The Tarot Suite of Cups
To best understand the workings of the Tarot in general, and the
Suites in particular, one should have a comfort level with the
underlying aspects of the divination technique. While it is workable to
memorize meanings of the cards, one does not have a full appreciation of
their workings if the archetypes and metaphysical symbologies are not
understood. There are symbologies of numerology and elements present in
the minor arcana. This set of notes will focus on the specific
suite/element of Cups/Water.
There are four traditional elements in the Western metaphysical
world. These are: earth, fire, air and water. These elements are the
basis of most every magical/metaphysical working and belief. So, it is
not surprising that the elements are also present in the Tarot. The
elements are directly embrace the Minor Arcana, with each suite
representing an element.
All creation starts from a single source, a seed. This is true in the
use of the elements. The entirety of the universe represents the oneness
of the elements. All the metaphysical expressions of the universe are
presented by one, or a combination, of the elements. As thinking
creatures, the idea of an infinite oneness is not palpable to us. It is
said that to name a thing is to both know it and change it. At the risk
of changing the oneness, mankind does name it, divide it into parts to
create a thing that seems finite and understandable.
The oneness of the Universe is then divided by two. A duality is
created. The female division provides the creative potential of live and
the male division provides spark that moves the creation forward. Below
is a chat of symbolic roles:
Female |
Male |
Lasting |
Short-lived |
In Charge |
For Show |
Covering and Hiding |
Revealing and Exposing |
Eternal |
Cyclical |
Passive |
Active |
Inner |
Outer |
Dark |
Light |
Roles of the Genders
While it may seem that the genders contradict each other, they are
actually complimentary. If a system is completely female, it becomes
stagnant fuel/potential with no movement. If a system is completely
male, it burns itself out with no fuel available to maintain the spark.
A mixture of the two is needed to provide the fuel (female) and the
spark (male) to the light of life.
To properly read the both the minor arcana, and their associated
Court Cards, one must have a grasp of these mystic associations of
"male" and "female" energy. . Female energies are
slow and steady. The price for this fixed state is paid through
inability to quickly move in cycles of completion and readiness. We
shall see later that the element of water/cups attests to this. The
forces are fixed, remaining inherently inert and passive unless a male
element is introduced.
The genders are next split in two, creating four states of being in
the elements. The split represents a duality of Inner and Outer. A male
and female pair embraces an energy that is expressed inwardly, in ways
associated with the single system or individual. The other male and
female pair embraces an energy that servers or focuses on those things
outside of a single system or individual. So, there is defined a
"female-male" element, a "female-female" element,
and so one. This is a very important differentiation, and should be
understood.
As the "female-female" element, water embraces all of the
qualities of the female energies. The element of water covers a majority
of our planet, hiding the face of the earth from the view of all but a
very few. The surface of dark pond hides depths that are not known. The
still waters can be a few feet deep, or hundreds of feet deep. An
emotional analogy can be drawn to this image. Emotions are very
difficult to judge by what is on the surface. Loves and hatreds can run
very deep, and be very resistant to change.
Divisions of Universal Oneness
Traditionally the elements interact with each other using rigid
rules: Fire and Water are enemies, therefore weaken each other. Air and
Earth are enemies, and therefore weaken each other. The interesting
point with this rule is that elements of the same "gender" don’t
work together. Water and Fire are both female in orientation, and their
combination leads to a passiveness that does not prosper. Likewise, Air
and Earth are both male in orientation, and their combination burns out
and does not prosper.
Below is a chart focusing on the suite/element of
Water/Cups:
Element |
Gender |
Focus/Direction |
Duality |
Expression |
Traditional Meaning |
Water |
Female |
Inner /Self |
Female/Female |
emotions, relationships, love, and intuition |
emotions, feelings
|
Now that we have an understanding of the origins of Cups, the element can now be correlated to its Tarot suite, and the suite will be examined in detail.
After much discussion, now the Cups of the water element is presented:
Suite
|
Element
|
Gender (Main)
|
Gender (Secondary)
|
Cups
|
Water
|
Female
|
Female
|
Table of Suite Correspondences
EXAMINATION OF CUPS IN LIGHT OF "GOOD"
AND "BAD" CARDS
The association of a card as being good or bad is a distinction that
I find to be based on a pessimistic approach to the cards. The dualistic
tags of "good" and "bad" are relative sides of the
same coin. It said that all good things must come to an end. When this
end occurs, the "bad" side of the coin appears. The seeds of
the "bad" are present in the "good", just as the
full potential for "good" is present in "bad". When
one operates on the basis of "good" and "bad"
concepts, there exists no balance. There is always striving for what is
not possessed, and sorrow for what is lost.
I instead encourage a holistic approach to the cards that allows one
to accept the "good" cards as a respite, and the
"bad" cards as opportunities for growth and movement. The
nature of the cards is not judged by relative labels of dualism.
Instead, the cards are appreciated individually – moments of being
where only opportunity is present. The idea of non-dualistic
identification of the cards is challenging. To fully examine the
philosophy behind the minor arcana, I will continue to use the tags of
"good" and "bad". When you see these words, instead
think "opportunity" and "opportunity".
