The Suit of Cups
The Numbered Cards of the Suit of Cups tales the love story of Cupid
(or otherwise known as Eros) and Psyche. A love story could not be more
fitting for this suit since the suit of Cups relates to water and the plane
of emotions.
Psyche, was supposed to have been so beautiful that Aphrodite herself was
jealous of her and threatened her father that unless Psyche was sacrificed
to a monster, a calamity would befall her family. Psyche abandoned by a
rocky sea side cliff to await the monster. Aphrodite sent her so, Eros, to
make sure that Psyche was killed by making her fall in love with the monster
using his arrows. Eros went but was so stunned by the beauty of Psyche that
he pricked himself with the arrow meant for Psyche and fell in love with
her. He could not bear to kill her now that he loved her.
Psyche was surprised to find herself lifted by winds and set down the
grounds of a beautiful palace. That night, Eros came to her, invisible, and
told her of his love for her and they were married. Eros warned Psyche that
she must never know who he is. When Psyche's sisters came, they were so
jealous that they sowed the seeds of discord and doubt in Psyche. When her
husband came that night, Psyche attempted to see her husband's face with a
lit lamp when he was asleep. Accidentally, the hot oil from the lamp fell on
Eros shoulder and he awake in pain. Instantly, he fled and the palace
disappeared. Psyche, knowing that he had wounded the son of the Goddess of
Love, sought out the Goddess and begged her forgiveness.
Aphrodite set numerous tasks for Psyche, each seemingly impossible, had
Psyche not had help from creatures of Nature. Eros, after recovering from
the oil burn, realized that his love truely repented for her actions and
implored Zeus to make Psyche an immortal so that they could remain together
forever. Zeus gave his consent. He soothed Aphrodite's anger and bestowed
immortal status to Psyche. Hence, after great trial and hardship, Eros and
Psyche were united at last.
The Court Cards each show a mortal. Please refer to the relavent card
for a description.
The information on this page is complied and re-written by Mun Hon for Astarte.
Ace of Cups
The Ace of Cups shows Aphrodite, the foam born. It is said that when
Chronus castrated Uranus, blood from Uranus fell onto the Earth and into the
Sea. Those that fell onto the land became the Furies, Spirits of Vengence
but those that fell into the sea caused the sea to bubble and foam and from
this, a beautiful goddess was born, Aphrodite. This was supposed to have
occured near the island of Cythera. She was carried in a giant scallop shell
to the shores of Cyprus where Doves and sparrows flocked to her and became
her special birds. Aphrodite, unlike the other immortals, had no other
duties. She wore a magical gridle that made her irresistably attractive to
other people. Although she was the Goddess of Love, she
could get angry or jealous with others and could be spiteful despite her
gentle role, just like how Love could bring great joy or great sorrow.
Description: This card shows a beautiful woman, Aphrodite, rising
from the Sea where she was born. The Sky is clear and the waters are a
sparkling blue. In her left hand, she holds a giant Cup. All Aces represent
beginnings, hence the birth of Aphrodite portrayed in this card symbolizes
the birth or the beginning of a relationship.
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Two of Cups
The story of Eros and Psyche begins in this card. Psyche's father has
recieved the threat from Aphrodite and has sent his daughter to be sacrified
to the monster. Eros, at his mother's command, has gone to see that she is
slain. Stunned by her beauty, he accidentally pricks himself with the Arrows
of Love, making himself fall in love with the very women he has been sent to
kill.
Description: In this card, Psyche stands on a solitary rock
facing out to the sea, dressed in a white gown representing her virginity.
Around the rock on which she stands, the waves crash and roar. She gazes
into the distance, resigned to her Fate. At her foot lies a golden Cup.
Behind her, flying in the air, is a handsome youth. This is Eros who is
invisible to her. In one hand, he holds the arrow with which he has just
pricked himself and in his other hand, he holds another Cup. This scene is
quite appropriate, as the 2 of Cups augers the beginning of a relationship,
certainly, a relationship is beginning here, as Eros falls in love with
Psyche. This card also signifies the possible beginning of a partnership,
the meeting of two people who may become partners in future.
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Three of Cups
A happy scene is presented to us for Eros has whisked Psyche away from
her lonely rock, unseen, and brought her to a beautiful palace. At night, he
visited her, still invisible, and told her of his love for her. Enchanted by
the beautiful garden and majestic palace that she had come to, Psyche was
amazed when an invisible person whispered soothing words to her. Quite
overwhelmed, she agreed when this person asked her to marry him. That night,
their marriage was celebrated and they were husband and wife. It was a quiet
wedding for there was nobody else, save herself, her invisible husband, and
a few numphs who came to wish the young lovers well.
