Skip to main content Skip to course navigation

3.3 Four, Five, Six

Activity

Spend time with each of the Cups below to generate your “tarot encyclopedia” notecard for each. I recommend the following process, which only takes ~10 minutes per card. You do not need to complete all (or any) card in a single sitting.

  1. Look at the image on the card and examine its details.
  2. Read the page in the companion book for that card.
  3. Read the description provided here.
  4. OPTIONAL: Read other descriptions of that card online or in other books.
  5. Reflect on the questions posed.
  6. Write down the details of the image that have meaning to you and the 2 or 3 interpretations (perhaps 1 heavenly, 1 upright earthly, and 1 reversed earthly) that resonate most strongly for you. Feel free to write down your own interpretations based on what comes to you!

Four of Cups

Name: Blended Pleasure

Astrological Correspondence: Moon in Cancer

Position on The Tree: Jupiter of Water. Mercy in the Creative World.

Notes to Consider: The cups of the Three Graces all appear drunk, yet The Crown offers more. It looks like the one who had his fill is no longer interested in more. When things are good and stable for long enough, they can lose their allure. What is that all about?

Over-indulgence breeds discontent and boredom. Get inspired and appreciate the blessings.

Five of Cups

Name: Loss in Pleasure

Astrological Correspondence: Mars in Scorpio.

Position on The Tree: Mars in Water. Severity in the Creative World.

Notes to Consider: Whoops – now he really overdid it. Where did he wake up? Remember, this is all about our emotional, creative world. Emotional dysregulation results in loss, pain, or suffering; even if that’s a pleasurable indulgence.

What lessons can we learn from these moments? Will we take the chance to process our grief and renew ourselves, “returning” to the city? Or will we wander around, lost in the wilderness?

Six of Cups

Name: Pleasure

Astrological Correspondence: Sun in Scorpio.

Position on The Tree: Sun of Water. Beauty in the Creative World.

Notes to Consider: Joy in the simple things, like tending plants on a lovely day with our dear ones. What a heart-opening scene. What emotions does it inspire in you? I feel generosity, comfort, satisfaction, and a tinge of nostalgia.

Which mother is this and where is the father? Who is the child?
Remember that healthy plants need plenty of water, sun, and nutrients. They also sometimes need to be pruned.