Reading Tarot

The four of cups in tarot is a somewhat negative card, which signifies either obsession with one’s self, or an inward-looking disposition. Of course, being self-obsessed is not always bad; in some contexts a bit of self-reflection can actually be a good thing. In the classic Rider-waite deck, the card depicts a young man sitting beneath a tree, staring toward three cups in front of him. A fourth cup is offered by a god-like hand, but he isn’t interested, signifying his disconnection from the world and his lack of awareness about what is actually going on around him. On the other hand, the figure is surrounded by verdant greenery and an abundance of cups, meaning that things aren’t going all that badly for him. The broad meanings most often associated with this card are rejection, ignorance, self-absorbtion, boredom, selfishness, and an unwillingness to play well with others. This card is also closely related to the Hermit in the major arcana, which similarly focuses on solitude and withdrawal.

The significance of the four of cups can vary wildly depending on where it shows up in a spread. In a common celtic cross layout, the presence of this card in position 1 can literally mean that the querent is self absorbed and stuck in a rut. The way forward is clear – you must reevaluate our stance on life, and open yourself to new ideas and possibilities. This may simply mean that you need to get out more! Additionally, this card can remind us that we should be thankful for what we’ve been offered in life.

In position 6, what lies ahead, the card can have a different meaning. It is likely that the querent will soon be faced with a challenge that requires deep self-reflection and evaluation. Slowing down and taking the time to reflect may not be a bad thing – in fact it may be required to get through a future struggle. The four of cups here can also mean that new things (such as personal contacts) are going to open up for the querent, and he or she needs to pay attention so as not to let these opportunities pass by.

In the reversed position:

In the upside down (reversed) position, the four of cups can signify a failure to reflect on one’s position, a complete lack of awareness/thankfulness, or missed opportunity. An upside down four of cups can indicate that there is an opportunity staring the querent right in the face, if only they would have the intuition and foresight to take hold of it!

The two of cups in tarot is a positive card that is connected to romance, love and relationships. Overall, the card portends a pairing between two individuals, along with all of the emotions, compromise and happiness that such connection can bring.

In the card, two figures stand face to face, each holding a cup. The female figure wears a crown of grape leaves, a symbol of virginity and virtue. The male figure wears a crown of red flowers, a symbol of lust. As with the Ace of Cups, the two chalices here symbolize inner emotions (all Cups cards are about emotions). Rising from the two cups is an image of a lion’s head, supported by two intertwined snakes, one standing for good and the other for evil. The lion’s face signifies strength, passion, and even lust, while its wings give it a sublime, almost angelic quality. This imagery depicts all of the positive — and negative — consequences of entering into a partnership with another person.

Like The Lovers card, the two of cups is primarily about human relationships. Its appearance in a spread can be a surprise, particularly when the question is not about love. Often, the two of cups can alert the reader to a potential romantic relationship or love interest, even when they did not know such an interest existed. It can also tell the querent about inner qualities that he or she may have, such as the ability to attract others, or a supportive role played towards another. In other contexts, the card can also signify the beginning of a fruitful friendship, business partnership or other kind of pairing between two individuals. When the card appears in the blocking position, for example in the celtic cross, it can suggest that romantic difficulties are at the heart of the problem for the querent.

In the reversed position:

In the upside-down position, the two of cups can signify hurt or disappointment arising from a failed relationship, or from the failure to open oneself up to new partnerships. It can symbolize misunderstandings, both temporary and longer term inability to see eye to eye. A querent who draws the two of cups may feel emotionally withdrawn, and may find it difficult to enter into a new romantic relationship, perhaps because of a previous betrayal.

For those of you who like a more modern look to your tarot cards, as well as for those who work in technology, we’ve found the perfect deck for you. The Silicon Valley Tarot replaces all of the major and minor arcana from the traditional 78-card deck with fabulous hand-drawn (but undoubtedly computer-assisted) artwork. This deck is published by Steve Jackson Games and has been out for a while, but I just came across it recently and simply had to share it with all of you.

