Knight of Cups

Keywords & Phrases:
Idealization. Emotional sensitivity. In love with love. Invitations to love. Romantic overflow. Being temperamental. Knight in shining armor. Emotional rescue. Dashing off to rescue someone. Exaggeration of feeling. Loves beauty but hates imperfection. Imaginative but unrealistic. Gushing sentiments. New relationships. Artistic talent. An important event related to relationships and emotional concerns. New experiences. A social invitation. Imagination. Intuition. Kindness. Empathy. Following your dream. Rose-colored glasses. Moodiness. Utopian idealism. To dream the impossible dream. Follow your bliss.

Summary:
Whether you are the "knight in shining armor" yourself or the victim who needs to be rescued, you should check that your intentions, well-meaning or welcoming, are not an illusion. This card often turns up in a layout when we are not being honest about our feelings. Genuine self-questioning is always necessary with all of the Knight cards because they represent the extremes of their suit's energy.

He is part Don Quixote, a troubadour who brings social activities, romance, excitement and travel into your life. His charm is his greatest asset and his most powerful weapon. With it, he wins over his adversaries, converts people to his way of thinking, and moves through life with the grace of a fish. This knight's focus is on emotion and on the creativity that flows from it. He is usually warmhearted and communicative, but sometimes he's so caught up in his own head he seems evasive, too self-contained. If you annoy him, he won't tell you off; he'll simply tune you out.

A new kind of experience moves into your life. It buoys your spirits, stirs your compassion, and changes your beliefs about what is possible. This knight symbolizes the path with heart. Your tensions and loneliness ease as your emotions find an equilibrium that has been absent in recent months. You delve into your deepest beliefs and emotions and reach an understanding about how they create what you experience.

The Fey knight who rises from the sea finds himself on the boundaries of pure sentiment and his strong natural aggression. For this reason he debates between the chalice and the sword. He can choose whether to deceive and receive love without giving it in exchange, playing a game with emotions without participating, or else he can choose to risk and become involved, renouncing his strength and all his advantages.

The Knight of Cups is a visionary. Being a Knight, however, he tends to be active and unpredictable, and because this is a Cups card, his volatility is typically in the domain of his emotions. He also acts upon his intuition and gut feelings. Thus, he can be romantic and sensitive, but he may be temperamental and moody as well. Among this Knight's better qualities is his serenity. He is apt to stop and reflect upon his feelings, and reevaluate and reintegrate them before moving on.

Pause to reflect on your vision for your life and where it is taking you. Then act upon the intuitive wisdom of your heart.

I am always traveling and I bring messages of peace, love, harmony, and progress to the entire world. I am Epona, Celtic goddess of horses and herds.

There is something brave and beautiful about rushing headlong into love, about giving all of yourself with your whole heart. Brave and beautiful, but not without its risks.

Questions:
What dream, vision, ideal, or love are you following? Who is inviting you on a journey of emotional significance?

Ace of Cups

Keywords & Phrases:
Love. Deep feeling. New romance. Intimacy. Beginning of new love or awareness. Expressing your feelings. Being in touch with your emotions. Infatuation with something or someone. Establishing new bonds. Feelings developing. Desire for a deeper connection. Emotional renewal. Force of the element water. Power of the imagination. Stirrings of the heart. Emotional and spiritual nourishment. Kindness. Friendship. Happiness. Peace. Sensitivity. Contemplation. Art. Poetry. Abundance. Tender feelings. Compassion. Romance. Empathy. The beginning of love, pleasure. The opening of psychic, spiritual, or unconscious channels. Receptivity. New opportunities for love and relationships. Overflowing feelings.

Summary:
When you draw the Ace of Cups, the early stages of love or romance are indicated. You may find your feelings have intensified, or that you are falling head over heels in love with someone or something. We can just as easily become infatuated by an idea as we are by a lover. If you are already attached, there may be a stronger bond developing between you, or emotional needs to be expressed. If you draw this card, look at the aspects of your life where love might be lacking or working for you.

