Key Symbols
Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes. Two lovers gaze into each other's eyes, where they swim, oblivious to the sights and sounds of the outside world. Each holds a cup, and they're raising their glasses in a toast to each other.
Mercury's Caduceus. Above them, a lion's head-with wings-perches on a caduceus, the staff of the Roman god Mercury. According to legend, Mercury saw two serpents entwined in mortal combat. He separated them with his wand in a gesture that came to be recognized as a sign of peace.
Waiting in the Wings. The classic caduceus doesn't have a lion's head. The lion, however, is a symbol of recreation and procreation. It could represent a soul, waiting for a vehicle into which he can be born; a few glasses of wine could hasten his arrival.
Keywords
Upright: Love, attraction, romance, passion, desire, marriage, union, affinity, friendship, compatibility, affection, faithfulness, harmony, pleasure
Reversed: Infidelity, jealousy, longing, loneliness, isolation, misunderstanding, unrequited love
Writing Prompts
Write about:
. a first date
. a first kiss
. a new romance
. a love song
. the sound of corks popping and glasses clinking
Three of Cups
THE THREE OF Cues is a card of friendship and celebration. Under the leafy branches of a vineyard in full bloom, three young women scamper, frolic, and dance, each raising a goblet high over her head. They celebrate the coming harvest, the richness of the fruit of the vine, and the transformation of grape into celebratory wine. At times, the Three of Cups could also depict the jealousies, backstabbing, gossip, and resentments that often flare up among groups of women.
Key Symbols
The Three Graces. Most versions of the Three of Cups look like classical artist's depictions of the three Graces. These were the mythic Greek sisters Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia-also known as Splendor, Mirth, and Good Cheer; or Beauty, Gentleness, and Friendship.
The Three Fates. The trio could also be seen as the three sister goddesses who wove each person's destiny. Plato described these three Fates: Clotho, the spinner, Lachesis, the allotter, who measured the thread; and Atropos, the inevitable, who cut the thread.
The Three Norns. Similar to the Fates, the three Norns were the Scandinavian goddesses of destiny. They lived beneath the World Tree Yggdrasil, where they wove the tapestry of fate. The first sister, Urd spun the thread. Verdani, the second sister, wove it in her loom. Skuld, the third sister, cut the final string.
The Triple Goddess. Some tarot readers see the three women as the three faces of the goddess-maiden, mother, and crone. The triple goddess embodies women at different stages of life.
The Three Virtues. The three young women could also represent the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity.
The Three Elements. The three women could even symbolize the three elements of water, air, and fire, dancing on the surface of the earth-uniting all four elements.
Harvest Dance. The bountiful crops that surround the three women suggests that there will be even more celebration to come.
Keywords
Upright: Parties, celebrations, dancing, drinking, girls' night out, pleasure, sensuality, happiness, conviviality, hospitality, good fortune, kindness, and merriment
Reversed: Excesses, physical exhaustion, hangovers, unplanned pregnancy
Writing Prompts
Write about:
. the three goddesses of fate
. three sisters
. three generations of women
. a bachelorette party
. a women's book club
Four of Cups
THE FOUR OF Cups is a card of disappointment. At first glance, the figure in the Four of Cups seems drained, listless, and uninspired. He sits under the branches of an ancient tree, staring at three cups. He doesn't seem to notice that a cloud has formed to his right. A strange, ghostly hand emerges from a vaporous mist, and a fourth golden chalice materializes right before his eyes. It's as though he's getting a close-up view of the image from the Ace of Cups. Even so, his expression seems more disenchanted than amazed.
Key Symbols
A Blind Eye. The figure in the Four of Cups might not realize that there is more to life than the things of this world; he has drunk from the cups of the material sphere, but he is blinded to the gifts of the spiritual realm.
Blended Pleasure. Traditionally, the Four of Cups is known as the card of "blended pleasure." It depicts the boredom, weariness, and discontent that sometimes follow a period of excitement or exuberance. It's the low that follows a high, or the depression that succeeds a period of mania.
Buddhist Meditation. The figure in the card could be Buddha, meditating under the Bodhi tree.
The Law of Gravity. Alternatively, he might be Sir Isaac Newton, who was said to have discovered gravity while he sat under an apple tree.
Odin's Experience. He might also be the Norse god Odin, just before he climbed up the World Tree-or right after he climbed down. At one point, Odin lost his eye under the World Tree; that might explain the blindness.
Keywords
Upright: Weariness, disgust, displeasure, discontent, dissatisfaction, boredom, dejection Reversed: New friends, new adventures, regeneration, refreshment
Writing Prompts
Write about:
• a miraculous apparition that materializes in an unlikely place
• a peace offering
• disillusionment
• disappointment
• a holograph
Five of Cups
THE FIVE OF Cups is a card of loss and desolation. Head bowed, a young man stands on the dusty bank of a river under a cloudy gray sky. Three cups lie beside him, all on their sides, with their contents spilling and streaming away. The two cups behind him stand upright. An arched bridge in the distance spans a flowing river, leading to a fortress on the other side of its banks.
