by estellew | Aug 7, 2015 | Cups, Minor Arcana, Tarot
The Four of Cups is the Lord of Blended Pleasure and is aligned with Moon in Cancer. It represents detachment, introspection and willingness to hold out for what you know is right for you. Fours are foundational numbers, so they tend to solidify the energy embodied in the initial cards of the Suit, in this case Cups. Cups deal with the emotional dimension, and so when the Four of Cups turns up in a reading, there is a difficult blending of the fluid element of Water (Cups) and the solid structure of the Four. This brings uncertainty, disillusion and confusion, especially where the feelings are concerned. There is an unwillingness to try new things on an emotional level - there is a feeling of being stuck in old patterns and refusing to shift. Sometimes one feels that it is better to stick with a situation, no matter how painful, because at least it is a known quality. Changing brings uncertainty and fear of pain and disconnection, which you have come to believe is to be avoided at all costs. But without a willingness to change old patterns, life goes on in the same old way, day in and day out. In relationships, there is a reluctance to risk your heart, since it has been hurt in the past and so you have grown a protective shell around it that is meant to prevent any pain or loss from entering. But the problem with this approach is that it becomes inflexible and unable to take a chance when a chance is needed. It is time to re-evaluate past decisions, in...
by estellew | Aug 7, 2015 | Cups, Minor Arcana, Tarot
Known as the Lord of Blended Pleasure and aligned with the Moon in Cancer, the Four of Cups represents emotional riches, love and tenderness, but it can also mean emotional uncertainty. The Moon is at home in Cancer, and as the Moon represents feminine, yin energy that is changeable, Cancer represents comfort, support, home and healing. The problem is that often this directs one's gaze back to the past, the good old days, so it can be a card of dwelling in the past and missing what is right here, right now and more real than past remembrances. In more traditional decks, this card is often depicted as four cups presented as a choice or gift, with one cup often spilled or just out of reach. This points to the meaning behind the card - that often we have love and affection within our reach but it is the the dream that is out there, that we yearn towards and not being able to reach, causes us pain. It can even point to a temptation of the heart, such as a flirtation or an affair. What we fail to understand is that we have three cups already full to overflowing, and the cup that is just out of range is full of promises that may or may not be tangible. So we often ignore the love and pleasures that we do have for the false promise of the unattainable. The real problem appears to be a familiarity, or boredom with life and love, a sort of feeling of "Is that it?" that fills one with a kind of hopelessness...
by estellew | Aug 7, 2015 | Cups, Minor Arcana, Tarot
Known also as the Lord of Blended Pleasure and aligned with the Moon in Cancer, the Four of Cups represents love and care, tenderness and emotional riches. The Moon represents deep unconscious forces, ruled by emotional tides, while Cancer is the comfort and love of home and family, and fierce devotion. Four is a foundational number, and in the Suit of Cups it brings a wealth of emotional stability with lots of love and devotion coming your way - lucky you! You feel at a peak of satisfaction, comfort, security and happiness. You are in a place where your emotional fulfillment overflows and affects others with feelings of comfort and pleasure. The danger with this card, of course, is that of becoming dependent on outside sources (which are in abundance at the moment) for you emotional wellbeing and happiness. To keep the balance and a healthy perspective, it is important to learn self-sufficiency too. Coming after the celebration and enjoyment of the Three of Cups, the Four can sometimes feel like that is now as good as it will get. It's a bit like the bride who has built up her one big day and having had her wedding day finds the aftermath somewhat flat in comparison to the build-up of the big event! Which is why this card is called the Lord of Blended Pleasure - one must balance one's sources of pleasure to ensure long-lasting happiness. It takes maturity and pragmatism to balance one's emotional tides and not demand the highs without being willing to withstand and outwait the lows that invariably follow. Otherwise boredom and dissatisfaction...
by estellew | Aug 10, 2015 | Cups, Minor Arcana, Tarot
The Five of Cups is aligned with Mars in Scorpio and known as the Lord of Loss in Pleasure. It represents a loss of balance, misunderstandings in relationships and conflicts in feelings. Mars gives great energy to the intensity of Scorpio, and if not careful we may feel that we are overwhelmed on the feeling level. There has been stability and a sense of continuity in past relationships, and yet something new arises and as it is not yet understood, it causes confusion and pain. When something comes up for us on the feeling level that is not familiar, often we judge it as bad, but it need not be so. It is just a new element of relating to ourselves and others, and it is understandable that new emotions will create feelings of discomfort. But if we persist and instead of being fearful, get curious instead, there is the opportunity to experience even deeper levels of connection with others, whether they are those we know or those we are yet to meet. There may be a feeling that we have lost something that we cherished, and it feels like a period of mourning. What we don't understand is that behind the grey stormclouds is a beautiful rainbow that means the sun is about to come out again, we just need to turn our faces to it. Often this card turns up when there is something on the feeling level - either within ourselves or with an important relationship - that we have denied or pushed away, brushing it off as if it were not real. But the truth always...
by estellew | Aug 7, 2015 | Cups, Minor Arcana, Tarot
Known as the Lord of Pleasure and aligned with Sun in Scorpio, this card represents nostalgia, a yearning for a simpler time when life was uncomplicated, and an appreciation of joy and pleasure. The Sun is the ego, the centre and the life-force and when placed in Scorpio gives a passionate appreciation and lust for life as well as an empathy with the past, no matter how painful or bittersweet. When the Six of Cups turns up in a reading, it is time to learn the lessons of the past while being careful not to dwell there. It may point to a return to a simpler way of living, and a simpler way of living. Life is complicated enough, and as time and age creep up it seems that things become ever more complex and harder to understand. But it need not be so. Look at how a child embraces the day, with enthusiasm and wonder. The ability to face the future with joy and anticipation is available to anyone, and is the secret to true happiness. Children have so much to teach us. Do not be caught up in regrets of what might have been, nor yearn too much for the glamour and thrills of days gone by. Remember the happy days, to be sure, and yet don't forget to live in the present. The ability to find true happiness is equated with one's ability to be present to your life as it is now and your relationships with others. There is a need to declutter and simplify your life now. A good time to sort through all...
