by Jean Huets
Three of Cups
A man in tights and a woman in dance costume gracefully pose at the edge of a lake. Three overflowing chalices are before them. Beyond the lake is a landscape of mountains and waterfalls. The abundance of flowing water in the scene signifies purity and healing; the still water of the lake signifies contemplation and rest.
New lovers can be the most self-absorbed of people, aware of nothing but their own pleasures. When the first gush of love is tempered and the lovers again become aware of the world, their love for each other can bring cheer to others who might be lonely or sad, and can be an immense source of creative activity. In this way, the exclusiveness of the couple gives way to their dance.
The three of cups indicates the ability to share gifts of grace and talent. A special dance, theater, or music performance may be in the offing.
Meanings - The arts, especially performing arts. Abundance. Exuberance. Comfort. Bliss. Pleasure. Solace. Healing. Excessive pleasures. Overabundance. Superfluity.
Four of Cups
A youth reclines beside a pond. Although his surroundings are pleasant, he seems lost in thought. A white horse grazes in the background and a castle is in the distance. Wine and fruit are on the cloth. Four lotuses with cups are unseen by the youth.
Prosperity and leisure are the gifts of the youth's life. Everything is offered to him. A needy person might pay more attention to the cups, but perhaps this young man is weary of an unchallenging life in which all his needs are met by others. The horse offers adventure through travel; the lotuses reflect the voyage inward. The youth remains unaware, lost in his ennui.
The four of cups indicates an opportunity of which one has not the energy to be aware, or privileges that are taken for granted rather than appreciated. It can warn of the danger of over-planning—spending too much time thinking while the opportunity to act passes. A spoiled and jaded young person may enter the scene.
Alternatively, the four of cups can indicate the discovery of new approaches to old problems or the patience to wait until a situation is ripe. A youth may provide inspiration for resolving what have seemed to be intractable difficulties.
Meanings - Weariness. Uncertainty. Decaying joy. Refusal. Aversion. Disgust. Disappointment. Stationary period in life. New possibilities. Insight. New relationships. New approaches to old problems. Anticipation. Patience.
Five of Cups
A woman bowed with depression sits at a table upon hich are five overturned cups. Memories of rejected love are symbolized in the broken, unopened flower bud. The spilled liquor is lost joy. The weather outside the open door of he home is stormy.
The woman broods, savoring her remorse and sorrow. The dark walls of her house seem to close around her, just as her body posture is tight and closed. Her life has been without risk; or perhaps she took her chances, wisely or foolishly, and lost.
Memories can be a burden or a comfort in times of oppression, or they can serve as lessons. They cannot take the place of life. The door is open, and though the weather is inhospitable, perhaps some new hope will come into the woman's life, along with the dead leaves of the past season.
The cards five of cups and four of cups mirror each other. The four of cups shows a youth whose cups are too full; the five shows a woman whose cups are empty. Both people find no joy in the reality of the present. The five of cups warns of depression and gloomy nostalgia. One may be cultivating regrets or self-recriminations that bear only bitter fruit.
The past may bring delight to the present: a meeting with an old friend, the rediscovery of a favorite place or activity, renewal of strength or of one's childhood faith.
Meanings - Remorse. Regret. Marriage of convenience. Inheritance. Hopeful outlook. Return of an old friend. Reunion. Discovery of inner resources.
Six of Cups
A youth and a young woman sit among rushes, six cups around them. Their faces are vague and composed in spite of the erotic intimacy of their clothing and pose.
Water, the element of the emotions, is also the element of dreams. Fluid and changing, dreams reflect our thoughts and fantasies and the impressions made on our senses.
The lovers at the lake are dreaming. Each is the fantasy of the other, with features drawn from real-life lovers of the past, adored but unattainable present-day persons, pop or film stars, music, poetry, and whatever else feeds the romantic fancy. They do not actually touch each other, even in the "kiss." All is in the realm of what-might-be.