Key Symbols
Riverbanks. The dark-robed figure in the card is standing on the bank of a river, a symbol of the constantly moving and changing waters of life.
Bridge over Troubled Water. The bridge is a symbol of connection between two worlds.
Safekeeping. The building in the background is actually a keep-the fortified stronghold of a castle or a jail.
Spilled Milk. The cups, obviously, are the key symbols in the card. What did they hold-water, wine, or blood? And how did they spill? Was there an accident, or were they a libation, poured out upon the ground as an offering to the gods?
Cloak of Invisibility. The person in the card seems stooped with grief or regret. Sadness seems wrapped around him like a cloak. It could even serve as a cloak of invisibility; others can't see past it.
Loss. The Five of Cups could signify the loss of a loved one through death. The card can also refer to the loss of a friendship or a relationship-perhaps as a result of treachery or deceit.
Five Stages of Grief. The Five of Cups is also a vivid reminder of the five stages of grief defined by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Historical Significance. Historically, the Five of Cups reversed was said to herald the return of a long-lost relative.
Keywords
Upright: Disappointment, disillusionment, dissatisfaction, sorrow, loss, bitterness, frustration
Reversed: A short-lived period of mourning, soon forgotten; acceptance, recovery, hope
Writing Prompts
Write about:
. a cloak of invisibility
. a bridge
. a spill
. a bankruptcy
. grief
Six of Cups
THE Six OF Cues is a card of nostalgia and longing for the happiness of days gone by. In most versions of the card, a small boy offers a little girl a gift-a nosegay of flowers. The sun is shining. It's a beautiful late spring or early summer's day.
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Key Symbols
Childhood Innocence. The winsome young pair in the Six of Cups represent the innocence of childhood.
Fenced Backyard. The children are safe within a garden-a symbol of rest and reflection, order over chaos, and refuge.
Family Ties. The card often describes time spent with brothers and sisters or with childhood friends.
Childhood Sweethearts. The card could herald a reunion with someone from the past. It could even portend a reunion with a childhood sweetheart.
Historic Significance. One historic interpretation of the Six of Cups suggested that an inheritance was on the way.
Keywords
Upright: Memories, nostalgia, sentimentality, sweetness, innocence, childhood, affection, reunions
Reversed: Homesickness, longing, excessive attachment to the past, false memories, unrequited love
Writing Prompts
Write about:
• someone who can travel back in time
• someone who has lost his or her memory
• the children in the card as though they are senior citizens
• the children as though they're aging in reverse-so while they look like children, they have already lived for eighty years
• living in the past
Seven of Cups
THE SEVEN OF Cues is a card of wonder, amazement, and desire. A lone figure stands with his back turned toward us. He seems to be looking in amazement at a swirling bank of clouds, where seven golden cups hover in midair. Each one holds an offering.
Key Symbols
The Possibilities are Endless. The seven images hold choices and possibilities that flicker in and out of view. They may be temptations, daydreams, vices, or virtues.
Deja vu. Believe it or not, you've seen the contents of each cup before, in the cards of the Major Arcana-which in turn correspond to the seven visible planets.
The woman is the Empress, which corresponds to Venus.
The veiled figure is the High Priestess, which corresponds to the Moon.
The serpent relates to the Magician, who traditionally wears a serpent belt. It corresponds to the planet Mercury.
The castle on the hill is the Tower, which corresponds to Mars.
The shimmering jewels are the good fortune promised by the Wheel of Fortune, which corresponds to Jupiter.
The wreath is the oval garland that surrounds the dancer in the World card; it corresponds to Saturn.
And the fire-breathing dragon is an alternate manifestation of the horse from the Sun card.
Keywords
Upright: Daydreams, fantasies, visions, illusions, imagination, reflection, meditation, contemplation, memories, dreams.
Reversed: Indecisiveness, error, ambivalence
Writing Prompts
Write about:
• a daydream
. images you see in clouds
• trophies and awards
• "all that glitters is not gold"
• a "choose-your-own-adventure" story
Eight of Cups
THE EIGHT OF CUPS Is the card of success abandoned in pursuit of a larger dream. It depicts someone who seems to have it all. There's a void, however, and the absence is enough to compel him to turn his back on everything he owns and begin a quest for completion.
Key Symbols
A Missing Piece. The eight cups, neatly stacked, represent an orderly, prosperous existence. The void in the collection, however, symbolizes a want or need that is unfulfilled.
A Spiritual Quest. The solitary figure in the card is a seeker, a wanderer, an individual in search of meaning and completion. The Eight of Cups raises questions about material wealth and accumulation, as well as spiritual treasures, intellectual accomplishments, and emotional relationships.
The Mountain Pass. He seems to be headed toward a crevasse in a nearby mountain range, which is always a symbol of distance to travel, obstacles to be overcome, and new heights to be scaled.