I feel that there are two kinds of "bad" cards: challenge
and warning. The first category, those of challenge, contains those
cards that indicate change and spiritual examination. The second
category, those of warning, contains cards illustrating human short
comings. Ironically, these short-comings are promoted when change or
spiritual insight is not embraced
Card
# |
Pentacles |
Wands |
Cups |
Swords |
# of Good |
# of Bad |
1 |
G |
G |
G |
G |
4 |
0 |
2 |
G |
G |
G |
G |
4 |
0 |
3 |
G |
G |
G |
B |
3 |
1 |
4 |
B |
G |
B |
G |
2 |
2 |
5 |
B |
B |
B |
B |
0 |
4 |
6 |
G |
G |
G |
G |
4 |
0 |
7 |
B |
B |
B |
B |
0 |
4 |
8 |
G |
G |
B |
B |
2 |
2 |
9 |
G |
G |
G |
B |
1 |
3 |
10 |
G |
G |
G |
B |
2 |
2 |
# of Good |
7 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
|
|
# of Bad |
3 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
|
|
An examination of the "bad" cards in the suite of cups
reveals the challenges of the suite/element.
#
|
Quality of Number
|
Expression in Cups
|
Analysis |
4
|
Foundations,
stability, status quo |
apathy,
boredom, ignoring the growth possibilities, status quo because of
apathy |
The still, fixed state of
water/emotions becomes assuming and unwilling to change even in the
face of decay and need for progress
|
5
|
Change,
instability, volatile, necessary to adapt to unpleasant changes |
regret,
pessimism about the future, difficulty of letting go, all is not lost
can soon be rebuild, loss and sadness, relationship ending |
Change is never
welcomed, and the cups are not an exception to this rule. |
7
|
Unexpected
change, perception, insight, new awareness and perspective, change
brought about by insight. |
imagination,
lots of choices, fantasizing, may indicate confusion, mystical
experience, positive visualization |
This card
carries a warning that choices must be made carefully in the face of
emotional changes. Emotions do not change easily, and when they do
there is much force. A natural example is flooding water from an
overflowing river. |
8
|
Control, power
and mastery over a situation through self-reliance and autonomy,
organization |
emotional
withdrawal, writing on the wall, moving on |
Emotions,
relationships, and loves cannot be controlled and mastered by a group
or organization. The retreat from control is the emotional reaction to
an attempt of mastery. |
Cups
The minor arcana brings universal themes down into the practical
arena to show how they operate in daily events. The Cup cards represent
the concerns, activities and emotions that make up the dramas of our
everyday lives.
Symbolism/Interpretation :
Cards in the suit of Cups generally
represent relationships, love, and intuition, emotional activity,
feeling, spiritual experience, the subconscious mind, beauty, desire,
spirit, fertility, abundance, happiness, the emotional fulfillments life
can offer. The downside of the symbolism is that it represents all
emotions, including anger, hate, and fear.
Cups correspond to the element of female water, and to the yin, or
feminine principle. The shielding nature of a cup also associates it
with things hidden, as true emotions usually are. A full cup is
emotional fulfillment. A dry cup means emotional depression. A cup
runneth over represents emotional abundance. A closed cup is lack of
emotional expression.
The element of Water adds emotions to the minor arcana. The
cabbalistic association of water is that of the Creative World, the
level of intellect, of the Archangels. Water is a substance that flows
to the lowest places, and it can be calm or stormy. Water can be
represented by shallow puddles or by bottomless oceans. Emotions take on
all of these qualities. The shape and status of water is dependent on
its container and temperature. The ability of water to flow and fill up
spaces, to sustain and to reflect changing moods makes it the ideal
symbol of the Cups suit.
We refer to the water element as the force of Soul or Emotion. Soul
is, in part, the element of human nature which provides understanding
and compassion for the feelings of others. People who are extremely
connected to the water element are extremely sensitive to human
sentiment and artistic expression. They can seep into the subconscious
of others and instinctually, if not intellectually, understand the
motives behind other people’s actions
Meanings of the Numbers
Number |
Meaning |
Ones (Aces) |
New beginnings |
Twos |
Relationships, duality, balancing of two
Cups friendship,
romantic partnership |
Threes |
Synthesis, collaboration, self-expression, expansion,
fulfillment – except Cups where this is missing.
Cups: fulfillment (in
love), harmony, good luck, celebration… harmony in love cause of
celebration, pregnancy |
Fours |
Foundations, stability, status quo
Cups: apathy, boredom,
ignoring the growth possibilities, status quo because of apathy |
Fives |
Change, instability, volatile, necessary to adapt to unpleasant
changes
Cups: regret, pessimism
about the future, difficulty of letting go, all is not lost can
soon be rebuild, loss and sadness, relationship ending |
Sixes |
Assistance, idealism, perfection, and a change for the better
Cups: pleasant memories
from the past, children, ideals from the past, a gift |
Sevens |
Unexpected change, perception, insight, new awareness and
perspective, change brought about by insight. Insight often
spiritual in nature
Cups: imagination, lots
of choices, fantasizing, may indicate confusion, mystical
experience, positive visualization |
Eights |
Control, power and mastery over a situation through
self-reliance and autonomy, organization
Cups: emotional
withdrawal, writing on the wall, moving on |
Nines |
Completion and fulfillment of each suit, maximum intensity of
each suit in the cycle, completion, fulfillment
Cups: wish fulfillment,
wish come true, emotional happiness, satisfaction and pleasure are
on the way |
Tens |
Renewal through a new cycle. Many lessons have been learned
regarding the suit in question – mastery.
Cups: love, true love,
happiness in person relationships, joy, prosperity, family life
goes well |
|