Description: Here, Psyche stands in front of a pool of still
water, dressed in her white gown and in her hands are a bunch of lilies,
signifying the purity of her soul. Behind her, is her husband, Eros,
wielding his bow and Arrows of Love, still invisible to her eyes but Psyche
goes through the ceremony without fear, knowing that this unseen person
loved her dearly. The Moon shines brightly down on the scene. In front of
her, as a blessing and an offering to her and her husband, are three
mermaids, offering three shining Cups. The 3 of fups signifies the
celebration of a marriage, or perhaps the birth of a child. Just as the
marriage of Eros and Psyche is but an beginning to a more complex story,
this card symbolizes
a beginning but there is more to be revealed and more to be experienced.
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Four of Cups
A turning point in the story is encountered in this card. It is said
that Psyche, who had all she wanted, was lonely for company in the beautiful
palace because her husband visited her only at night. She asked her husband
if he could bring her sisters here. He consented and Psyche sister's were
brought to her magnificent palace. Consumed with jealous and envy at their
sister's comfortable position, they sowed the seeds of discord, doubt and
fear in her heart. Psyche, as seen in the pervious card, had never doubted
what or who her loving husband was, but she does now, as her sister tell her
that her husband must be a hideous monster of some kind, why else would he
come only at night and not allow Psyche to see him?
Description: The card shows Psyche, dressed in her white gown,
sitting on the floor, looking doubtful and somewhat miserable, questioning
what she has come to believe in. Beside her, one dressed in red and the
other in black, are her sisters. The black and red colours of their dresses
represent the fear and doubt that they sow in Psyche's heart. Behind Psyche,
is an ornate arch and the sea can be glimpsed through it. Traditionally,
this card signifies discontent with the present situation, perhaps here, the
meanings has changed slightly, there is fear and doubt, leading to
discontent, unlike the traditional meanings where this card simply signifies
discontent.
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Five of Cups
This is a dramatic scene. The seeds that her sisters sowed in her heart
have overwhelmed her to such an extent that it drives Psyche to light a lamp
at night when her husband was asleep so that she could glimpse his face. To
her surprise, her husband is not at all the monster she feared but a
handsome youth. In this moment, she stumbled and pricked herself with one of
the Arrow's of Eros, causing herself to fall in love with this youth but
unfortunately, her hand which held the lamp shook, causing the hot oil to
fall onto the youth's shoulder. Eros awoke at once, reproached Psyche for
her faithlessness, and fled from the palace. Psyche tried to follow but in
vain for once he was out of sight, he vanished. As he vanished, the
magnificent palace vanished with him.
Description: The Five of Cups shows a nocturnal scene. Once
again, we see an arch in the background but this time, we can see a part of
a wing behind one of the pillars, as if someone was running away swiftly.
This is Eros, fleeing in pain from Psyche who betrayed his trust. Psyche
stands beside a couch, an oil lamp in her hand, shining brightly. She looks
as if she wants to follow her love and express her regrets but Eros moves
too quickly for her to catch up. In front of the couch, near the bottom of
the scene are five golden Cups. As with most Tarot Decks, three or four cups
are on their sides, their contents split while two or one remain upright,
still filled. For the Mythic Tarot, four cups are on their sides and one
remains up right. The fallen cups represents
what one has lost but the standing cups symbolize that there is hope and
that all is not loss, if only we take note of it and not mourn the loss we
experienced.
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Six of Cups
After the storm in the pervious cups comes a time of serendity. Psyche
starts to wonder over the world, searching for her lost love. Psyche
realizes what she has done, she was wounded the son of an immortal, the
immortal who was jealous of her no less, and wished her dead. She ponders on
the past and the happy times she and her husband had together, however
fleeting. She looks to the past, where all the sweet memories are, to give
her hope and courage to perservere in her mission, to find her lost love.
Description: The scene presented in this card is a peaceful one.
Psyche sits on a rock behind which a calm sea can be seen. She is dressed in
the ragged remains of the white gown she wore when she married Eros. In her
lap are the wilted remains of the bouquet of lillies that she held at her
wedding. There are five Cups stacked neatly all on the rock she sits on.
Psyche holds another Cup in her hand. The scene is peaceful and serene. One
could almost feel the calm breeze blowing in from the sea. Psyche stares
pensively into the cup, recalling the memories of the past. Traditionally,
this card relates to past, the return of an old friend, a gift from a
childhood accquaintance or simply recalling it, just as Psyche is doing now.
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Seven of Cups
Finally, Psyche seeks and find the Goddess Aphrodite, Ero's mother and
begs her forgiveness in wounding her son. She offers to serve the Goddess so
that she may redeem herself. Aphrodite agreed and set her numerous tasks,
many of which were impossible to accomplish by a single mortal alone but
Psyche's plight moved creatures of Nature, such as insects, animals and
plants and they helped her to accomplish her tasks. On seeing this,
Aphrodite set ever harder tasks but always, Psyche perservered with the help
of the creatures of Nature.