If you're single and uncommitted, a new love affair is on the way. If you're already involved, expect a passionate renewal of your relationship. This ace is a symbol of love that is intrinsically spiritual, which connects us to something larger than ourselves. Think newness with this card - new love, new start, new appreciation for life, new fortune, new opportunities, joy, a spiritual awakening. A happy situation is about to start or is already in the beginning stages. In conflicts between heart and mind, you follow your heart.

The first natural act that occurs when one feels an emotion is to offer. In this manner the Ace of Cups is a gift, the feeling that surges, born from nothing and submerged by everything in its simplicity.

The Ace of Cups indicates a new beginning in your emotional life. You may be entering into a new relationship that could lead to marriage, lasting friendship, or a close emotional tie. You are about to be blessed with love and happiness.

The Ace of Cups may signal the beginning of an emotional situation, such as a new relationship, a wedding, a birth, or the healing of an emotional rift between two people. It can indicate love, empathy, and compassion for others, or the peaceful serenity of such feelings. Indeed, being in the suit of Cups, it says that the truest blessings are those born of our loving relationships. This Ace also may advise us to trust our feelings and to follow the dictates of our heart.

On the other hand, the Ace of Cups can warn us of drowning ourselves in a relationship, and consequently shutting out our friends or ignoring our responsibilities. Also, it may warn us against having a completely emotional response to a situation, which can wash us away in a torrent of feelings.

A beginning, in love as in work, should not cause illusions or stop us from searching for new opportunities.

I am the divine source, life and regeneration. My name is Habondia, and I am the Celtic goddess of abundance, feelings, and fertility.

Questions:
Are you really in touch with your own feelings? Is it time to open up, get closer to a friend, sympathize with others? Are you giving too freely? What is making you feel good right now? What would you like to do to indulge yourself? What or who is offering you nurturing or love? What messages are you receiving from dreams and visions? What does your heart feel most open to? How can I express myself abilities with more feeling? Am I open to new relationships?

Nine of Cups

Keywords & Phrases: 

Wish fulfillment. Overindulgence. Emotional satisfaction. Enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Smugly content. Pleased with what you have achieved. Self-indulgence. Counting your blessings. Satisfaction. Over-abundance. Desires fulfilled. Enjoyment. Contentment. Comforts. Plenty. Smugness. Indulgence. Visualizing what you want. Appetites gratified.

Summary:

Traditionally, this card was known as the "wish card". Your wish will now come true! But take care that you accept the responsibility of that wish and know what you really want. We often think we want something or someone and then live to regret it afterward. But generally this card is very beneficial, giving you the chance to take pride in your achievements, to be glad for what you are doing. Caution is required that you don't bask so much in your own success that you close yourself off to others.

As opposed to the Four of Cups, where fullness lead to boredom because it did not have to be worked for and was not merited, the happiness shown in this card is of a much more profound kind. It is still a happiness linked to oneself, to the fact that one has given and received with fullness and abandon. The well-being that is born from this sensation has no shadows, even if it disappears quickly.

When the Nine of Cups appears, you will get what you desire. It is a card of satisfaction and contentment, sometimes even smugness and overindulgence. The appearance of this nine can signal the end of a major phase of a project and the need to take a well-deserved holiday before proceeding.

Traditionally, this card is referred to as the Wish Card. It depicts contentment and satisfaction with what we have, and basking in the glow of achievement. It is important to remember, however, that these emotions depend on an appreciation of what we have. The man in the Nine of Cups also bears a tinge of smugness, and so this card can serve as a warning against self-satisfaction. Sometimes this card reminds us of an ironic curse: "May all your wishes come true." In that case, it may be an admonishment to be sure we know what we really want, to be prepared for it, since we may well get it.

Blare the trumpets and raise the banners. Raise glasses and toast me. I am Nike, the Greek winged goddess. I announce glory, victory, success and achievement.

Even when buried by our feelings, we may still raise our eyes and our hands towards our goal, our hope, our inspiration.

We do not always recognize good luck, which sometimes arrives when we are unable to appreciate it.

Questions:

How might I use my talents in more meaningful ways? What satisfies me? How have your wishes been fulfilled? What pleasures are being experienced? What do you feel smug about? What do you want to manifest in your life? Can you visualize it in detail?

