WTF Is Tarot

by Bakara Wintner

  Three of Cups—The Girl Gang

  When the squad gets together we enter into the warm, content, glittery cocoon of the Three of Cups. Who do you love the most? Who do you get together with and feel like all is right, like nothing is missing, like the world could end right then and it would be sort of fine? Whether you are turning up, staying in, working, devastated, experiencing a crisis or doing nothing—it is better and easier simply because these people are with you. A card that speaks to a soul-level connection between people, it shows up to tell us we are surrounded by people who have our back, who want to show up for us, who will be there through thick and thin. Let them in. Allow the nourishment that can be delivered only by true friendship. Fully accepting love can be an emotional and scary endeavor, but if there was ever a time to experiment with it, it is here with these people. Have fun, feel blessed, you are never alone if you don’t choose to be.

  Reinforced by: The Empress, Four of Wands, Three of Pentacles, Nine of Pentacles

  Opposed by: The Hermit, The Hanged Man, Four of Cups, Five of Pentacles

  Four of Cups—You’re Being a Brat

  You are surrounded by emotional abundance, support and sustenance that you refuse to see. Rather, you are focusing on what you don’t have. The Four of Cups is a consuming energy of petty fear. Scarcity, lack and selfishness characterize this alienating card—and while no one outright enjoys feeling alone or being small, there is a self-righteous, negative pleasure derived from the idea that no one gets it. Nothing drains a relationship faster than lack of generosity, and this card is a gentle urging to look around and gain some perspective. The not-so-gentle message is to stop being a brat, but this is information that must be intuitively delivered in varying degrees of bluntness depending on the client. Inversely, if you are a person who gives too much, the Four of Cups can represent being protective of your emotional energy, taking care of yourself before you take care of others and setting boundaries.

  Reinforced by: The Hermit, Two of Swords, Four of Pentacles, Five of Pentacles

  Opposed by: The Lovers, Three of Cups, Nine of Cups, Ten of Cups

  Five of Cups—Teen Angst (and Real Angst)

  Caused by a disappointment, death or things not going as planned, the Five of Cups is an indication of grief. Rather than the acute and immediate response depicted in the Three of Swords, this card speaks to residual sadness and the inability to move on. While it may point to a recent loss, it can also reveal a hurt that was never properly processed. All of the five cards possess an adolescent quality; as the suit’s middle point, this card may excavate old wounds that call for inner-child healing. When a client faces this card, be gentle. You may be reading for a fully functioning adult, but there is a strong possibility that in this place they are transported back to an injured, younger version of themselves. Maybe, at whatever age the wound was inflicted, it wasn’t safe to grieve, or they didn’t know how, but now is the time to feel it. The continued denial of this experience translates into self-pity, blame and depression. This can pass, but there are no cheats here; we cannot disappear painful emotions. The gift of the Five of Cups is that it presents an opportunity to feel our heart, even when it is heavy and broken, and there is beauty in that. The only way out is through.

  Reinforced by: Death, The Tower, Three of Swords, Six of Cups

  Opposed by: The Fool, The Sun, The World, Ten of Cups

  Six of Cups—The Emotionally Manipulative Movie Montage

  Bouts of nostalgia and sentimentality often accompany the sweet energy of the Six of Cups. Specifically correlating to childhood, this card brings up the matters of home, family and where we came from. While the Six cards are thought to display a harmonious implementation of a suit’s characteristics, I grew up in a chaotic shit show, and the weepy, affectionate feeling of this card is lost on me. The only through line of this card, in my experience, is that it asks to look back. What hindsight reveals is as different and varied as there are people’s pasts. It is not uncommon for the Six of Cups to speak to family karma, shadow inheritance and ancestral baggage. Either way, there is something to gain by reflecting on the past. Whether it is a smell that brings you back to your grandmother’s kitchen, feeling comforted by moments in your youth or facing unresolved issues, the Six of Cups is an invitation to remember.

