July 27, 2009
The 8 of Cups Rx and the 9 of Cups, together
I find today’s #amtarot (9 Cups) an interesting follow-up to yesterday’s #pmtarot (8 Cups, Rx – even though due to a late night I wasn’t able to participate). Maybe they seem to be linked because they are consecutive numbers or maybe it is because they seem to speak to a situation a friend is in.
The 8 of Cups, righted, talks about leaving what you know and moving on. Cups tend to also add a layer to imply that this is in the field of love, relationships, and creativity. Leaving these 8 Cups is not easy, but you have the promise of your dreams ahead of you. Righted, this card seems to urge you to move forward and follow your dreams, giving you hope. Reversed, however, it carries a warning and shows fear.
I look at this card in its reversed position in two ways and would read it one way or the other depending on the other cards in the spread and the over all energy surrounding the spread and the Querant.
Case 1: The warning. The Querant may be too quick to walk away, giving up before really trying. The reversal warns that this is not the right path and needs to be rethinked. Sometimes the grass is not greener and dreams can fade the moment you try to touch them. Make sure that this path is truly the right way to go because you may not be able to turn back.
Case 2: Fear. The Querant may not be willing to walk away and follow the dreams due to fear. This may be fear of the unknown. It may also show fear of losing what you have even if it isn’t doing all that well. Something is stopping the Querant from following the new path and a little push needs to be given to help them along their way.
Now, seeing the two cards together, 8 of Cups Rx and the 9 of Cups only strengthens the duality of the Eight. The 9 of Cups promises the greatest rewards for the right choice but offers little in hinting which choice to make.
Case 1: By repressing this desire to leave (8 of Cups Rx), one can really focus on building and fixing those Cups. Someone so ready to divorce and move on, may choose instead to work on the marriage with a renew sense of effort. This could lead to finding a new and deeper connection with the spouse and a marriage that is everything the Querant could want. Love and friendship is abound and overflowing.
Case 2: Overcoming that fear of leaving (8 of Cups Rx), in closing the eyes and just putting one foot in front of the other, One may just find that all the support and care needed to move on from the current instability is there and ready. Friends will rally around the Querant and help him or her find his/her way to the promised land. Leaving will truly help the Querant find a better more stable life.
My friend, who I alluded to earlier, stands at the crossroads of the Eight of Cups, Reversed. I have yet to figure out which way to point and how to help the friend make the right choice and find the way to the Nine of Cups.