Two of Cups

Keywords & Phrases:
Relationship. Connection. Partnership. Attraction. Moving toward another. Sexual attraction. Romantic love. Establishing a bond. Mutual understanding. Harmony and cooperation. Reconciliation and forgiveness. Affinity. Love. Agreement. Promises. Mutuality. A happy union. Sharing. Warmth. A balanced partnership. Mutual exchange. Balanced give and take. Cooperation. Reciprocity. Kindness. Understanding. Emotional equilibrium. Finding common ground. A loving and healing union of opposites. Power of love. Spiritualization of the passions. Reciprocal respect and benefit. Transcending differences. Meeting someone halfway.

Summary:
The Two of Cups can suggest a marriage, or a marriage of the minds, or the alchemical energy of merging and blending to turn lead into gold. But you can only do so if you do not try to have power over the other.

Partnership of all kinds and marriage in particular are inherent in this card. Emotional balance and cordial personal encounters are hallmarks of this two. You accept with equanimity whatever life brings. Friendship ad companionship are highlighted. By uniting with another, you accomplish more than either of you could achieve alone.

Two diverse and yet complimentary figures are joined together by a toast: a pact. We are in the field of feelings, with a promise of friendship, of love or even only of affinity: to connect a fragment of oneself with another person.

The image on the Two of Cups indicates a personal union, the bonding of two people. It may signify making an emotional connection with someone, acknowledging such an attraction, or renewing an old relationship. Also, this card may depict the healing power of love, and so it can be about making peace with someone or discovering that our relationships can heal our wounds.

The Two of Cups shows the beauty and power that is created when two come together. Whenever two forces are drawn together, there is the potential for bonding. This card can stand for the union of any two entities - people, groups, ideas, or talents. In readings, the Two of Cups tells you to look for connections in your life, especially those that are one-on-one. Now is not the time to separate or stay apart.

Finally together, my beloved. Your embrace warms me, comforts me, sustains me and fortifies me. I am Psyche, Greek goddess of romantic love.

Love, romance, candles and wine. There is nothing like it while it burns to light the darkness, fill the world with beauty, and heal all manner of ills.

Questions:
How do I benefit from cooperation with others? To whom are you giving your love and affections? How do you nurture others? What is being healed in your relationship? How are your inner feminine and masculine uniting and working together in your life? What are you lovingly sharing with another?

Seven of Cups

Keywords & Phrases:
Precious illusions. An altered state of consciousness. Deluged by fantasies. Caught up in illusions or the realm of the senses. Dreams. Reveries. Visions. The creative imagination. Indecision. Temptations. Tests of the soul and emotions. Indulgence. Wishful thinking. Too much choice. Self-indulgence. Feeling disorganized. Fantasizing about what you can achieve. High expectations. Lazy attitude to life. Putting off the inevitable. Believing you can get away with anything. Having your cake and eating it too. Illusions about love. An array of options open to you. Lack of focus. Daydreams. A sense of confusion. Head in the clouds. Poor concentration. Uncertainty. A difficult choice. Not thinking clearly. Too many options. Muddled thinking. Scattered energies. Unrealistic expectations. Disorganization. Romanticism. Emotions dominate rational thought. Inability to cope. Castles in the air. Yearnings.

Summary:
This card has three very distinct meanings. The first is that you have so many options that you can't organize yourself to make the right choice. The second is that you are living under some kind of illusion of what you can achieve. The third is that you are simply indulging in all kinds of excesses.

Imagination and fantasy combine to produce numerous opportunities. You may have myriad options, but you feel muddled and confused and have trouble distinguishing the good choices from the bad. You need to make a choice and should devote much care and consideration to making it. What you desire most may be just under your nose, waiting to be recognized. Until you pick one of your alternatives and begin working with it, all your dreams and ideas remain just castles in the air. Beneath your confusion and indecision lies an abundance of innovative energy waiting to be released.