Lost Lamb. He's reminiscent of the Biblical shepherd who left an entire flock in order to find a lost lamb.
Historic Significance. One archaic interpretation of the Eight of Cups said that it heralded marriage with a fair woman.
Keywords
Upright: Temporary success, waning interest, troubled relationships, abandonment, fear of commitment, non-commitment
Reversed: Delay, refusal to move on, unanticipated complications
Writing Prompts
Write about:
. a pilgrimage
. a return from a hunt
. a shepherd
. a scavenger hunt
. ... or take a break from writing and go for a walk
Nine of Cups
THE NINE OF CUPS is a card of material and physical happiness. It depicts a smiling innkeeper, sitting comfortably. He's the picture of contentment: he wears a satisfied smile and leans comfortably with his back against a bar. As they say in the United Kingdom, he looks like he might be in his cups-as though he's already had a few drinks himself-and he's ready and willing to share his good fortune.
Key Symbols
A Classic Character. The figure in the Nine of Cups might be one of the world's oldest stock characters. The bartender's role doesn't need explanation or development.
What are You Drinking? Most bartenders have the gift of gab; they can banter with anyone who might wander in. They're fully stocked with an array of conversation-starters-sports, politics, books, movies, and news of the day-as well as the social skills they need to talk to customers without alienating or antagonizing them. Every writer knows that introducing a bartender is a good way to get the main characters to open up.
Poor Man's Psychiatrist. In that way, bartenders are a lot like counselors and advisors. Bartenders hear a lot of confessions. Part of the job is offering advice and comfort in liquid form. A bartender is the poor man's psychiatrist, after all. For that matter, tarot readers have been called the same thing. You might even think of the bartender as a low-rent High Priestess, stationed before a curtain of drink that divides this world from the world of inebriation, where "spirits" trump material concerns.
Timeless Setting. Bars make good settings, too, because they're universal. Walk into a dimly lit tavern on a Saturday night, and without too much effort you could probably imagine yourself anywhere in the world, at any time in history.
Set 'em Up. The bartender in the card has all of his cups in a row, and he's ready to share the wealth. Just don't tease him about having ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall.
Keywords
Upright: Social events, parties, gatherings, a comfortable mix of business and pleasure
Reversed: Drunkenness, overindulgence, hangovers, indiscretion, candor, faults, mistakes, imperfections, deprivation
Writing Prompts
Write about:
• a bar scene. You can write a fictional bar scene, or you can take a notebook to your favorite watering hole and record your observations. If you're not a drinker, head to a coffee bar.
• a cocktail party
• a dialogue between a bartender and one of your characters
• a hangover
• a mythic ally or helper who seems like an ordinary person
Ten of Cups
THE TEN OF Cues is the card of a happy home and family life. A husband and wife stand side by side. The man wraps one arm around the woman's waist, and they both raise their arms in a gesture of wonder and salute while the children hold hands and dance for joy. The whole family is standing on the bank of a lake or a stream, not far from their cozy cottage. Overhead, ten golden cups seem to shimmer in the arc of a colorful rainbow.
Key Symbols
Historic Significance. Historically, the Ten of Cups represented a good marriage-one that turned out to be even better than expected.
Productivity. The children in the card symbolize the productivity that can result from a successful partnership. It doesn't matter whether the children are literally th
e couple's offspring, or simply the tangible results of their relationship. In an ideal marriage, husband and wife enhance each other's creativity.
A Family of Four. The family in this card symbolizes a quaternary-a grouping of four that combines to form a whole, like the four Court Cards in each suit. They complement and complete each other. The number is also a nod to the four elements and the four suits of the Minor Arcana.
Home Sweet Home. The cozy cottage in the background obviously illustrates a happy home, a warm and comfortable refuge from the outside world.
Water. The stream in the background is the river of life that runs from one card to another, connecting all of the cards in the tarot. It symbolizes the bond of energy and emotion that links people in the real world, too.
Rainbow. The rainbow is a sign of a covenant, a sacred obligation.
Keywords
Upright: Peace, joy, happiness, contentment, love, family life, peace and quiet, honor, virtue
Reversed: Unhappiness, sorrow, arguments, disputes, betrayal, breakups, wrath, anger, irritation
Writing Prompts
Write about:
a family with young children
• a cottage
• a rainbow
• the calm after a storm
• a far-reaching promise
Page of Cups
THE PAGE OF CUPS is a dreamer. He's a young man with an old soul and the heart of a poet. He's an artist, well suited to literary pursuits, songwriting, lyric composition ... anything that demands an undercurrent of emotion.
Still waters run deep, and the Page of Cups is a bottomless spring of thought and contemplation. In fact, according to tarot tradition, the Page of Cups is water-in human form. He personifies the fluid undercurrents that define the suit of cups. Because he's young and immature, his emotions can rise and fall with the tides.
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