  Reinforced by: The Wheel of Fortune, Five of Cups, Nine of Pentacles, the Court Cards as family members

  Opposed by: The Emperor, Three of Wands, Ace of Swords, Two of Swords

  Seven of Cups—The Indecisive Softboy

  The alternate title for this ungrounded, dreamlike energy is, “I think the acid just kicked in.” The experience of the Seven of Cups is that of having multiple layers of skin peeled off—unburdened of ego, we are overwhelmed by the beauty of the world. It is a visceral sensation of love, appreciation and affection. But it’s also kind of like hearing colors or tasting sound, if you know what I’m saying. There is a nagging feeling that the emotionality of the Seven of Cups is self-serving, or otherwise manufactured. Think: drunk nights where you really, really love everyone so much, or when you’re tripping and are brought to tears by a tree because it’s so wise and stoic and just, like, knows. The surrender of the Seven of Cups can be an antidote for taking yourself too seriously or not stopping to smell the roses. It can be fodder for imagination and inspiration. But, more often than not, it is indicative of a problem. At best, you are indecisive, non-committal and identify a little too strongly with Drake songs. At worst, you are flirting with addiction, escapism and retreating into a strong fantasy life. This is not a mind-set conducive to clarity or decisive action. Consider the ways in which you are delaying reality, at what cost and at whose expense. Most likely, it is time to get grounded.

  Reinforced by: The Devil, The Moon, Seven of Swords, Nine of Cups

  Opposed by: The High Priestess, Justice, Temperance, Ace of Swords

  Eight of Cups—The Shitty Breakup

  Similar to the Six of Swords, Six of Wands and Seven of Wands, the Eight of Cups revisits the idea of letting go of something that isn’t serving us. So what differentiates this card from others that hold comparable meanings? In the Wands and Swords, there is a desire to let go, and the act of doing so brings with it some immediate sense of freedom and release. While it may not have been easy, there was an undeniable rightness to it. Not so in the Eight of Cups. The broken relationship, behavior or situation depicted here leaves us heartbroken, devastated and laid bare. The red flags, the moments of clarity and the invitations to let go before it reached this point were ignored. We couldn’t or wouldn’t, and here we are, still holding on trying to repair this broken thing. But the shards of it are slicing open the pads of our fingertips, already scarred from picking up the same sharp pieces over and over again. I imagine the soldiers who fought in Vietnam, maimed and traumatized and killed in a war they were never going to win, felt something similar to the Eight of Cups. There is nothing left for you here. Put the ruins behind you. Solace will come eventually, because a relationship with faith is born in these times when there is nothing and no one else to reach for. This will fundamentally alter the treatment you are willing to accept. In time, it will restructure your priorities, values and boundaries. But right now you have to stop the bleeding. Run, walk, limp or crawl—but it’s time to go.

  Reinforced by: The Hermit, The Tower, Six of Swords, Ten of Swords

  Opposed by: The Devil, The Wheel of Fortune, Two of Swords, Five of Cups

  Nine of Cups—Blissed Out

  The most obvious meaning of this happy card is fertility, gestation and pregnancy, both in the literal and metaphorical sense. I honestly don’t have much to say when the Nine of Cups is drawn in a reading except to embrace it. You are in a period of contentment, joy and comfort. Like movies, readings are less interesting when all is well. You found everything you didn’t know you were looking for when you left the wreckage of the Eight, and it’s sublime. Life is good, fam. Not to interrupt your bliss—but th
e Nine of Cups also contains the faintest whisper of a warning: Things are always ripest right before they rot. In extreme cases, it may insinuate numbness, overindulgence and even addiction. More often, the rot is due to smugness and self-satisfaction. Think: couples in their early twenties who drone on about how lucky they are to have found each other and, like, people wait their whole lives and never get to experience what they have together. Do not apologize for or downplay your blessings, but let it live alongside a gratitude and humility for the forces that brought you here. It wasn’t without help, trial, heartache and periods of thinking you would never reach this point. Wear your happiness honestly and generously, and you are in for a lovely time.