Description: In this card, Psyche is kneeling before the Goddess
Aphrodite whom we have already met in the Ace of Cups and the Lovers of the
Major Arcanna. The Goddess gestures to a cloud hovering above Psyche on
which seven golden Cups rest. The seven of cups can be summed up in a
popular saying "Building castles in the air". Psyche's 'castle' is to see
her husband Eros again but this is as good as a dream for Aphrodite, who
already had a grudge against Psyche who, furthur more, wounded her son. No
doubt, Aphrodite intends to either crush Psyche's spirit so that she gives
on wanting to see her husband, or assigns her tasks so impossible so that
she may never complete them and never see her husband. Hence, at this point
of time, Psyche's wish to see her husband is
very much a castle in the air.
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Eight of Cups
It is said that Aphrodite set Psyche many hard tasks in order to make
amends and Psyche fulfilled them all. Not pleased at her success for
Aphrodite hoped that she would fail and suffer the consequences, she finally
devised a task that no creature of nature would be able to help her with, to
descent into the Underworld and fetch something from there. This was
Psyche's final task. If she could complete it, Psyche would be reunited with
her husband. Psyche did as she was commanded, resigned to her Fate once
again, for she knew that no creature alive may enter the Underworld and ever
hope to see the light of day again.
Description: This is another nocturnal scene. The Moon shines
brightly, lighting up the world below in its pale twilight. Eight Cups,
stacked neatly on the ground, gleam brightly in the moon light. This
represents what Psyche has accomplished so far. Psyche is seen descending
down a flight of stairs, stairs that lead to the dark depbths of the
Underworld. She looks resigned as she did in the Two of Cups, turning her
back on the eight Cups for she knows that her accomplishments would amount
to naught for she would never return alive for the Underworld. This card
represents the abandonment of the worldly for the spritual, Psyche's turning
her back on the eight Cups symbolizes this.
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Nine of Cups
Here, Psyche is at last reunited with Eros who still loves her. Eros,
on hearing how his love was made to descend into the Underworld at his
mother's command, implored Zeus to rescue her. This Zeus did, and he soothed
Aphrodite's anger and jealousy so that she would not stand in the way of the
lovers. Her anger soothed by Zeus, Aphrodite allowed her son to be reunited
with the women he loves.
Description: Psyche, dressed in her white gown, and Eros stand
atop a rock, together at last after a long seperation. Each holds a golden
Cup. Beside them is Aphrodite who holds another golden Cup, blessing the
union of her son and Psyche. In front of them, are six cups stacked neatly
on the rock. Behind them, the calm blue sea can be seen. The phrase "A wish
comes true" sums up the meaning of this card and the scene for Psyche's
fondest wishes has been granted, to be reunited with her love.
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Ten of Cups
The Conclusion of the Numbered Cards in the Suit of Cups shows Psyche
rising to divine status, able to join her husband at last.
Description: The tenth card of any of the numbered Minor Arcanna
always represents a conclusion and here, it represents the conclusion of the
eventful love story. Psyche is at last able to join her beloved among the
Gods of Olympus. Psyche and Eros stand side by side, holding hands. Psyche
no longer wears her white gown but instead, wears a gown sewn out of gilt
thread. She has a pair of wings, like her husband, showing her acension to
divine status. Behind them is an ornate arch that is seen often throughout
this suit. In front of them, stacked neatly, are ten golden Cups. This is
the "Happily ever after" that we see in numerous fairly tales where all
problems are solved and the main characters of the story settle down
unfretted by woes or problems. The end of the story
reflects the tradtional meaning of this card, which is permeance in affairs
of the hearts or a peaceful family life.
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The Page of Cups
The Page of Cups is Narcissus. Here, we come back to the legend of Echo
and Narcissus. Echo was a nymph but so talkative that Hera was irritated by
her and condemned her to repeat the last word spoken by others. Echo met
Narcissus but he, though handsome, was hard hearted and spruned Echo's
advances, thinking her to be playing a joke on him. After breaking the
hearts of many women, the Goddess Artemis decided to punish him. She lead
Narcissus to a pool whose waters were so clear that his reflection was
reflected at him clearly. He fell in love with his own reflection and could
not bear to leave the pool, even to drink or eat. Finally, he stabbed
himself to death in despair, and the flowers called narcissus sprang up from
where his blood fell. Echo faded away from sight as time
passed though we are constantly reminded of her presence when we hear echos.
Description: This card potrays a youth, kneeling over by a pool
of water, evidently fascinated by something he saw within. This is Narcissus
whom Artemis has lead to the pool and has fallen in love with his own
reflection. Beside the pool is a golden Cup. In the background is lush green
growth, around the pool are buds of flowers, most of which are not yet in
bloom. Tradtionally, the Page of Cups represents the capacity to recover
from hurt and learn to love again, the beginning of a relationship or
perhaps, the birth of a child.
