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?