into anything that can bring out his emotions.
Upright Meaning:
This card may come up after your boyfriend has broken up with you, and you're too busy pondering how you're going to get a new boyfriend to realize that someone is asking you out. It's "Sorry, I can't get coffee with you, I have to go home and figure out how to get a boyfriend!". You can't realize what's happening, because you're too busy reevaluating from a distance. This could also be discontentment or boredom as you reevaluate your life. You're too busy sitting in your room thinking "I wish I was a famous writer!"- instead of working on your first novel. This card also comes up when you're being apathetic towards something, no motivation or concern about really anything. You're feeling introverted, and feel like you can't talk to anyone, because no one understands you. You have some inner work to do.
Reverse Meaning:
This is much better to get Reverse when in a spread. You can now come out of your contemplation, and take that boy up on his offer for a date, or start writing your first novel. You're willing to give love another chance and have a new focus on something that your heart is really 100% into. It's the first day or school for you, and you want to get all A's. Even though it may seem like nothing is happening right now, cogs are turning and an exciting change is going to be happening. All the movement and energy is going in the right direction, and a renewed cycle of good energy is starting.
So let's continue on the journey/story through the Cups. In the Ace, we have a hope for new love. Then in the 2 we have friendship blossoming. Now in the 3 of Cups, we have more friends, more fun, and the first part of the relationship is behind us, and we are now ready to make a commitment.
Keywords:
Rejoicing
Celebration
Joy
Symbolism and Imagery:
The imagery in this card is very to the point: People are celebrating! Three women are dancing, to symbolize rejoicing, and the garlands and vines at their feet represent the harvest time of the year, the fruits of ones labor. Maybe if you're writing a book, and wondering if all the time and energy you put into will pay off, it would seem so! But also keep the number of the card in mind, 3 is a long way from 10, so things may not necessarily END this way. But relax for now, as it shows in this card, the work has been done, the harvest has been brought in, and you need to sit back and celebrate.
Upright Meaning:
There's plenty of joy to go around, and a lot to celebrate. It could mean a new job (or a promotion, or even more recognition when it comes to your job), a new child (not necessarily a baby, but possibly a revelation as well), a good recovery from illness or surgery, or a change of fortune for the better. This is one of the most joyous cards in the tarot, and things will go from bad to good, and from good to better.
Reverse Meaning:
Reversed, this card can clue in on overindulgence of something, leaving you to neglect the things that are important in your life. When this card comes up reversed, I remember the meaning by thinking of an alcoholic. Someone who has no command over themselves, have troubles with bringing excess under control, overindulgence causing arguments and poor decisions. Sorrow or pain can come from this card, especially due to something like gossip, or simply not realizing the impact you have with what you're saying. You may need to apologize to friends or loved ones, but that doesn't mean things can't get worked out in the end.
I figure going through all the cups will be a good way to start the 1st two weeks of this community. Cups are my favorite suit, as they are the suit of creativity, love and of course my favorite element- water.
Keywords:
Love
Friendship
Relationships
Cooperation
If you think of each suit as a journey, in the Ace of Cups we found a new love/relationship, and now in the 2 of Cups this relationship is starting to blossom and balance out. Like the Ace of Cups is meeting a girl at a coffee shop, and the 2 of Cups is you calling her and going on a date.
Symbolism and Imagery:
The cups the two people are holding represent their emotions, and they are pledging their devotion to each other here.
The serpents twined around the staff are emblems of life's male and female energies.
The lion has the wings of a spirit, and represent a good balance of spiritual and earthly love (Or a balance of emotional and sexual compatibility, a rare thing indeed)
Upright Meaning:
This is the beginning of a friendship, and a good one at that. This shows the meeting of a partner or friend to whom you can share anything with (remember the symbolism of those cups?). It is a balanced and understanding friendship, where you guys bring out the best of each other. It is essentially an ideal relationship. This card, along with relationships, can on occasion mean a letter or gift bringing joy or good news. Either way, you're going to come across something that will bring you the best of news, or the best of a relationship.
Reverse Meaning:
This card upside down is not as happy to see in a spread. This couple has the same desire to connect and understand each other, but the balance is off and communication is not as great as it should be. Emotions are unbalanced and there are disagreements and misunderstandings between close friends and loved ones. When this card comes up it's saying "Tell them how you feel!" or your friendship may very well come to an end, being stubborn will hurt both of you here. I was doing a spread for myself the other day regarding my recent ex-boyfriend, wondering if we would get back together, and when I saw this I immediately knew we weren't going to be able to make a relationship work again. When this card comes up, the relationship needs to be kept in check before it's too late.
In honor of this community's birth, and one of my more favorite Tarot cards (and my icon!), our first definition and interpretation will be of the Ace of Cups.
Keywords:
Emotion
Sensitivity
Intuition
Cups is the emotion suit. They all have to do with feelings and sensitivity for others, and the Ace of Cups is like the beginning of the journey through the Aces, it represents new love and the unfolding of the heart, the start of a loving relationship, not necessarily with a person, but anything to which we can have a loving response.
Symbolism and Imagery:
The open cup represents being open to new love and emotions.
The five streams of water are our five senses.
Water lilies represent psychic unfolding, while the 26 petals (which are in the shape of the hebrew letter 'Yod', meaning the life force from heaven) represent each week during the creation and maturation seasons (spring and summer, respectively).
Upright meaning:
You're opening your heart up to new emotions, a new romance, or just something plain ole' wonderful. Joy, openness of the heart and a desire for happiness is what's prominent in your life, which can be a new friend, significant other, pet, co-worker or a new baby. Just remember, these aren't Pentacles (or coins), so it doesn't necessarily mean money is coming your way. Remember that cups represent your EMOTIONS. This card can represent a new awareness of love or a spiritual breakthrough.
Reversed Meaning:
Look at the imagery, if you're ever unsure of the meaning of a card. What do you see here? The water is rushing out, and if that water is your emotions, how do you think you'll be feeling right about now? A little crazy is right. After the cup is empty there will be a heart that's not as open towards love as it should be, or insecurity in a new relationship. When the (R) Ace of Cups comes up in a spread that deals with a new relationship, it means the relationship will take awhile to get off the ground. You may feel a sense of being unwanted or uncared for, and therefore hesitant to give your heart away- but be aware that the Minor Arcana Cards are the cards of free will, and that doesn't mean that relationship will remain that way, it's up to you to change that.
(R) Ace of Cups may also show boredom in your current relationship, but a new relationship will not be taking off at this time, or in the near future. This may also mean delays in attaining contact with someone or being frustrated due to not being able to get certain plans off the ground.