The six of cups signifies innocent dreams of love and romance. It is the Sleeping Beauty, the tender heart protected by a castle of fantasy. The heart that guards its sleep for too long will wither, but adolescent dreams can feed contemplation in later years, and sweet memories can brighten a difficult phase of life. All of the accoutrements of romance, from playful Valentines to melancholy symphonies, are contained in the six cups.
Meanings - Effortless harmony. Joy. Satisfaction. Nice memories. Recovered joy. Fantasies. Infatuation. A secret admirer. The culture of romance. Renewal. Chance. Remembrance. Longing. Uncontrolled emotions.
Seven of Cups
A man crouching on the ground is tormented by phantasms and fantasies. The seven cups erupt with figments of imagination.
The central image echoes the six of cups. A nightmare comes forth from the dream. Love has been unrequited or rejected, and the memory of past hopes is agony. In the reversal of his feelings, the man is enslaved by resentment and desire, and in his mind the woman is a witch, with wand, pentacle, book, dagger, and flames. The rose of love in the foreground sheds its petals, and the worm-filled cup in the ground hints at corruption.
A crown, the dream of wealth and authority, is the only thing that remains bright. In such a way, the embittered cynic is self-convinced that riches and power are worth more than love.
The seven of cups warns of feelings that become perversions— negative conditioning through negative fantasy. Replacing reality with dreams causes enervation, exhaustion, apathy, and even psychotic delusions.
However unpleasant or confusing dreams might be, they offer clues to our psychological makeup. Sometimes, too, unbridled fantasy offers inspirations. Brain-storming can be the best way to start a project. The seven of cups can indicate that important work is happening in the psyche.
Meanings - Illusion. Imagination. Daydreams. Wishful thinking. Disillusionment. Ruin. Delusions. Illusory success. Hopes and fears. Dream work. Productive power of fantasy.
Eight of Cups
A dejected man sits at the edge of a lake. Behind him is a wrecked, decaying boat. The rotted pier on which he sits is scattered with cups, some overturned, some still upright.
The man may have completed his journey, or was not able even to begin. Long-held hopes have soured to disappointment.
The eight of cups indicates a blow to one's self-confidence and self-esteem, perhaps the loss of a job or of backing for a project. Someone whose support was treasured may have departed.
What one does now will determine whether the situation improves or deteriorates. Accepting circumstances and personal limitations may lead to other solutions. Depression and apathy are natural reactions to setbacks, but should they continue to deepen, it's time to get solid support and help from family and friends. A shift of focus from accomplishment to process can help: the work itself can be more rewarding than its actual fruit.
The eight of cups can indicate failure to make the effort to complete a project, even when all signs are pointing to success. Lack of confidence, lack of encouragement, and laziness are obstacles.
Meanings - Resignation. Giving up. Discouragement. Disappointment. Abandonment of plans. Shyness. Lack of self-esteem. Modesty. Interruption. Lethargy. Indolence. Regrouping. Seeking new support. New point of view.
Nine of Cups
The nine of cups is commonly called the Wish Card. The image on the Cosmic Tarot shows a handsome man approaching a lovely woman who wears a headdress with roses. The couple is surrounded by glowing cups. I
n the distance is water, the medium of love, and further away are mountains. The sun's intensity is veiled by clouds, creating a peaceful glow.
The upturned face of the woman is like the golden chalices around her: a receptacle of light and quiet joy. In her rapture she seems almost unaware of the man who leans to kiss her brow. The man is in shadow, unobtrusive and sensitive to her meditation.
The image brings to mind the tale of Sleeping Beauty: the virginal woman waiting in sleep for the kiss of the virtuous and valorous prince. The moment the kiss is given, the quiet, dreamy joy will instantly give way to something else. It is as though the cups are full to the brim, and any event will spill their contents over the edge. Much of the beauty of the image on the nine of cups is in this very imminence, the brimming joy that could give way to ecstasy.
