ELEMENT
Water
CUPS POWERWORDS
Emotions, Love, Relationship
FOUR OF CUPS POWERWORDS
Boredom, Apathy, Self Pity
QUICK MEANING
The Four of Cups tells you that you are so busy being bored and complaining that you are not seeing the joy, abundance and opportunities around you.
TRADITIONAL MEANING
Boredom, Apathy, Discouragement, Distraction, Habits
CARD DESCRIPTION
A boy sits cross armed under a tree. His body language is ‘closed’ and not inviting. His back leans against the tree. In front of him stand three cups. From a cloud appears a mystical hand offering a fourth cup. The boy does not see the cup as he is looking downwards and inwards.
SYMBOLS
Young Boy
The young boy can represent immaturity. The emotions that are childlike and negative. He may even be narcissistic – ‘what about me!’.
Three Cups
The three cups represent the love and potential that is always there for us. Gifts ready to be used.
Cup coming from the Cloud
Resembling the Ace cards which have hands appearing from clouds holding cups, this hand also offers a cup full of opportunities and blessings. This card shows that all is OK – the boy is simply stuck in his feelings If he could only lift his eyes and see the gift of grace in front of him. Sometimes we get so dragged down in our emotions and self pity that we do not see the beauty of life around us.
Tree
The Tree offers support and shelter. It keeps us safe when we need to take ‘time out’. The boy might be like the tree but ‘rooted’ so deep that he cannot move out of his sulky mood! We could also imagine that perhaps under this tree is the potential for enlightenment if we change our feelings and learn from it.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU EXPLORE THIS CARD MORE
I notice that this card often comes up for women in relationships with a lack of satisfaction. Perhaps the partnership is stuck, boring or feeling routine. Perhaps the sexuality has diminished. Perhaps the woman feels the grass is greener on the other side and a new relationship might be the option. However the cup coming from the cloud reminds us that what we have is good – we simply need to see that.
So if you get this card, perhaps ask some questions around your relationships (lovers, friends, family).
Does this relationship feel stagnant?
Why am I bored with this relationship?
Other questions to ask about this card…
Why do you feel bored?
Can you explain why you feel so much apathy right now?
Do you feel you are always complaining?
Why do you feel hurt / upset?
Do you feel what you have now is not enough and you want more or better?
Can you see what is in front of your eyes right now?
Is there a way to move this energy and emotions so that I can feel optimistic and hopeful again?
GOLDEN DAWN / QABALA
The Hermetic title for this card is ‘Lord of Blended Pleasure’. It can be nice to rest and contemplate but too much makes us stagnant – thus a blended pleasure.
On the Tree of Life, the Number Four cards sit on the Sphiroth Chesed which represents mercy. After the energy from the Divine enters Kether at the top of the Tree of Life, it next flows to Chokhmah. Chokhmah is the place of wisdom. The energy then flows onto Binah which is the energy of understanding. Then the energy leaves this upper triangle of energy (called the Supernal) and flows down to Chesed, the energy of Mercy. It also relates to the energy of Compassion and Grace. Therefore the number four cards in the Minor Arcana always have a gentle message.
ASTROLOGICAL
Ruled by the Moon in Cancer.
FOUR OF CUPS REVERSED
When this card is reversed the energy is starting to move again. The apathy and stagnation is leaving and there is a movement happening again. Perhaps you realize it is time to get out of the rut you are in and you have the energy to do so. However if the surrounding cards are heavy and negative then perhaps you have sunk even deeper into apathy.
Two important questions to consider with a reversed Four of Cups:
Why was I feeling stuck and what can I learn from this experience?
Was I feeling like a victim?