The Four Of Cups has always struck me as a straightforward card to read. I just don’t see a lot of ambiguity within it or its message.
Generally when the Four Of Cups comes up in one of my readings I see it as ‘having much, with even more offered, yet still being unhappy.’ A card of depression or the blues, without reason for those negative feelings.
I’ve also interpreted it as ‘more being readily available, all one must do is take it, but instead of doing so, one doesn’t act, worrying about not having it instead.’
Both of these interpretations of mine point to an internal negativity that exists without real cause, and that could be transformed into something much more positive with nothing more than a change of perspective or a decision to stake a claim.
It’s a card that calls one to action. Not big action necessarily, just a needed action to improve our outlook, specifically our emotional outlook.
But of course, everyone who reads Tarot interprets the cards in their own way. Indeed that is how it should be, for each of us understands the symbolism of Tarot through our own lives, experiences, and lenses.
The Thoth deck includes the keyword ‘Luxury’ on the Four Of Cups. While that might seem quite different from my personal interpretation, and from the imagery created by Waite and Smith, shown above, it could also fit. Because in my experience, sometimes we may have so much of something in our lives, something considered luxurious, that we may grow used to it, or even contemptuous of it. When something is freely available to us, we tend to stop valuing it. Cheapening it in our minds.
The Book Of Thoth mentions: “…an abandonment to desire. This tends to introduce the seeds of decay into the fruit of pleasure.”
The Golden Dawn’s Book T tells us that the Four Of Cups is the Lord Of Blended Pleasure. And “Some drawbacks to pleasure implied.”
Expanding upon this, A.E. Waite offered: “Weariness, disgust, aversion, imaginary vexations, as if the wine of this world had caused satiety only; another wine, as if a fairy gift is now offered the wastrel, bet he sees no consolation therein.”
Moving to contemporary writers, Sasha Graham reminds us to:
“Notice what is right in front of you. An opportunity is at hand, but it may be missed.”
Benebell Wen writes:
“The Four Of Cups is about disappointment in the status quo or dissatisfaction with what the seeker has or has not accomplished to date. As a result, the seeker needs to reflect inward and reevaluate the path he or she is taking.”
We all, I think, from time to time find ourselves reflected in the Four Of Cups. When the card comes up in a reading we do well to reflect upon our situation, figure out why we are feeling the way we are, and see it as an opportunity to improve our perspective and outlook through contemplation, action, or change.
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