Meanings - Happiness. Wealth. Success. Material attainment. Advantage. Well-being. Abundance. Good health. Difficulties surmounted. Sensitivity to the moods of others. The moment when satiation is imminent. Indifference. Imperfection. Insensitivity.
Ten of Cups
A woman rests on the edge of water in a mountainous landscape. The light is dim, diffuse. The cups overflow. The sensuous, plump woman is almost out of her element. She seems to belong in a boudoir, with curtains drawn to filter out any harshness or unflattering light.
The wilderness saves the woman from being lost in the languor of the mood. Her headcover tents her against the elements, but her body is in contact with the earth. She gazes at the overflowing cups in complete passivity. Unlike the nine of cups, the ten of cups lacks anticipation of change or development. The woman is satiated; there is nothing more for her to do.
Ten means completion, and ten cups means emotional fulfillment or resolution. To a restless temperament, this card might mean boredom and stagnation, bovine placidness and complacency.
Usually, though, the ten of cups indicates a mellow time, when problems are vanquished or at least out of sight, the chance to let go of ambition and to sit back and enjoy family, friends, artistic activity, hobbies, and physical pleasure.
The ten of cups can also mean someone whose company is relaxing. This person excels at caring for other living beings—humans, animals, and plants—especially invalids. The touch of his or her hands is soothing.
Meanings - Perfect success. Satiety. Calm. Satisfaction. Home. Joy. Vacation. Relaxation. Massage therapist. Nurse. Pleasure. Peace. Love. Contentment. Good family. Honor. Esteem. Virtue. Over-satiation. Boredom. Aimlessness. Disturbance after the climax. Family quarrel.
Princess of Cups
A young woman shields a cup with her hands. A lily is in the foreground; a ship is behind. The princess is in the realm of water.
The cup with an emotional life that is vibrant and yet sheltered, secret. The archetype of a young girl's dreams—tender, sexless fantasies—is more fiction than reality.
Still, there is innocence in the youthful psyche, whatever the gender or physical age of its possessor may be. The lily reflects the purity of a soul not yet buffeted by the suffering of unfulfilled desires and the disillusionment of desires fulfilled.
The princess of cups indicates hopes and dreams, happy moments evoked by old movies, memories, poetry, or a long-cherished friend: the ship of dreams, the sentimental journey. In too high doses, sentimentality gives rise to miserable nostalgia or longing, or to cheap, cloying outpourings.
The princess can indicate a pensive type, male or female, young or old, who uses study and meditation to turn away from the crudeness of mundane life. She may be a poet or a musician who favors lyricism. She can also be a youth, male or female, who is ignorant of the causes of personal suffering and yet is piercingly sensitive: a child who cries because its mother cries, a young friend who is unhappy simply in sympathy.
This person can be fiercely loyal, joyous in a friend's joy, an enemy to a friend's enemies. The princess of cups symbolizes also a beloved companion in dog form.
Meanings - A studious person. Sentimental. Pensive. Thoughtful. Quiet. Tender. Romantic. Poetry. Music. Kind. Gentle. Dreamy. Sensitive. Reflective. Meditative. Loyal. A helpful person. A trustworthy worker. Distraction. Lack of focus. A flatterer.
Prince of Cups
The prince of cups is an intense young man. Obviously of nobility, by the pocket crest, he may be in princely control or he may be in a state of aristocratic dissolution. His gaze is piercing, almost hypnotic. The person represented by the prince of cups may have a sinister appearance, even if his or her intentions are blameless.
The scorpion on the prince of cups' arm symbolizes the astrological sign of Scorpio. The element of water rules Scorpio, in paradox to the scorpion's desert habitat and burning sting. Though the prince is not vindictive without a grievance, a real injury or threat will bring on the sting, which can be devastating.
Scorpio is a sign whose power is beneath the surface, like the scorpion whose sting strikes suddenly and when least expected. He will look for hidden motivations in others, as well as having a secret agenda of his own. The misty water in the background of the prince is a reflection of obscure emotions and mental schemes.