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The Knight of Cups
The Knight of Cups portrays Perseus, son of Zeus by Danae. Danae's
father, Acrisius, was warned by the Delphic Oracle that his grand son would
kill him. Determined to prevent this, he locked Danae in a tower so that she
may never marry but Zeus visited her as a shower of gold and soon, she
became pregented with his child. Unwilling to kill them, Acrisius abandoned
both mother and child to the sea. Zeus saw to it that the casket was guided
safely to the island of Seriphos where they were taken under the protection
of King Polydectes. However, Polydectes soon lusted after his mother and
challenged Perseus, whom he wanted out of the way, to prove his manhood by
slaying one of the three Gorgons, the Medusa. Perseus agreed though he knew
that it was near impossible. However, numerous
goddess guided him on his quest and he succeeded. On his return to Seriphos,
he rescued the Princess Andromeda of Ethopia who was being sacrified to a
monster for her parents had boasted that she was more beautiful than the
neriads. He returned to Seriphos in time to stop Polydectes from ravishing
his mother. He slew the King and then returned to the place of his birth
with his bridge and mother. The Orcale's prediction came through when
Perseus was hurling a discus during a competition and accidentally struck
his grandfather.
Description: A handsome young man rides a snow white horse in
this card. The man is Perseus. Beside the horse, in the foreground, is a
slowing stream. In the background are lush growth and furthur back, the blue
sky can be glimpsed. The young man is dressed in, purple tunic, armour and a
helmet that resembles a fish's tail. In his hand, he holds a golden Cup.
This card augers the proposal of marriage, of falling in love or simply the
arrival of a young man who is poetic and romantic.
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The Queen of Cups
Zeus' daughter, Helen is the Queen of Cups. Queen Leda was already
pregent when Zeus fell in love with her and ravished her, disguised as a
swan. From this union were four children, one of which was Helen, Zeus'
daughter and the most beautiful women in the world, sometimes called the
World's Desire. When she was young, her beauty had already brought much
trouble, even as an adolscent, Theseus abducted her but her brother Caster
and Pollux freed her. When Castor and Pollux left the mortal realm, her
father, King Tyndareos began to worry as to how he would protect her.
Finally, when he declared that it was time for Helen to wed, he became even
more worried when numerous suitors came from all over Greece to woo her.
Finally, he consulted wise Odysseus who suggested that he get all
the suitors to swear and oath that if Helen should ever be carried off, all
of them would supply ships and armies to free her. King Tyndareos thought
this a good idea and all the suitors swore the required oath. He then chose
Menelaus as Helen's husband. Not long after their marriage, Helen was
abducted by Paris whom Aphrodite has promised to be his bride. Paris
returned hastily to Troy and all the Greek Princes sent their armies to
rescue her. Thus, began the ten year long Trojan war, fought all because of
one woman, Helen. Finally, when Menelaus rescued Helen, he swore he would
kill her for adultry but when he gazed upon her beauty, he forget the pain
and woes he suffered for ten years and took her back to be his wife once again.
Description: The Queen of Cups is a beautiful women sitting on a
throne. In front of her, is the shore of a lake of some sort, the waters
calm. Behind her are lush green hills bounding away into the distance. She
wears robes, a crown and in her right hand, holds a golden Cup.
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The King of Cups
The King of Cups is Orpheus, the son of King Oeagrus and the Muse
Calliope. The Muses were the Goddesses of the Arts and were nine in number.
It is said the Apollo presented him with a lyre and the Muses trained him in
its use. He became a great player and charmed beasts and animals with his
music. He accompanied Jason as one of his argronauts on his quest for the
Golden Fleece. Finally, he married Eurydice but the marriage was ill fated
for she was bitten by a snake when she fled a man who attempted to ravish
her. Orpheus descended into the Underworld in order to rescue his wife and
charmed the Lord of the Underworld with his music and he agreed to let
Eurydice return to the mortal world, on condition that Orpheus did not look
back on the way up. Unfortunately, he lost his trust as
he was emarging from the Underworld and looked back, losing Eurydice
forever. After that, he began preaching against the evil of sacrifing men
and the God Dionysos grew jealous of his popularity for people were
beginning to worship him as he if were divine. Hence, he sent his Maenads to
slay Orpheus. The Maenads, the wild women, tore him apart but the Muses
tearfully gathered his remains, sewed them together and buried him at the
foot of Mount Olympus where the birds were supposed to sing more sweetly
than any where on Earth.
Description: Orpheus sits on a throne like the Queen of Cups. In
his right hand, he holds a Cup while in his other hand, he holds a lyre, the
instrument which he became famous for. Behind him are hills similar to that
of the ones seen in the Queen of Cups but are closer to the him. At the foot
of his throne is a pool of water with turbulant waves.
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