  Reinforced by: The Lovers, The World, Four of Swords, Nine of Pentacles

  Opposed by: The Hermit, The Tower, Three of Swords, Five of Swords

  Ten of Cups—A Powerful Beyoncé Music Video

  The question we ask in the Ace of Cups, “What if I’m actually gorgeous?” is answered in the Ten with a resounding, “Hell yes you are, honey.” This card is the apex of feminine power, and we’re feelin’ like a queen and a goddess, gentle and powerful, a nurturer and a warrior, fierce and soft, overflowing and full all at the same time. The dazzling, bright, hot stage lights inside us switched on, and we can finally bear witness to our own radiance and magnetism. Physicality has no bearing on the effects of this card; anyone embodying this energy is glowing from the inside out. There is no mistaking this glow. No amount of highlighter can make you this radiant, and the currency of it far outweighs aesthetic perfection. We know this. We sense it in others. We feel it course through our veins. The precarious happiness discovered in the Nine of Cups stabilizes and grounds in the Ten. In this place, we are in the best possible position to give to the world. Fortified by an understanding of our value and secure enough to ask for what we need, the Ten of Cups shows us perfect reciprocity, the gorgeous ripple effect of living a big life.

  Reinforced by: The High Priestess, Judgment, Nine of Cups, Ten of Pentacles

  Opposed by: The Hermit, Nine of Wands, Four of Cups, Four of Pentacles

  THE SUIT OF PENTACLES

  earth / autumn / dusk / years

  Pentacles are the oldest suit in the tarot and thereby possess a stability earned through travelling through the first three suits of the tarot. They deal in the physical: work, money, health and home. Financial uncertainty and financial abundance, new ventures in work, building a family, long-term investment and perfecting a craft or trade are all aspects of life addressed in the Pentacles.

  Ace of Pentacles—Progress Not Perfection

  With Pentacles dealing in all things material, this Ace presents us with a seed. Oftentimes the gift of the Ace of Pentacles can be underwhelming, or not read as a gift at all. We wished for a fully blooming garden, and all we get is this crappy little seed? Patience, young grasshopper. The payoff of the Pentacles is not immediate, but the yield is more sustainable, sturdier and more reliable than anything produced by the preceding three suits. This is the long con, and even if it were possible to jump from beginning to end in a single breath, you would be cheating yourself out of so much by doing so. The Ace of Pentacles shows us both humble beginnings and unlimited potential. With patience, diligence and attentiveness, the seed blooms and transcends its initial form. It could be said that the entire journey of Pentacles is the story of how we care for the seed received in the Ace, so put on your overalls and grab your gardening equipment because it’s time to get your hands dirty and work for what you want. Spanning the areas of money, career, health and home, this card can show a work opportunity that—while it may not be your dream job—is an improvement on the current sitch and a step toward your professional aspirations. Maybe you need an influx of cash to start a business or take a trip and your parents let you move back in, rent-free, to save money. Maybe you buy your first home knowing it’s not perfect, or move to a city you know you don’t want to live in forever, or buy your first car and it’s a used Honda and not a new Audi. The dream job, booming business, incredible vacation, perfect home and shiny new car possess more meaning and produce more satisfaction because of what it took to get there. They are objects that hold heart and not vapid material trappings. This is the curse of the wealthy, the spoiled and the privileged who never learn the value of hard work. Life is a journey, not a destination, and while I hate myself for busting out that old cliché, try to enjoy the fucking journey, will ya?

  Reinforced by: The Chariot, Three of Wands, Six of Pentacles, Eight of Pentacles

  Opposed by: The High Priestess, The World, Eight of Swords, Ten of Pentacles

  Two of Pentacles—Find You a Girl Who Can Do Both

  A practical card, the Two of Pentacles speaks to juggling tasks, managing responsibilities and maintaining a work-life balance. I think we can all agree that being a human is hard. Forget dealing with our emotions or contemplating our spirituality or searching for higher meaning—the mere logistics of being a living, breathing person is complicated. There’s a lot of paperwork, fine print and calendar management involved, and the Two of Pentacles speaks to keeping our shit together in this arena. In addition to balance, smooth transition is another theme of this card, or holding on to something you already have while switching over to something new. It can illustrate applying to jobs before you graduate, taking a bartending gig to support yourself while writing the next great American novel or going from boss bitch at work to bae at home. Lady in the streets, freak in the sheets kinda thing. A reminder to stay in our own lane because we have more than enough to keep us busy, the Two of Pentacles is a practice of healthy boundaries. The Two of Pentacles doesn’t answer work e-mails after 7 p.m. and cleans its apartment every Sunday. Emotionality and personal attachment can make it difficult to assess and compartmentalize a situation from the rational lens of this card. While the Two of Pentacles is a card that makes logical sense, it is also an art form.