The Seven of Cups depicts a person with many options, but who may be unable to make a choice due to confusion. Since this card is in the suit of Cups, which deals with emotions, this indecision is generally on an emotional level. Consequently, the advice of this card may be to follow your bliss - that is, to discover what it is you really love and then focus on doing that.

The Seven of Cups also has a very dreamlike quality, which may indicate living in a dream world, believing in illusions, suffering delusions, or indulging in escapism. Similarly, this card may warn of inaction due to daydreaming or wishful thinking. On the other hand, fantasy can be inspirational in the right context, such as a creative or artistic endeavor.

When you are confused, take a moment to clear your mind and ask, "What am I feeling in this circumstance?" Consider how valid your emotional responses are and how they may be affecting your judgment. Then, in a state of calm and centeredness, release these emotions and their control over you.

You may be feeling stuck or confused about making a decision. The options may seem too numerous or too evenly balanced, or each option may involve some sort of trade-off. You can't have everything and you're unsure of which way to go. Your heart urges you to go in one direction and your head says to go in another. You may not appreciate the ramifications of each choice before you. You need to focus and concentrate on a single goal to succeed. At this time, your wishful thinking is your worst enemy.

Success will depend on your weighing matters carefully to reach a thoughtful and focused decision. The Seven of Cups warns that your thinking may be too muddled to make the best choice. Your expectations may be unrealistic and your imagination may be working overtime. You would be wise to take your time and seek more information. On the other hand, this is an excellent time for creative projects of any kind. Sometimes this card can herald a significant dream or psychic intuition. If so, be sure to listen to your inner voice.

My eyes are closed. What I see and what I believe is only what I desire. Under the veil of illusion, I hide the utopia of a perfect equilibrium. I am Maya, the Hindu goddess of appearance.

When you dream, when you relax into your fantasies - do you see what you want, what you think you should see, what you think is true, what you fear for but don't think will happen, or all of the above?

Questions:
How are you overdoing or indulging yourself? What are your fantasies for the future? What are your current daydreams? How are you deluding yourself? How are you gratifying your senses? What mystical visions are you experiencing? How much work am I willing to put forth to make my dreams a reality? What opportunities have I lost because of daydreaming?

Five of Cups

Keywords & Phrases:
Loss. Disappointment. Emotional confusion. Regret. Feeling deprived of love. Having something taken from you. Feeling sad & grieving. Regrets over lost opportunities. Change in priorities. Acceptance of what is. Emotional resistance to change. Wishing you could change the past. Emotional imbalance. Progress hindered. Loss of harmony. Temporary delay. Learning from mistakes and experience. Crossing a bridge. Moving on. Mourning. Brooding. Overturned emotions. Poor communication. Loss of trust. Exaggerated pessimism. Anxiety over separation. Salvaging what remains. Separation. Something lost, but something remains. Recovering what was of value. Comprehension of just proportions. Bereavement.

Summary:
The subject of loss is one we don't handle very easily. This card seems negative in its associations, but there is a positive interpretation to loss, too. Again it is our projection of our fears or doubts that cause us to take this card as a bad penny when it comes up in any reading. Rather like "Death", this card suggests it is timely to let go of our attachments, to not fear the loss of one thing that will soon be replaced by another. It invites you to embrace change and go with the flow.

You have suffered a loss or disappointment. You may feel abandoned or betrayed by a loved one. Not all is lost, however. Something remains to be salvaged from the situation. You can either focus on the glass being half-empty or half-full.

The bottom line is that it's time to pick up the pieces and move on.

Even when we lose, we gain the experience of defeat and it may turn out useful for attaining future victories.

There are times when our hearts feel empty, like we've lost that which is most dear. It is best to lay with the loss, let the soul rest. Often, afterwards, we see that perhaps all was not really lost.

A happy ending is not necessarily the one we expect but can occur in a banal, more realistic way.

The Five of Cups refers to that time when the pain of a loss is most acute. In readings, the Five of Cups can alert you up the possibility of a loss and its associated emotions - sorrow, regret, denial. You may feel discouraged by this card, but it does have a positive side. Every loss opens new possibilities for growth because every loss initiates change. Loss hurts because it is our emotional resistance to change.