Because Scorpio rules the genitals, it is considered prone to decadence. Sexuality in itself is not vicious, however. Sex can take us to the heights of human love and to the depths of human exploitation. It is the basic currency, the basic exchange between all humans, male and female, of all races and classes.
The power of the sexual drive can be sublimated in the quest to unite with divinity or to attain enlightenment—hence, the celibacy of some religious orders. The snake coiled on the wand, behind the prince, is a powerful phallic image, and also an image of the kundalini power rising.
The boat in the background is propelled by Anubis, the Egyptian deity who brings the souls of the dead to the hall of judgment. Men's culture often associates sexual activity with death because, in the male physique, orgasm brings the "death" of the penis and often the urge to sleep.
The prince of cups can be a young man or woman with strong sexual and emotional charisma. If a good match is made, both partners will be intensely happy; if the prince is not pleased, he will probably engineer a way to foist his partner on someone else.
The prince of cups may be obsessed with physical pleasure and with having the upper hand in relationships, especially sexual relationships. He has a tendency to mix up work and pleasure, sex and power; if he's not sensitive and honorable about the object of his attentions, he could end up with a sexual harassment complaint against him.
An abundance of imagination combined with the tendency to plot can give rise to bizarre and sometimes amusing schemes—but don't laugh at the prince. A slight to his pride will not be let go lightly, and like his Taurean counterpart the prince of pentacles, the prince of cups certainly knows how to hold a grudge. By the same token, the prince's loyalty is fixed and intense: he will go to any length for a friend, even unto death.
Enemies will despise the prince's arrogance and sarcasm; acquaintances will find him cold and reserved; friends will find his love almost frighteningly intense. He is not demanding, except in one respect: those who are close to him must be able to accept and respect his passionate love.
Meanings - Mysterious person. Imagination. An invitation or opportunity. Arrival. Approach. Attraction. Inducement. Seduction. Proposal. Passion. An intense person. Haughtiness. Subtlety. Artifice. Trickery. A sly and cunning person. A swindler. A cad or "masher."
Queen of Cups
A beautiful woman at the shore of a lake holds a fan decorated with two fish and water plants. Her crown shows the symbol of yin-yang and the trident of Shiva. The Shield (Star) of David is on her necklace.
Like the queen of wands, the queen of cups has an air of glamor. She has complete confidence in her beauty and charm. The gown in which she is wrapped flows around her like water; she is comfortable and at home in the realm of the emotions.
The Star of David corresponds to the sixth sphere of the Tree of Life (s
ee X Wheel of Fortune), which corresponds to the solar plexus and is called Beauty. As the solar plexus is the throne of the heart, it is worked on by the strongest emotions. Extreme joy, fear, anger, or sorrow create physical sensations in that nerve center.
The queen of cups can bring intense emotions, from anguish to ecstasy, which can eventually settle as a source of strength and inspiration: the kiss promised on the nine of cups has been fully tasted in the ten of cups, bringing to the queen of cups mature love—full acceptance of the cycles of longing, fulfillment, and satiety.
The powerful symbols of unity worn by the queen—the trident of Shiva, the yin-yang, the star—show her as a reconciler, a diplomat, a mediator of opposites. The queen of cups can also be a "designing woman"—or man, whose surface is all charm and hospitality and whose underlying motives are to gain social position or money or to accomplish a grand seduction.
The fish on her fan symbolize the astrological sign Pisces. Like Scorpio, Pisces has his or her own agenda, working behind the scenes rather than publicly. Unlike Scorpio, who can be a poor loser when his or her plots are overturned, Pisces moves on to the next scheme with a light heart and no hard feelings.
The queen of cups is a pleasing, sweet-natured companion. While she may not be the one to initiate adventures, she will happily go along with an imaginative friend. If she is a child, her guardians should keep a sharp eye on her companions.