  Reinforced by: Justice, Temperance, Ace of Swords, Seven of Pentacles

  Opposed by: The Moon, Eight of Wands, Ten of Wands, Nine of Swords

  Three of Pentacles—The Harry Potter Squad

  Obviously I was going to find at least one card to cross-reference with Harry Potter, and this is it guys. The value of teamwork, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and working with others to create something bigger than the sum of your parts is the essence of the Three of Pentacles. Harry, Ron and Hermione are all imperfect characters—what Harry lacks in book-smarts he makes up for in bravery; Ron is moody and insecure but has a knack for pinch-hitting; and Hermione repeatedly saves both of their asses with her encyclopedic mind, but also halts progress on account of her rigidity. Their humanity makes them lovable and relatable, but as individuals there is no story. Not even with Harry, who wouldn’t have survived his first year at Hogwarts without his two friends. It is the union of these three people, their combined strength, that allowed them to accomplish the impossible. When the Three of Pentacles is pulled, it is time to build a team. Be honest in your self-evaluation to determine what kind of help is needed and thorough in your search for the right people. Success is within reach, but will not be achieved alone.

  Reinforced by: The Lovers, Four of Wands, Three of Cups, Eight of Pentacles

  Opposed by: The Hermit, Four of Pentacles, Two of Swords, Seven of Cups

  Four of Pentacles—Your Stingy Friend

  Where the Four of Cups shows emotional selfishness, the Four of Pentacles is physical stinginess. They are two peas in the same crappy pod and often show up together with similar messages: loosen your grip, soften your gaze and look around. The fear of not having enough is dictating your actions, and it is making you and everyone around you miserable. Scarcity and lack are illusions. When we subscribe to these myths, our vision narrows, paranoia kicks in and we become very small. In a twelve-step meeting a few years back I heard someone say, “If I have next to nothing, I need to give it away to get more,” and I hear these words every time the F
our of Pentacles is drawn in a reading. It could be the mantra that soothes the tension of this card. A lot of extraneous baggage has been globbed onto the concept of money—it is equated with worth, validity, happiness and a lot of other things that have nothing to do with it. Distilled into its simplest function, money is energy. A source we pull from that enables us to do things we want. It is a means to an end, even if that end is a sense of security, but even that is not connected to a number in your savings account. Some of the wealthiest people I know are crippled by fear of money, trapped in the Four of Pentacles long after there is any reason to have this mind-set. Before you justify this cheapness as being responsible, remember that the next card is that of poverty, destitution and illness. Greed and possessiveness do not translate to prudence. If money is energy, then in this card we block it, working directly against our own self-interests. You are holding on so tightly to what you have—even if it’s not enough, even if it’s not working—that you created a closed structure. There is no room for abundance until you chill the fuck out.

  Reinforced by: The Devil, Seven of Wands, Four of Cups, Five of Pentacles

  Opposed by: The Hanged Man, The Star, Four of Swords, Six of Pentacles

  Five of Pentacles—Help Me, I’m Poor

  In the last of the shitty Fives we fall on hard times. Sickness, depletion and financial difficulty are all possibilities when the Five of Pentacles appears in a reading, and the task of this card is to confront these unwelcome realities. You’ve squandered your resources, ignored the flashing gas light and neglected the seed given to you in the Ace. Your garden is barren, you plant killer! This is an uncomfortable, sometimes shameful thing to face. But you know what, it fucking happens. Accounts get overdrawn, boundaries get crossed, self-care gets delayed indefinitely. This is our body being like, “Dude, how long did you think you were going to get away with this shit?” Getting consumed by the seriousness of this card, even if it is serious, only feeds the problem. If speaking about a job, you are putting more into it than you are getting out of it and feeling drained as a result. In a relationship, you are malnourished. In a physical sense, your body isn’t working the way it’s supposed to. Regardless of where this deficiency is experienced, the common denominator of this card is feeling unsupported. So, um, support is the medicine to this, in case you needed me to spell it out real simple. Don’t be a martyr.