Five of Cups
Today you may have to face some painful realities about the state of your relationship.
You could be struck by a sense of discontent and disillusionment over what once seemed like a “magical” union but is now developing cracks. Misunderstandings or miscommunications can abound, sending you hurdling back to earth and back to the reality of your situation.
Look at the imagery in this card. We see a mythical Unicorn seated atop an old-fashioned wishing well. At first glance it looks like something you’d expect to come across in a fairy-tale. But if you look closer, you can see that the Unicorn is not seated at all. He’s trapped in the well and has been hobbled, immobilized by his unfortunate circumstances.
The water flowing from the sides of the well has slowed down to a trickle. He looks away from the set of withering vines on the left and toward those that are lush and plentiful on the right. The skeleton key symbol over his heart is reminiscent of the astrological glyph used for Greek Mythology’s wounded healer, Chiron.
How might this imagery apply to you? And what can you learn from the circumstances that make this card now relevant in your life?
The Five of Cups can refer to heart-ache, disillusionment and lost love. You could be stuck in rut, reeling from a rejection or coming to terms with a relationship that was never meant to be. You may also—just like the Unicorn in this card—be refusing to see what no longer sustains you. There is as much danger in not learning from your mistakes as there is in focusing only on what might be.
But there are positive aspects of this card as well. There are messages to be unraveled and lessons to be learned. Perhaps the “wounded healer” aspect provides you with an insider’s understanding of what it’s like to hurt, to be alone, and to be denied the very thing you’ve so desperately wanted.
Your heartache becomes a powerful conduit for healing. It can also become a gift that you pass onto others: the gift of empathy. Your own experiences lead to a deeper understanding of what others may be dealing with, and can translate into compassion, understanding, forgiveness and unconditional love.
Today’s tarotscope is part of the Mary-el Tarot series by Marie White, published by Schiffer Publishing. Used by generous permission. Original art, as well as full-sized prints, are also available on her website. Please check out and “like” this deck’s Facebook Fan page.
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OMG! This card is exactly what’s happening in my marriage. I feel so trapped and hurt by a man I trusted and will always love. I’ve been married for 13 yrs and today was the last straw ( a crazy fight where I almost lost it enough to throw me in jail ). I desperately want this man to leave because I’m just tired of the wasted energy. He puts me through this trapped hell instead of leaving quietly. I’m not perfect, but I cannot and will not compete with recreational bullshit. It’s hurtful to me that I may have to take drastic measures to get him to leave, but recreational will never vibe with me. It’s not who I am or want in my life, ever!
I’ve learned of this recently and wondered about all the moodiness, but now I know. What’s more messed up is that I had to say something to his parents which was very hard for me. I also said something to his one sister that’s encouraging this recreational bullshit. It was very hard for me to confront her ( over the phone ), but I told her off because she gives it to him and she does it too. I don’t care if she does it. It’s her life. (continued)
She has the nerve to tell me I’m being dramatic by telling his parents maybe I am, but let her be around her own brother in his NON-recreational state! ( a man with constant up and down moods and include a bad temper )
I’m angry with his sister when she should know in her heart she is wrong for encouraging it or even giving it to him and I’m very hurt by him because I will need to decide my next step realizing we will lose everything we’ve built. It hurts to make a decision that I’m not ready to make because I’m still shocked of just learning this and putting everything together. It is so hurtful to me right now.
I thought we were a family, but I was so blind.
I think being left out of the loop and having things hidden from you is also very hurtful in this situation. Not that you would have condoned it… but choosing to do it anyway and keep it from you somehow makes it worse. you feel excluded and ganged up on.
I do hope you can find the strength to make the right decision here! all the best to you.