New cards in the major arcana include “The Firewall” and “The Flame War”. The hacker (featured below) and picture of exploding server is particularly amusing. The minor arcana suits of Swords, Pentacles, Wands and Cups are replaced by some new technology-influenced suits: Networks, Cubicles, Disks and Hosts! To get an idea of what the deck is like, check out some sample images below:

The hand of Venture Capital emerges from the clouds and bestows its blessings. Money falls like rain, refreshing the denizens of the under-funded startup. Are there invisible threads attached? Who can tell. Aid, assistance, nourishment, help. In the reversed position: meddling, micro-management, unwelcome partnership, aversion to risk, cowardice.

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In the traditional 52-card deck, this card is the equivalent of the ace of hearts. Unsurprisingly, the meaning of the ace of cups in tarot revolves around emotional and spiritual reflection — in short, thinking with the heart rather than the head.

In the illustration, an outstreched hand emerges from a white cloud and grasps a single chalice. Spilling from the cup, five streams of water pour into a body of water covered in lily pads. Nearly all interpretations of this card feature some combination of clouds, dove, water, and five objects (such as blooming flowers). Clearly, the position of the cup in the clouds symbolizes the heavenly realm. The water that flows forth from the cup nourishes the lilies growing in the water below, which symbolize the earthly realm. The movement of the water from heaven to earth is suggestive of the process of spiritual enlightenment, or the development of strong emotions that can sometimes feel divinely inspired. Love, wonderment, joy and beauty are the keywords associated with the ace of cups.

Like the ace of wands, this card is often associated with upcoming change, although this change is usually motivated by emotional energy. In a spread, the ace of cups can symbolize a new beginning motivated by feelings and emotion rather than logic. An obvious significance for this card can be the beginning of a new love affair, but there is a broad array of situations in which the card can appear. Some of the emotions that this card can convey include fulfillment, happiness, spiritual contentment, and caring for others. The ace of cups portends all of those intangible things that money can’t buy, and that so easily elude us.

In the reverse position:

In the reversed position, the Ace of Cups can suggest either a lack of feeling, a contradictory (or false) emotion, or a disappointment resulting from . In a relationship, this could signify falling out of love with someone or being deceived. In the context of a career-related question, it could symbolize stagnation or a lack of passion.

The illustration depicts a young, carefree wanderer illuminated by the sun and carrying all of his worldly possessions over his shoulder. While the word “fool” in the English language possesses negative connotations, this card is a positive one, overall. In the medieval context that tarot imagery was developed, the fool was a sophisticated courtly entertainer, who adopted the persona of an ingénue in order to win over crowds. The fool is also the origin of the modern Joker card in a regular deck.

The general meaning of the card in a tarot reading is one of naïve innocence, a characteristic that can be both negative and positive. For example, this card can suggest both limitless opportunity and irresponsibility. Foolishly optimistic people often succeed without realizing the potential for failure that lurked all along. In its most positive sense, the fool can be a call to embrace one’s own intuition and follow one’s heart.

Sometimes the fool can signify the need to take a chance and break from the mundane, structured reality of daily life. It can be a reminder that we can seek help from others or approach situations from the perspective of an uninitiated learner. The fool can also be a potent reminder that we should not take ourselves too seriously.

An overabundance of foolish naiveté can, of course, be a problem. This is often signified by the appearance of the fool in position 2. Sometimes we must be careful about where we place our childlike trust, lest we be disappointed. The appearance of the fool in position 10 can signify that the querent desires a freer, more adventurous course of action, but is held back by fear of doing something irrational.

In the reverse position:

In the upside-down orientation, the fool can symbolize a lack of initiative or sense of adventure on the part of the querent. Often, this apathy can derive from a powerful, even subconscious sense of fear. After all, trying new things and severing old obligations can be a scary proposition. This is a powerful sign that a change is needed and that fears must be overcome.