Five of Cups

You may be facing some painful realities today and find yourself dealing with some very uncomfortable emotions.

The Five of Cups is not an easy card. It can indicate emotional upheavals, feelings of loss, loneliness, grief and regret.

As you can see in the imagery of this card — from the beautiful World Spirit Tarot — there may be tears and sadness. A woman is seen weeping into her hands at the base of the card while the five cups beside her are jostled about and spilling their contents onto the ground.

You may be reeling from a recent heartbreak or personal betrayal. A relationship that didn’t go the way you’d hoped or a dream that failed to materialize in the end. No one could accuse you of crying over spilled milk with this card — the grief that accompanies this card is generally very real.

But if you look closely you can see what the woman does not see, the Sun rising in the background, heralding a brand new day. And notice the Unicorn’s silhouette on the hillside. It waits there patiently for her, ready to take her away.

Remember though that you do participate in your destiny. And while you may not have any control over what goes down, you do have some say in how it all plays out. In how you react and respond to the hand you’re dealt. And what you do with it after you’ve dried your tears.

Your heartache can become 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.

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Ten of Cups

“I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony” — what better song to describe a Sun / Uranus sextile combined with a Mercury / Venus sextile? And what better card to depict this energy than the gorgeous Ten of Cups from the World Spirit Tarot?

The Sun / Uranus aspect is all about expressing your unique individuality and getting along with others. It’s good for celebrating people’s differences and lifting them up rather than tearing them down.

The Mercury / Venus aspect is about communicating and harmonizing and expressing your point of a view in a loving and conciliatory manner. And yes, it’s about singing and dancing and playing — especially with these planets in whimsical Gemini and Aries.

In this version, the Ten of Cups is portrayed by one big happy family engaged in a joyful celebration. The figures in the card come from all walks of life — there are different genders, age groups, cultures, lifestyles and orientations.

They dance along a garden path, kicking up their heels (and the autumn leaves all around them) in the process. A small child plays in the background and the family dog joins in.

This card tells you that — at least for today — everything is exactly as it should be. It’s a time of honoring differences and finding ways to see one another as “family” as well as friends. Take some time today to make someone feel accepted and included, and be willing to join in and let your own hair down as well.

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Nine of Cups

Take a moment to look around you today and see how many of your dreams and wishes have come true.

The Nine of Cups is a card of happiness and fulfillment. It speaks of being more than just satisfied with your lot in life, but also feeling truly blessed and grateful with where you are.

Look at the woman in this card — from the fabulous World Spirit Tarot. She’s dressed to the “nines” in a rainbow of vibrant colors, standing before an array of eight distinctive goblets. She raises the ninth and shares its contents with a blackbird perched on its rim.

Blackbirds as animal totems are harbingers of good fortune. They also represent mystery, magic and esoteric knowledge.

The Nine of Cups is known as the Wish card; in this sense it’s about manifesting your heart’s desires. Nothing is taken for granted and nothing is left to chance. It’s about aligning yourself with the universal laws of attraction and getting what you deserve.

Along with being the “Wish” card, it’s also a card of Miracles. As there’s so much more focus on what one has than what one lacks, it’s easier to notice small miracles and in even the smallest things.

Be careful though that you don’t become too complacent: one of the potential pitfalls with this card is getting exactly what you asked for and then discovering it wasn’t what you wanted in the first place. Because of this you want to be very mindful of what you “put out there” today.

Take some time to think about what you really want — and don’t forget to be grateful for what you already have. There’s an intricate balance between gratitude and personal fulfillment, so make sure you’re putting enough energy and effort into both.

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