I am Latona, the Roman goddess of exile. First envied, then slandered and finally banished to this beach. I am far from everything but near the hopeful eyes of my children.

Questions:
What seems lost or down the drain? What do you despair over? What are you disillusioned or disappointed with? What do you feel sorry about? What are some possible alternatives to what you've lost? What awaits your attention? What have you learned from your mistakes?

Four of Cups

Originally posted 3/23.

Keywords & Phrases:

Self-absorption. Emotional withdrawal. Ennui. Boredom. Melancholy. Apathy. Stuck in an emotional rut. Not being fulfilled. Misplaced blame. Discontent. Boredom. Social isolation. Reassessment. Reevaluation. Turning inward. Lost in thought. Distraction. Anticlimax. Something is missing. An empty feeling inside. Feeling jaded. Introversion. Looking within. Lack of motivation. The honeymoon is over. The grass is greener on the other side. Burnt out. Narcissism. Time out. Resignation. Waiting. Lack of stimulus. Satiety. Sleep. Restlessness. Dissatisfaction. Seeking after novelty. Loss of interest. Looking for what you already have. Meditation. Loneliness. Rest. Weariness. Aversion. Daydreams. Doubt. Hesitation. Introspection. Lack of relationship to oneself. Taking things personally. Self-questioning. Not seeing what is available. Lacking initiative. Passive.

Summary:

Suffused with apathy, you don't recognize new opportunity when it's presented. You have a lot going for you, but are too full of discontent and self-pity to appreciate what you've got. You have choices but consider them to be without merit. It is time to reevaluate your relationships and life.

You may have withdrawn into yourself because of discontent with some aspect of your life. Everything seems stale and unsatisfying. This is a time of needed reassessment. The danger of this position is that you don't see the good that surrounds you. The novelty has worn off and you are contemplating new sources of stimulation. Don't rush, but rather take time to meditate and contemplate before proceeding.

The answers to the questions that trouble us most are often hidden very close to us or in our hearts.

This card demonstrates the contradictions between two aspects of man's nature. On the one hand, things have their intrinsic value and are a source of happiness. On the other hand, when there is no change things often become boring and dissatisfying. With emotions, like anything else, man looks for stimulus and not the perfect 'answer' to his needs.

This is a time when we close in on ourselves, put up the barriers, shut the curtains, retreat from the world and withhold feelings or even thoughts. This is when we are at our most introverted, and can - ironically - be hugely creative if we are conscious of our motivations for being so. The problem is, unless we see it as a chance for enlightenment, psychological insight or self-healing, we often lose the point and think only of our losses, see only our sorrows, and thus lose any chance of relating to ourselves.

When you draw this card, don't take everything personally. Don't feel you are the only one who hurts, the only one to blame, the only one who isn't loved. Your life may seem dull and uninteresting, you may feel washed along the shore and that you can't make an effort to do anything, feel anything or care for anyone else. This apathy suggests you are emotionally stuck, that right now you need to open your eyes and see what if offered to you; that soon will be able to focus on your goals and good feelings will return if you make the effort. Take time to reflect, but do so in a positive way. Knowing what you want is the first step toward getting it, so examine, evaluate, and don't fear your widening vision.

The Four of Cups can represent a positive period of self-reflection and renewal. By taking the time to go within to dream, muse, and reflect, you restore your emotional balance. The card can also be a sign of apathy. You don't really care much about anything. Your life seems stale and flat because you've lost interest in the activities that used to bring you pleasure. You're not motivated to make much of an effort in any direction. At such times, the card can show you that you're emotionally stuck. Open yourself to your surroundings - soon you will be on your way again.

My name is Pandora and Greece is my land. I possess the greatest riches but I am not happy. Boredom, monotony, and dissatisfaction oppress me.

Questions:

What am I feeling? How can I be more realistic in my expectations of myself and others? Do I already have what I'm looking for? How do I feel dissatisfied? Where do I go to find peace and serenity? How is this time of withdrawal and contemplation benefiting you? What are you re-evaluating in your life and relationships? What are you fantasizing about and what can you do to realize your fantasies?